As a teacher, I want to help my students fall in love with learning and the beauty of theatre. As an artist, I want to instill in them the understanding that theatre is a tool used to change not only themselves but the world. I hope to inspire my students to be the best versions of themselves that they can be. My classroom is a safe and open space where students are encouraged to build trust with their classmates and become vulnerable in their performance. I want to build a bond with my students upon trust and the mutual understanding that no one is without their quirks - including their teacher!

 

My classes focus on the comprehension, analysis, and performance of the technical and artistic aspects of monologues, scenes, plays, and musicals. My students read all materials and engage in class discussion before they begin to plan their interpretation of the text. My classes are split between student-lead discussions or presentations about the material and “up on their feet” activities.

 

Students are encouraged to make bold choices with confidence and creativity. I teach and reinforce skills that every theatre artist should have such as concentration, relaxation, observation, and imagination. I believe that theatre is a cross-curricular subject, and skills developed in theatre will remain relevant in life as a whole, not just middle school or high school. Through hard work and determination, my students will gain confidence and compassion in their work and performance. My students learn that belief is a powerful thing in the theatre, and that belief in themselves is one of the most important things that theatre can teach them.

 

I want my students to understand that theatre, much like literature, is a safe place to say and do unsafe (radical, societally unacceptable, etc.) things. I want my students to know that “good” theatre doesn’t always have a happy ending. Theatre holds up a mirror to society as a whole and can leave us with an uncomfortable feeling, which often inspires change. Above all, I want my students to understand that I will not let them fail. Theatre is a place to grow, and I want to foster that growth in an environment of acceptance and belief.