Tell us about yourself. Who are you and what do you do?
Hello! My name is Carissa and I’m a drama therapist, a teacher, and an actor. Drama Therapy is creative arts therapy that uses theater and performance elements/expressions as clinical interventions, as means for exploring internal and external conflict, and as a way to help with social and emotional growth. It means I am trained as a mental health counselor, currently I work as a therapist with adults and children at CSO, and I am trained as a theater practitioner.
Why did you decide to become an artist?
I started doing theater in middle school and never looked back. There are a million reasons to do theater- the power of storytelling, the process, the people you meet, etc. Theater helped me find myself and along the way I saw that just like everything else, it could be harmful if used the wrong way. So, I vowed to use theater for good and while I was in college became determined to figure out how to do that. Drama therapy was my answer. Using theater to help others process, express, and explore emotions. Helping others feel seen and heard- that’s the magic for me now and why I stay an artist.
Tell us about some projects you have worked on. Which one was your favorite and why?
I’ve loved working with almost every company around that has blessed me with a role in their productions- this area is such a goldmine. Some notable favorites include: Meta/Pine Project with Serious Play! Ensemble (an incredible process-driven physical theater piece), Skyscraper by David Auburn (a labor of love with Chris Rohmann in your building between it being a gym and your beautiful space!), Slowgirl by Greg Pierce (at Smith College with Keith Langsdale and directed by Ellen Kaplan ), and most recently How I Learned To Drive by Paula Vogel with Ghost Light Theater (a piece incredibly close to my heart, directed masterfully by Sue Dziura).
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
“Talent” only takes a person so far. If you want to be in the room be the kind of person others want in the room. (I think presence and authenticity is what artists mean when they say “talent”- and that can be learned over time so please don’t let that capital T word deter you, ever).