Classes
~The greatest legacy is not what we leave for people but what we leave within people.~
TODDLER MUSIC & MOVEMENT (Age: 2-5)
In partnership with Branford Parks and Rec
Saturdays, 9:00 AM-9:30 AM, October 3 - November 7 (6 sessions)
Location: Joe Trapasso Community House, 46 Church Street, Branford, CT 06405, Fitness Room, Second Floor
Instructor: Chelsea Dacey
A joyful introduction to music, movement, and imagination for our youngest performers. Each week features a playful theme incorporating scarves, ribbons, shaker eggs, solfège bells, simple choreography, and creative movement.This class supports motor skills, language development, confidence, and social connection in a fun and nurturing environment. This is a non-performance-based class.
Note: Parents/caregivers must remain in the classroom.
Weekly Themes: Feel free to dress up for our weekly theme days, or come just as you are! Participation is completely optional.
Oct. 3rd – Pink Day: Think pink or your favorite color! Oct. 10th – Down at The Farm Day: Cowboy hats, boots, denim, plaid, farm animals, or anything country! Oct. 17th – Pajama Day: Come cozy in your favorite PJs! Oct. 24th – Dinosaur Day: Dinosaurs, dino shirts, green, or your favorite prehistoric friend! Oct. 31st – Halloween Day: Halloween costumes, pumpkins, spooky characters, or whatever you please! Nov. 7th – Disney Day: Favorite Disney costume, Mickey or Minnie ears, Disney characters, or simply come ready to have fun
SHOWCASE CLASS: AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL (Ages 7–15)
Saturdays, 9:30 AM-11:00 AM, October 3 - December 5 (8 sessions) - No class Nov 14th and Nov 28th
Location: Joe Trapasso Community House (Fitness Room, 2nd Floor), 46 Church Street, Branford, CT 06405 & Legacy Theatre
In partnership with Branford Parks and Rec
Instructor: Chelsea Dacey
A Holiday Twist on Musical Theatre
Come prepared for the first class with a short holiday-themed song, approximately 30 seconds, to perform with a backing track or a cappella. Students will create their own characters and originate their own roles in the musical while working together to develop an original holiday musical featuring seasonal favorites, and more. The process includes character development, musical theatre technique, ensemble work, and the use of simple scenery, costumes, and props.
About the Musical
When the elves realize they’ll have to prepare for the holiday season on their own - Tinsel takes charge and activates “Operation Elves.” Together, the elves decorate, wrap presents, pack the sleigh, and work to keep their holiday spirit alive! Featuring seasonal favorites, and more, this original musical is filled with music, comedy, teamwork, and holiday magic. The session will culminate in a fully staged Showcase at Legacy Theatre for family and friends.
Auditions will be held during the first class, and every student will be cast. No prior experience needed!.
The final two sessions take place at The Legacy Theatre. The final session will be a free Showcase for family and friends!
Parents/caregivers do not remain in the classroom during this class. They may wait in the hallway, where seating is available, or elsewhere within the building.
Beginner Adult Improv (Age: 18+)
In partnership with Branford Parks and Rec
Saturdays, 9:30 AM-11:00 AM, October 3 - November 14 (6 sessions) No class October 17.
Location: Joe Trapasso Community House (Bonus Room, 1st Floor), 46 Church Street, Branford, CT 06405
Instructor: Mary Lou Lauricella
Want to learn the art of improvisation? Join instructor Marylou Lauricella this Fall where classes will involve short form exercises and games that improve your spontaneity, listening skills, and ability to be more present through the art of improvisation. The final class will take place on-stage at The Legacy Theatre!
Advanced Adult Improv (Age: 18+)
In partnership with Branford Parks and Rec
Saturdays, 11:15 AM-12:45 PM, October 3 - November 14 (6 sessions) No class October 17.
Location: Joe Trapasso Community House (Bonus Room, 1st Floor), 46 Church Street, Branford, CT 06405
Instructor: Mary Lou Lauricella
Join instructor Marylou Lauricella this Fall where classes will explore Advanced Improvisation. These classes will focus on sustained scene work, character development, thematic connections, and ensemble building, moving away from the rapid-fire game structure of short-form improv. (Prior improv experience required.) The final class will take place on-stage at The Legacy Theatre!
Acting for Adults (Age: High School-Adult) - 6 Sessions
In partnership with Shoreline Adult Education
September 16th, 2026 - October 21st, 2026, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: Branford High School, 185 East Main Street, Branford, CT 06405
Instructor: Julie Fitzpatrick
Explore the wide world of acting, escape into other characters, build performance and presentation skills and play a little! Adult Acting will broaden your horizons with scene work and improv exercises designed to ignite your creativity and grow confidence in a new way. The class will explore the basics of acting technique focusing on communication, authenticity, physicality, humor, vulnerability, and passion. The class is open to high school students and above. Very little experience is necessary! The final class will take place on-stage at The Legacy Theatre and will be a free Showcase for family and friends!
Create Your Own Solo Show (Age: High School-Adult) - 6 Sessions In partnership with Shoreline Adult Education September 16th, 2026 - October 21st, 2026, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Branford High School, 185 East Main Street, Branford, CT 06405 Instructor: Julie Fitzpatrick Create Your Own Solo Show is a six-week creative lab for actors, writers, and storytellers ready to shape a deeply personal piece of theatre. Through guided writing prompts, improvisation, movement, and ensemble feedback, participants will uncover and sculpt a pivotal moment from their own journey into a compelling ten-minute theatrical presentation. The final class will take place on-stage at The Legacy Theatre and will be a free Showcase for family and friends! Join us!
Wheel Life Theatre Troupe (Age: All Ages)
In partnership with Branford Parks and Recreation
Information for 2026 will be posted here once available.
Performance troupe for those who use mobility devices and their friends/family.
Please call the Box Office with any questions - (203) 315-1901
We believe arts education shouldn’t be considered a luxury. If you would like to take a class but are unable to register due to finances, please reach out. Scholarships are available; everyone deserves access to arts education.
Instructors for Legacy Classes
Chelsea Dacey — Chelsea Dacey is an actor, director, choreographer, and teaching artist whose work spans children’s theatre, regional theatre, and original musical development. Chelsea is passionate about arts education, original musical creation, and building fun, inclusive theatre spaces for every performer!
Chelsea has been instructing with Legacy Theatre since 2022, where she has taught Toddler Time, Fairy Tale Musical, Audition Preparation, and the Rising Stars Summer Intensive, among other programs. Her broader directing and teaching experience includes numerous youth productions, including Frozen Jr., The Lion King Jr., Finding Nemo Jr., The Little Mermaid Jr., Shrek, Singin’ in the Rain Jr., The Addams Family, and more.
Her Legacy Theatre performance credits include: (Spirit Guide) Scrooge and Marley, (Wendy) Peter and Wendy, A Christmas Carol, (Ensemble) The Great American Mousical, directed by dame Julie Andrews, (Co-Writer) Sweet Dreams, (Princess Penelope, Book/Lyrics) The Princess and the Pauper, (Rapunzel, Book/Lyrics) A Princess Tea, (Piglet) Winnie the Pooh, (Belinda) Tales of Custard the Dragon, (Performer) Silly Dilly the Musical, and Choreographer (You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown). Additional performance experience includes Off-Broadway (Piggy Nation) and various regional theatre productions, as well as narration work on Audible.
Julie Fitzpatrick—Julie Fitzpatrick is delighted to be teaching Acting and Writing Your Solo Show with Legacy Theatre. Julie is a poet, playwright, performer and teacher who has worked locally with St. Martin de Porres Academy in New Haven, Madison Arts Barn, GreenStage Guilford Live Arts, Moses Gunn Theater Company, Drama Works, Shoreline Arts Alliance and Wheel Life Theatre Troupe. Her acting credits run the gamut from Off-Broadway to regional theater and her Film/TV work includes Law & Order and The OA. Julie is a member of the Guilford Poets’ Guild, The Playwrights Circle and Ensemble Studio Theatre in NYC. Her play 77 U-Turn is published by Next Stage Press and can be purchased here. More info can be found at juliefitzpatrick.com. Julie lives with her favorite guys: her husband Pete and her sons, Fitz, Gracen and Hudson.
Mary Lou Lauricella — Mary Lou Lauricella has worked as a professional actress in regional theatre before becoming a registered drama therapist. She holds a B.A. in Theater and English from Washington College and a Masters in drama therapy from NYU. She is trained in both Meisner (Neighborhood Playhouse) and Method acting techniques. She has been the director of the Veterans’ Homefront Theater at VA Connecticut, an outpatient PTSD theater group for over 20 years. The group was an improvisational theater group creating original works that were performed within the veteran and civilian communities. The group was the subject of a documentary film “No Unwounded Soldiers” created by award-winning filmmaker Rebecca Abbott. The film was screened at the Vail Colorado Film Festival, the Connecticut Film Festival and was aired on Connecticut Public Television. She has partnered with Quinnipiac University’s Theater for Community, the Clifford Beers Clinic and the Connecticut Coalition for End of Life Care facilitating theater workshops at the MacDougal maximum security prison and the prison Volunteer Bereavement and Hospice program. She has co-chaired the North American Drama Therapy Conference, presented at the Expressive Therapies Conference, NER-AMTA Music Therapy Conference.
Past Classes
Toddler Dance, Storytime, and Drama
Emerging Actors Acting Class: Ages 7-9
Young Apprentice Class: Acting (Ages 6-11)
Young Professionals Acting Class: Ages 10-12
Young Professionals Class: Acting (Ages 12-17)
Acting for Teens
Shakespeare for Teens
Shakespeare Pops!
Shakespeare and the Veteran’s Journey
Adult Acting
Adult Improv
Intro to Improv
Improv: Advanced Performance Workshop
Cabaret Class for Adults
Musical Theatre Performance
