Melissa Geraghty
Volunteer Coordinator

Lissa is excited to be a part of the MoCo Theatre Family! Lissa has served as a volunteer for numerous organizations including Cal Ripken Baseball, Babe Ruth Baseball, KHS Football, Hockey and Baseball Booster Clubs, Pop Warner Cheerleading, and was the Northern Lights Booster Club Fundraising Coordinator.

Liss works as a Community Health Care Worker and Outreach Educator and is the proud Mom to Devin, Emma, Ava. and bonus Mom to Gianna, who is part of the MoCo Theatre Family.

Briana Tebaldi
Volunteer Coordinator

Bri is happy to help backstage with the MoCo theatre team! You might know Bri as the Owner of Indigo Style Salon. She has been a cosmetologist for 24 years, which comes in very handy in creating great hair and makeup looks for our shows. Bri was born and raised in Keene and is the mother of two boys. You may have seen her older son in MoCo theatre productions!

Moses Fisher
Director – Middle School Play, Theatre Games Teacher

Moses Fisher is an alumni of MoCo’s High School Theatre Program, and is thrilled to be returning to direct the Middle School Play! He began performing at Keene High School, where he was president of the Drama Club and the Shakespeare Club. After school, Moses was delighted to be a part of the Second Company at the Peterborough Players, building sets and appearing in their production of Our Town. He went on to study at Keene State College, where he performed in productions of Urinetown and The Winter’s Tale, as well as various vocal performances. Currently, he is a junior studying Secondary Education and English Literature. In his spare time, Moses likes to write short stories, read Cormac McCarthy novels, and ride his bike (not simultaneously).

Ty Nash
Director – Middle School Play

Ty Jo Nash is a recent graduate of Keene State college, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Dance, with dual specialization in acting and directing for the stage. He has been performing for the majority of his life in the Monadnock region, and despite having grown up in the area, this will be Ty’s first experience working with MoCo Arts, in any capacity. His work as an actor, at the collegiate level, garnered more than a handful of regional performance nominations, and he is fortunate enough to have been the most recent recipient of the Julie McHale Redfern Memorial Prize in Performing Arts, awarded by Keene State. He has also recently delved into the world of acting for film, animation, and digital media. As a director, Ty specializes in devised, contemporary, social-commentary work, but is always excited to expand his horizons, given the opportunity. When not performing, Ty currently works as a cook for Cedarcrest: Center for Children with Disabilities, and is an avid television and film consumer. He is absolutely thrilled to be directing the middle school production of Dracula’s Daughters for MoCo, and can’t wait to get started.

Maria McGovern
Choreographer – Middle School Musical Theatre, High School Musical Theatre

Maria McGovern graduated summa cum laude from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA in May 2023 with a degree in Quantitative Economics and a Ballet Certificate (earned in conjunction with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet). Maria trained at the Radomile Academy of Dance and the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, and she attended three summer intensives at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Although Maria grew up outside of Philadelphia, she has been spending her summers in Nelson since she was two. She was introduced to dance and theatre through NHDI’s Summer Intensive and MoCo Arts’ C.A.K.E. (Creative Arts at Keene) summer camp. Once she was old enough, Maria served as a CIT, counselor, and teacher in both programs, and she has spent five summers on the C.A.K.E. staff where she has adored being a dance instructor. For the past two years, Maria has choreographed the C.A.K.E. musical and taught for CupCAKE. Maria is thrilled to join the MoCo year-long staff this fall!

Eliora Despres
Choreographer – Elementary School Musical Theatre, Theatre Games Teacher

Eliora wears many hats: one of her favorite hats that she gets to wear is as a choreographer for the Elementary and Middle School Musical programs at MoCo Arts. In addition to teaching at MoCo, Eliora further develops her art as a choreographer for Gardner Middle School and as a Teaching Artist at the New Hampshire Dance Institute, which helps to bring dance to 3000 children annually. In the past, Eliora dedicated herself to training in various dance styles at The Dance Center in Winchendon MA for 17 years. Additionally, Eliora was Team Captain of The Dance Center’s competitive team for two years and performed competitively around New England for six years where she gained inspiration watching thousands of other dancers perform. Eliora had the opportunity to return to The Dance Center as a Studio Assistant, where she was mentored by senior faculty and gained experience teaching Modern, Jazz, and Musical Theater dance styles.

Eliora’s theatre background started here at MoCo Arts, where she participated in the High School Musical Theater Program. Eliora believes that the uplifting effects of MoCo’s programming has made a huge positive impact on her life and is overjoyed to be giving the same empowering experience to MoCo’s theatre students today. Currently, Eliora studies Elementary Education at Mount Wachusett Community College. In her free time, Eliora enjoys performing in musicals at Theater at the Mount, where she has been described as bringing “her own unique charm, identity, and amazing voice” to her roles by Kevin T. Baldwin, a member of the American Theatre Critics Association. Eliora firmly believes that dance and theatre should be accessible to all and is endlessly inspired by all of her students and the faculty here at MoCo Arts.

Shannon Wakefield
Costume Design – Elementary School Musical Theatre, Theatre Games Teacher

Shannon Martin Wakefield started performing at age five when her mother enrolled her in dance class and hasn’t stopped since. She attended Keene State College, where she received a BA in English and a BA in Theater with a concentration in acting. Since graduating, Shannon has been working in the Keene School District as a special education tutor. She continues to perform with local theater groups, including the Rude Mechanical Theater Ensemble, where she has been an actor, director, stage manager, and prop designer. Shannon teaches theatre classes at MoCo.

Tracy Clark
Costume Design – Elementary School Musical Theatre

Once upon a time, Tracy Clark made wedding gowns, bridesmaid and flower girl dresses for weddings, and create children’s costumes for friends at Halloween. She is a self-taught seamstress who likes creating her own patterns. She loves working with children and worked as a nanny in Atlanta for 2 years. Tracy is a MoCo mom to Alexis and currently works for Cheshire Medical Center at The Center for Population Health helping to make our community healthier and stronger.

Ashley Morse
Music Director – Middle School Musical Theatre

Ashley Morse is a graduate of Keene State College with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. She attended KSC on a four-year talent scholarship specializing in piano. She has worked as a professional pianist for 21 years and currently serves as an accompanist for the New Hampshire Dance Institute and multiple local middle school choirs. She is also the choir director/organist at the Westmoreland United Church.

JoJo Mead
Vocal Coach

JoAnne Mead: BS in Elementary Education and Music Education (Instrumental and Vocal). She has extensive post-graduate work in vocal studies. She received her training with teachers from Boston University, Keene State College, and Opera Singer Anna Gabrieli. She is known as a Vocal Instructor, Music Director, and Soprano Soloist.

She has performed as a soloist with numerous choral/orchestral organizations singing oratorio, opera, classical recitals, and concerts, to musical theatre. She has performed with Lowell Opera, Granite State Opera, Opera North, and Raylynmor Opera Company. She vocal coaches, music directs, and teaches workshops in the area school districts. She serves as a Judge/Adjudicator for the New Hampshire Music Ed. Association(NHMEA), for the annual All-State Choral Festival, and has been a Judge/Adjudicator for the National Assoc. of Teachers of Singing(NATS).

Laura Carbonneau

Artistic Director of Theatre and C.A.K.E., Director – High School Musical Theatre, Director – High School Play, Improv Teacher, One-Day Camp Director

Laura Carbonneau, an alumnus of MoCo, a native of Keene, and a true story of how life can be transformed through the arts, grew up through MoCo’s theatre and dance programs and participated in the first of many years of C.A.K.E. summer camp. She has been teaching, volunteering, and assisting at MoCo Arts in the theatre and C.A.K.E. programs since 2015 and has been an active part of MoCo’s creative team for its annual fundraiser Lights. Camera. KEENE!

Acting, directing, and theatre have always been passions of Laura and she is incredibly active in the greater Monadnock Region’s community theater scene, participating in Keene Lions Club, Springfield Community Players, and various other theatre groups in the region. Laura has appeared in over 25 shows with highlights from Janet in the Drowsy Chaperone, Olive in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Katrina in Sleepy Hollow, and Gingy in Shrek. Laura has an incredible passion for storytelling, writing plays that have been performed at MoCo Arts, creating props for shows, and has been involved in over 100 plays and musicals during her theatre career.

Holding a master’s in Sustainable Food Systems from Green Mountain College, Laura has implemented her studies into more robust cooking classes at C.A.K.E. summer camp and even teaches an online cooking series for kids through the Monadnock Food Co-op. Laura’s passion for the arts and love for teaching kids in the community has always pulled her back to MoCo Arts. Laura will be pursuing an MFA in Theatre Pedagogy through the University of Idaho starting in the fall of 2024. She is proud to provide a safe and nurturing environment where students can thrive and is honored to guide students as they craft their ability to tell stories through performance and build confidence through the arts.

Dominic DiBenedetto
Director – Middle School Musical, C.A.K.E. Musical Theatre Director, C.A.K.E. Assistant Program Director

Dominic DiBenedetto has been teaching at Keene Middle School since 2007, with experience teaching at high school and college levels. Dominic was recognized professionally by the New England League of Middle Schools in 2010, and he was recognized as an Outstanding Educator by Keene School District in 2019. He has been working with MoCo students since the summer of 2016 when he joined the C.A.K.E. staff. Now he directs the summer’s Musical Theater class and oversees the CIT program, in addition to performing other various leadership roles. A Masters-level educator, Dominic completed undergraduate work at Keene State College that included courses in Theater Design and Production.

As an actor’s director, Dominic has been directing the Keene Middle School Drama Club since 2014, and he has experience performing in community theater for the past 25 years. You may have seen Dominic in The Lions Club productions in Keene, NH or in Vermont performing with the Springfield Community Players, Main Street Arts, and Wild Goose Players. Some of his most enjoyable roles include Amos Hart in Chicago; Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods; Charlie Brown in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; and Peter in Jesus Christ, Superstar. When not involved with theatrical endeavors, Dominic has been a fellow with the National Writing Project and a volunteer in various community service projects. He loves writing poetry and fiction, reading historical fiction novels, and working on his cooking and baking repertoire.

Caitlin Dubois
Director – Elementary School Musical Theatre 

Caitlin graduated from Keene State College with dual majors in Music Education and Elementary Education. She has been teaching in public schools for twenty years in several different capacities. She is currently the music teacher at Harrisville Wells Memorial School. Caitlin has been directing and music directing the Elementary Musical at MoCo on and off for since 2016. She loves sharing her passion and enthusiasm for the performing arts with her students. This summer Caitlin also taught music at CupCAKE where she was fortunate to get to dpend time with her own kids while teaching. She loves that she and her children can be part of the MoCo community.

Eric Snare
Improv Teacher, C.A.K.E. Student & Faculty Advisor 

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Kate Butterfield
Music Director – High School Musical Theatre

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Morganna Ekkens
Costume Designer – Middle School Play, Middle School Musical Theatre

Morganna Ekkens has been performing on stage for over twenty five years. A native of the Monadnock region, she discovered her love of theatre as a student at MoCo Arts and that passion led her to NYC, where she attended The American Musical and Dramatic Acadmey. Morganna has performed in and directed productions with Wild Goose Players, Main Street Arts, Springfield Community Players, and The Vermont Theater Company, as well as local film companies Wayward Ark Productions and Either/Or Films. Some of her most memorable roles include The Witch in Into the Woods, Rose in Gypsy, Velma Kelly in Chicago, Yitzhak in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Desiree in A Little Night Music. She was awarded Performance of the Year at the 2013 NHFF for her role in the film Only Daughter. Additionally, she can be found behind the scenes helping produce carbaret performances, building props and costumes, designing haird and makeup, and more. When not involved with theatrical ventures, Morganna is an active volunteer with local community organizations and enjoys spending time with her fur babies Lucy and Thomas. She is deeply hnored to be a aprt of the MoCo team and to be giving back to the organization that was so impactful in her life. 

Madigan Keating
Music Director – Elementary School Musical Theatre

Madigan is thrilled to assume the role of Music Director for the Elementary Musical Program at MoCo Arts. A lifelong participant in MoCo’s programs, she is eager to contribute to the theatre community that fostered her passion for music and theatre. Currently a junior at Keene State College, Madigan is pursuing a degree in Music Education. She previously served as the Junior Musical Co-Director at MoCo’s C.A.K.E. summer camp and is now looking forward to collaborating with a talented team and dedicated students to bring the Elementary Musical to life!