Annie DiMartino, Director of Education
A native of Seattle, Ms. DiMartino received her Masters of Fine Arts degree from California State University, Fullerton where her emphasis was acting. While living in California, Ms. DiMartino performed in and around the Los Angeles and Orange County areas in roles that include: Hanna Jarvis (Arcadia), Frida Kahlo Rivera (Rocky and Diego), Agnes (A Bright Room Called Day), and Anne (Balm in Gilead). Ms. DiMartino also originated the role of Dorothy Wordsworth in Grasmere, a play that took her to the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York. Ms. DiMartino has been nominated for the LA Weekly Awards as well as the OC Theatre Awards for Best Featured Actress in a drama, and her voice can be heard in the animated film Prodigal Son, produced by Gener8ion Entertainment. While in CT, Ms. DiMartino has performed in Anton in Show Business with Theatre Four, The Taming of the Shrew and As You Like It with Artfarm and can be seen in local commercials for Middlesex Community College.
While still a working actress, Ms. DiMartino now holds the position of Director of Education for Long Wharf Theatre where she is in charge of all educational programming and oversees the Next Stage Resident/Intern Program. As a private acting instructor, Ms. DiMartino has students who have gone on to land roles on Broadway, and work in film and television. As a Teaching Artist Ms. DiMartino has taught year-long courses at Amistad Academy and New Haven’s Educational Center for the Arts as well as performed various theatre residencies, workshops and Master Classes at Wesleyan University, Southern Connecticut State University, Housatonic Community College and a multitude of high schools and middle schools throughout the state of Connecticut.
Corey Morrison, Education Programs Manager
A native of the bluegrass state, Corey is a graduate of Western Kentucky University (WKU) where he received a BFA in Performing Arts, with a concentration in acting. In addition to acting and directing several shows as part of the WKU’s Children’s Theatre, he served as a teaching artist leading a residency adapting folktales for elementary students to explore and perform. Following graduation, Corey was the lead teaching artist at Capitol Arts Youth Theatre, working with students on acting, voice, improvisation, movement and stage combat. Corey also served as an Education Intern at Lexington Children’s Theatre where in addition to teaching a variety of performance workshops, he directed for the theatre’s outreach program.
Recently, Corey concluded the 2009-10 season as Long Wharf Theatre’s Education Resident where he assisted in the development and implementation of all educational programming, in addition to leading residencies at the Whitney Center, The Shoreline Institute of Lifelong Learning, and Meadowside Elementary. As Education Programs Manager, he is now in charge of all K-8 programming as Long Wharf continues expansion in this sector.
Kristianna Smith, Education Resident
Kristianna Smith graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of New Hampshire completing a B.A. in Theatre with an emphasis in Secondary Education. While at UNH, Kristianna was actively involved in the student run theatre organization Mask and Dagger Dramatic Society, serving as the organization’s Business Manager for three years. She was also a member and facilitator of UNH’s WildActs Social Change Theatre Troupe, working with different university departments and local school systems to raise awareness of a variety of social issues such as sexual harassment, drug abuse, depression and bullying. Kristianna’s involvement in WildActs contributed to her passion for Theatre of the Oppressed and theatre’s impact in positively affecting a community. This passion led to her to her extensive involvement in Arts In Reach, a non-profit organization focused on helping at risk teenage girls discover and empower themselves through the arts.
This summer, Kristianna finished her sixth production with Southington Summer Theater directing Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with the program’s high school students. Recently, she finished a middle school program called Play on Words, using image theatre and original poetry to help bring to life student’s middle school experiences.
