Acting Camp - July 20 to 24 - Summer 2026

Love acting and improv, creating and imagining, stepping out of your shoes and into fascinating characters, collaborating and storytelling? This is the camp for you! 

Students will play with a mix of improvised and scripted scenes and work together with the teaching team to conceptualize a casual performance for parents to enjoy on Friday. This camp will teach kids how to command the stage, tell a story clearly and effectively using theatrical techniques, and stretch their imagination in a one-of-a-kind experience—tons of laughs and cherished memories guaranteed! 

WHEN: Monday through Friday, July 20 to 24, 12:30 to 3:30 pm (casual presentation Friday ~3 pm)

Mike O'Hara – Acting & Improv Teacher

Mike O’Hara’s storyline is very much like an improvised show. Born in Yonkers, New York, Mike has taken life’s stage as an actor, standup comic, improvisor, host, commentator, lead singer of a Punk rock band, and coach.

O’Hara earned an athletic scholarship, rowed Division 1 crew, and graduated from Syracuse University with a B.A. in Political Science. Degree in hand, Mike moved to New York City and then to Los Angeles to pursue acting, standup, and improvisational comedy. Following in the footsteps of his childhood Idol, Bill Murray, O’Hara studied and performed at the Second City becoming a member of the theatre’s inaugural LA Main Stage Company. While on the West Coast, Mike appeared on a variety of television shows including MTV’s Punk’d, Monk, CSI New York, Run of the House, and Parks and Recreation. During his time writing and performing in the sketch comedy duo, “Lloyd Dobbler’s Boom Box," O’Hara co-founded a Celtic-infused Punk Rock band called The Mighty Regis. The band was initially based on a sketch, but quickly became a touring act on The Vans Warped Tour. TMR played in support on US Tours with the likes of Dropkick Murphys, Frank Turner, and others.

Mike was hired to host Major League Baseball’s multimedia show/web series “Fan Cave” in 2011 and moved back to New York. Continuing to act and work in the city O’Hara appeared on Madam Secretary, Law & Order SVU, The Drop, and Wolf of Wall Street.

Since moving to Connecticut to start a family, Mike is currently the Varsity Women’s Head Coach at the Saugatuck Rowing Club in Westport. Coaching has given him the unique opportunity to combine his love of sport and performing in the same realm. To entertain while coaching allows the improvisor and former athlete to work in what has been an amazing endeavor.

On top of coaching, O’Hara also works currently for the Fox Nation streaming platform as a host, commentator, and voiceover artist.

 
Jamie Mann – Acting and Dance Teacher, Vocal Coach

Jamie Mann, a Westport native, made his Broadway debut in spring 2025 in "Stranger Things: The First Shadow," playing Ted Wheeler (the teenage version of Mike Wheeler's dad, from the famed TV series) and understudying James Hopper, Jr. Jamie began training with Cynthia Gibb at the age of 8, which is when a casting director scouted him and his professional acting journey began. A dancer since he could walk, Jamie trained with Alvin Ailey and the School of American Ballet in New York and danced with New York City Ballet (Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Harlequinade). After landing his dream role of Billy Elliot in Billy Elliot the Musical (Maltz Jupiter, Fulton, Palace), Jamie fell in love with musical theatre. In addition to being an active Staples Player in high school, he played “Dunlap” in Because of Winn Dixie at Goodspeed and put his singing and dancing skills to use in his series regular role as “Brody” on Netflix’s music themed show Country Comfort, starring Katharine McPhee. Most recently Jamie portrayed Tate on Days of Our Lives (Peacock). He earned his BFA in musical theatre from the University of Michigan in spring 2025. Go Blue! Jamie is represented by Innovative Artists and Jen Namoff.
jamiemartinmann.com