The Ragamuffin Project
8 Week Session

WANTED! Children and teen actors ages 8 to 18!

Become a member of The Ragamuffin Project, the valley's most unique form of theatre education. Weekly classes taught in: character development, improvision, acting techniques, vocal performance, monologue & scene development, and advanced auditioning techniques. Classes are taught by professional instructors. Private lessons and coaching is also available.

Prices for the classes are as follows:
 
$200*
$175** in advance

Website: theragamuffinproject.blogspot.com
 
*Payments may be made every fourth week at the amount of $100
**Pay for eight weeks in advance and receive one class for free (you only pay $175!)

Instructor Information:

Tres Dean

Tres Dean received his Masters Degree in Theatre from Morehead State University in Morehead, KY.  He has taught theatre education classes for the Kentucky Public Arts Council and Jenny Wiley Regional Theatre for children, teens, and adults.  He has also taught locally for Marywood Palm Valley School, The Desert Sands Unified School District, The Palm Canyon Theatre, and the La Quinta Playhouse. 

Tres has performed across the country and regionally in such roles as Barney Cashman (The Last of the Red Hot Lovers), Dr. Sunshine (Radicalove), Huckleberry Finn (Big River); Arles & Company (Greater Tuna and A Tuna Christmas); The Tin Man (The Wizard of Oz); King Herod (Jesus Christ Superstar); Jacquot (Carnival); Banjo (The Man Who Came to Dinner); Hero (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum); Guildenstern (Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead); Silvius (As You Like It); Billy Bibbitt (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest); Orestes (Electra); Bob Crachitt (A Christmas Carol); Benedict Boniface (Hotel Paradiso); and Peter Pan (Peter Pan). 

He has appeared on film as Snoof (Shakespeare’s Cat), Eric (The Latest Thing), and will appear as Elliott Nutter in the upcoming feature (Ghost Quest). Tres has also performed and written for Norwegian Cruise Lines, Orient Cruise Lines, and Walt Disney World.  He has studied improvisation, sketch comedy writing and performance with Shadowbox Cabaret Comedy/Rock Theater in Columbus, OH, and The Groundlings in Hollywood, CA. Tres and his wife, Noemi Villela-Dean, are the co-founders of Just 2 to Tango Productions which features THE RAGAMUFFIN PROJECT (Children’s Theatre Education) and THE BIG SHOW LIVE (Sketch Comedy Cabaret).  They live in Indio with their children Viktorria, Miranda, Christian, and Miles.

Noemi Villela-Dean

Noemi Villela-Dean has been working with the children of the Coachella Valley since 2005 first serving as the Children's Educational Director for the La Quinta Playhouse, where she also worked as a Production Stage Manager, Director, and Sound Designer.  She co-directed productions of The Velveteen Rabbit, A Tuna Christmas, Lend Me a Tenor, and Dirty Blonde.  In the summer of 2006, Noemi directed a six week educational series in which 200 children across the valley participated in theatre arts workshops and classes.  She and her husband are the co-founders of "Just 2 to Tango Productions" which features THE RAGAMUFFIN PROJECT (Children's Educational Theatre) and THE BIG SHOW LIVE (Sketch Comedy Cabaret).  In the spring of 2008 she co-adapted and directed the "Just 2 to Tango" premiere production of The Princess and the Pea.  Noemi also wrote and directed THE RAGAMUFFIN PROJECT (CHILDREN'S SKECTH COMEDY CABARET) at the Indio Performing Arts Center.  She lives in Indio with her husband, Tres, and children Viktorria, Miranda, Christian, and Miles.