This month we had the chance to sit down with Laura Carbonneau. Laura is the Director of MoCo’s Middle School Play and the Assistant Director for MoCo’s High School Musical. She also works as a Counselor at Creative Arts at Keene (C.A.K.E.) Summer Camp, a program that is definitely near and dear to her heart. Laura got her start at C.A.K.E. She was there as a camper in the program’s inaugural year. She credits that experience so many years ago with igniting her passion for theatre. A passion that has stuck with her and that she greatly enjoys sharing with her students. Watching Laura in action is nothing short of inspirational. Her seemingly endless optimism and creative energy is absolutely contagious and has earned her near superstar status with her students, who are quick to say how much they enjoy being in her class. Laura is a brilliant example of #MoCoMagic. Read on to learn more about how she got her start in theatre, her take on the camp experience and her love of blue sour patch kids.
MoCo: How long have you been teaching at MoCo?
Laura: Well that’s a loaded question! I was a CIT at C.A.K.E. starting in 2005. I worked two years as a CIT and then was a Counselor for two years teaching film classes. That’s what I did in college before I switched majors – I was originally majoring in Film Studies. I ended up getting my Bachelor’s in Urban & Community Studies and International Hospitality & Service Management and then went on to get my Master’s in Sustainable Food Systems. I was also a Counselor at CupCAKE when that program first began. Then college kind of took over my life. But after graduation, I was right back at C.A.K.E. This will actually be my 5th summer in a row with that program. When I first came back to MoCo after college I started volunteering as an Assistant Director with Marty (Hennum) working on the Teen Musical Theatre production of Beauty and the Beast. This year I’m officially directing the Middle School Play.
Fall 2018 – Laura is holding Alslan’s mask
MoCo: Was the move from Camp Counselor to Director of your own production a big change for you?
Laura: It’s really the same it’s just that I don’t get to see the kids every day. We rehearse just once each week. I really like working with kids in this age group though – middle school. They’re old enough to really understand and get into the process, but not so old that they’ve got a ton of other commitments.
MoCo: What’s your day job?
Laura: When I’m not at MoCo, I work at Food Connects in Brattleboro. I handle Development and Marketing for them. I manage fundraising, event planning, communications and social media. I love food systems. At C.A.K.E. I teach the cooking classes, which have evolved from “let’s decorate cupcakes” to learning how to prepare healthy meals, understanding where your food comes from, what’s in season and why it’s important. I’ve taught the kids about composting as well. It’s one of the most popular classes at camp!
MoCo: How did you get started in theatre/education?
Laura: Theatre has always been what I really enjoy. I discovered that at C.A.K.E. The first year I attended I took the One Act class and was a little unsure. I didn’t want the lead or anything. But once I did it and the performance was over I was hooked. I started taking theatre classes at MoCo and learned under Marty. She’s been a huge mentor of mine and a really great teacher. I was also a student at Northfield Mount Hermon and was able to take directing classes there. One year during the summer when I wasn’t in camp one of my friends and I just decided to direct our own play. It was an interesting experience! I guess you could say I’m very much self-taught. I’ve taken a few classes but really, it’s just that I’ve always liked working with kids and I’ve always liked theatre and I’ve just kind of put myself in situations where I have to interact with them. My Dad worked as a Recreation Director when I was growing up so I kind of lived in the camp world. That’s the environment I grew up in. You’ve got to know how to come up with stuff on a whim and make up games and have fun. So long as you’re a big “responsible” kid and like to have fun you’ll do well.
MoCo: As a MoCo alum, you probably have some great stories about your experience as a student here. What stands out to you as a defining moment in your MoCo education?
Laura: During the One Act that first year of camp I felt a lot of pressure. We were going to perform at The Colonial and that was a little nerve-racking for me. It might be a surprise to some, but I can be very shy. I had the VERY first line in the play. After I spoke that line and heard the applause, I felt really good about it. I’d say that was kind of the catalyst to start doing more with MoCo and to get more involved in theatre. When I moved back here a few years ago, I hadn’t done theatre in a few years and it was so obvious something was missing from my life. I reached out to Marty and asked to volunteer, and she immediately welcomed me back with open arms. It really is like family at MoCo. From the beginning you feel welcome. Then life happens and you leave… and when you come back its so cool to know you still have a place here. Now I’m so invested in these kids and find myself really wanting to see them succeed.
MoCo: Tell us something about yourself that your students probably don’t know.
Laura: (laughs) Other than my age? They have no idea how old I am. I’m either like 19 or I’m 45. It’s so funny. This is hard because I’m pretty open with them. They probably don’t know that I’ve travelled abroad a lot. I’ve been all over the world. I love travelling. Other than working with MoCo, my dream job would be travelling the world, hosting my own tv show and trying food in all these different countries. I lived in Dubrovnik in Croatia for a summer and I studied in Greece for a while. I’ve been to Italy and Germany. I’ve been very fortunate with the opportunities I’ve been afforded. I tell the kids all the time when they have an opportunity to try something new, even if it’s scary you have to take the chance because you’re either going to have a mediocre time or a lifechanging experience, but either way it’s so worth it.
MoCo: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at MoCo?
Laura: Other than theatre? Well, I go to the gym a lot. And I take acrobatics classes off and on at the New England Center for Circus Arts in Brattleboro. It’s been helpful actually! When I did the Lion’s Club show one year I was able to do this flip off the stage because of that. It was pretty cool. Of course, I only do ground acrobatics because I’m afraid of heights, but it’s great. I garden a lot too. I love gardening. It’s very calming. I also do a lot of crafting and watch a lot of Netflix. I just love being busy. When I was moving, I was going through all these old files and found an old camp form my dad had filled out and he wrote “Laura likes to be challenged.” And that’s so true!
MoCo: What is your favorite junk food?
Laura: It all depends on what kind of junk food you’re talking about. I love chocolate. All of it. If you’re talking about munchy kinds of things the Jack’s Cheese Puffs are a favorite. But there’s also this new thing that came into my life – Humpty Dumpty All-Dressed Chips and they basically have every flavor in them. You take a bite and it tastes like BBQ but then you take another bite and it tastes like sour cream. But then if you’re talking about movie snacks, Blue Sour Patch Kids. Just blue. Definitely.
MoCo: Anything else you’d like to tell people about yourself?
Laura: It’s really exciting for me to be teaching at MoCo and I’d love it if I could get to know the parent’s a little better. I love it when parents sit in on a class and invite them to do that every once in a while, so they can see what we’re up to. I’m interested in getting to know the families as a whole. Especially the kids I have this year. Most of them are 8thgraders and I’ve known them for a while. I want parents to know how special MoCo is and to support that. There are a couple of kids in particular who have had just an ensemble part in the past and this year, with the new structure of the theatre program at MoCo they really have the opportunity to shine. The amount of growth they’ve had since the fall semester has been unreal. That one on one attention that they’re getting now is so positive. The really cool part about the show we’re working on now is that it’s all about middle school, so it’s super relatable for them. I’m involving them in the production process, letting them choose their own costumes and the props they want to use and getting them to think about it as a whole. The challenging part is figuring out what kinds of games to play to get them to work on certain things. For example, if you want them to be louder we play a game that encourages them to increase their volume. Stuff like that just makes it so much fun. I really want to encourage all kids to try theatre. Even if they are uncertain at first, it’s a great experience and really builds confidence. It definitely did for me!
Thank you, Laura! We enjoyed getting to know you a little better. We’re looking forward to the upcoming performance of MoCo’s Middle School Play, School Daze on Sunday, April 14th in The Founder’s Theatreat MoCo Arts. Click here for more details about the show and get your tickets today!
