Our Private voice & acting lessons are specifically tailored to each students goals.
Having happily grown up as a "theatre kid," Ellen Desmond is excited to offer Musical
Theatre at CDW! A former English and drama teacher, she now works in education finance,
managing governmental and special funding for the Concord School District. She has over
15 years of experience directing youth/young adult theatre, running small-group acting
workshops, and providing private study.
Ellen offers character-driven instruction that emphasizes script study, collaboration with
scene partners, and experimentation with instincts on stage. Her direction of Singin' in the
Rain, Jr. earned a top-3 nomination at the 2018 NH Theatre Awards. Ellen celebrates her
former students' accomplishments on Broadway, in touring and repertory companies, in
collegiate MT programs, and in their everyday creative endeavors.
Ellen holds a BA in English from St. Michael's College and an MBA from UNH. She
previously served on the NH Theatre Alliance Board of Directors and is currently on the
board of the Center for Trauma-Responsive Practice Change. She volunteers with NAMI NH
to produce This Is My Brave, an annual mental health storytelling event.
