About Us: The Cocoon Theatre Mission

• Our history
• The creative team
• Where are We? (how to find us)
• Summary of our past performances
• Honors and recognition
• The Cocoon Theatre Scholarship Award
• Our Graduates - Flying Away on Golden Wings of Creativity!
• Help us Grow - Become a Friend of Cocoon!
• This year's calendar of events

Our History

Cocoon Theatre originally began in 1988 as a puppet/dance theater group performing for children in NYC schools under the name "The Cocoon Theatre For Children" by Marguerite and Andres San Millan. The company quickly grew in popularity to include performances of all shapes and sizes, from outdoor festivals, hospitals, private parties and functions, to shows designed for historic sites and environmental events. As modern dancers and choreographers with a young family of their own, they created a venue to perform themselves, as well as offer quality performances, with ideas they felt lacking in the types of theater offered to children.

Cocoon Theatre is now a non-profit organization with a wide variety of educational opportunities for children of all ages, providing extensive Arts-In-Education programs, moving into the public and private school setting. It has grown from a small puppet company to a working studio and theater, offering classes and performing opportunities to the complete public.

Cocoon Theatre still lovingly performs puppet shows and storytellings, both for the general public as well as for private events, with a repertoire now including six working shows and over 50 stories. However, that is a small part of what is offered. Classes include (for all ages): Modern Dance, Choreography, Movement for Actors, Drama Workshops, Toddler Dance, Creative Movement and Exercise, Improvisation, Creative Teen Workshops and more!

Cocoon Theatre has expanded to reach into the adult world by structuring dance and drama performing companies, touching sensitive material and exploring more mature and emotional subject matter. Cocoon Theatre Modern Dance Company, now in its second year, is growing strong. Cocoon Theatre Choreography Company, in its first year, teaches choreography to young dancers culminating with a performance. "Community Theater" format plays are slated for performances twice yearly.

The Creative Team

As Cocoon Theatre's director, Marguerite San Millan offers summer workshops for children ages 6 to 18 and regular audition placement drama performances yearly. She is an accomplished storyteller appearing throughout Dutchess and Columbia counties. Marguerite is choreographer, dancer and actor, as well as playwright. She has choreographed over 25 plays and 50 modern dance works. She has taught for over 20 years, both privately and in the public school system, ranging in classes from dance for the disabled, creative movement for children and exercise for the prenatal/postpartum woman, to adult improvisation and modern dance. She has 10 commissioned works.

Andres San Millan is an artist, sculptor, dancer, actor, choreographer and painter. He operates his own faux-painting/mural business, Alfa Ventures. He has created many mural projects in Rhinebeck, Beacon, Red Hook and Millbrook, as well as brought mural designs to the walls of many businesses and private homes throughout the Hudson Valley. He has 3 wood sculptures to his credit, countless stencil creations, many works of art in the papier mache and plaster medium and currently is set, costume and lighting designer for Cocoon Theatre.

Where are We?

Cocoon Theatre is located in the heart of Rhinebeck, NY, on 6384 Mill Street (Route 9), directly across from the Beekman Arms. Our entrance is just south of the Calico Restaurant, on the second floor (we now have an elevator). Maps courtesy of mapquest.com.