Juanita Rodrigues
Theatre Department Chair

Ms. Rodrigues was born in Springfield, MA and relocated to Boston at the age of four. She attended the Boston, Wellesley, and Somerville School systems and graduated from Somerville High. She holds a B.S.S.P. in Speech and Communication and a Masters of Arts in Theatre Education from Emerson College. Ms. Rodrigues has been involved with the performing arts for over 20 years. Her training began at the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts where she studied both acting and dance. Juanita's dance training continued in Boston as she studied with such teachers as Consuelo Barkara, Danny Sloane, Adrienne Hawkins, and Christian Polos at the Joy of Movement Center Co. At Jacobs' Pillow Juanita was accepted as a scholarship student where she trained with James Truitt, Carmen DeLavallade, Milton Meyers, and Judith Jamison. She has also studied, taught and competed in a number of martial arts systems. Juanita is a well-respected teacher and director in the Boston area and has held workshops on acting for colleagues in the Boston School System.

Most recently she was a panelist at Emerson College as the Theatre Education Department looked at how arts can thrive in a MCSA world; and participated in Boston Arts Academy Mentor Program. Juanita has also has acted in both theatre and film in Boston and New York. She is also the founder and artistic director of Tri Cord Productions a Christian-based theatre company which was nominated for an I.R.E.N.E award for best ensemble for Boston’s' 2003 theatre season.