Teaching Philosophy
Passion. I have been teaching and working in theatre for most of my life. There is not anything I would rather do. Not only do I delight in sharing my experience and knowledge, I actively seek opportunities to continue my own growth. My passion for theatre and learning is contagious both to students planning a career in theatre and to those just passing through.
Fearless. It is easy to be unafraid when you are within your comfort zone, but being truly fearless is being undaunted in the face of the unknown; being bold, daring, and brave even when you cannot predict the outcome. To me, practicing theatre is about taking risks and pushing yourself. I challenge my students to drive themselves beyond what they thought they could do. The best way to learn is by doing. I assess the capabilities of each of my students then present them with individualized opportunities for growth and success. Being fearless is not a finish line, but a path; one that I continually strive to follow as an artist.
Respect. In order to encourage fearlessness, it is imperative to create a safe environment where students can feel free to explore, take risks, and even fail. On the first day of all of my classes I discuss the importance of respect: respect for the work and respect for the artist. We are in school to grow, and rarely are we successful the first time we try something difficult. As artists, we have a lifetime of criticism to face; the classroom is a place to support one another and offer useful assistance from teacher and fellow classmates alike.
Discovery. I believe learning is much more meaningful when it is a discovery. I often present my students with “what if” scenarios to get them to think outside the box. I use questions to guide them in search of the strongest choice. This encourages my students to think for themselves, to be more analytical, and helps them to understand that nothing in theatre is arbitrary.
Teamwork. I am a fierce advocate for teamwork. It takes every individual working to the best of their ability to make a successful production. This means not only doing your own job, but helping others to be able to do theirs. During my career I have taken it upon myself to gain experience in every aspect of theatre, because I believe the best way to be a productive member of the team is to understand the needs of each department, especially as the director and creative leader. My students learn to be accountable, to support and to trust one another.
Relevance. I strongly believe that the arts are a vital yet underappreciated part of the American culture. Theatre is still a relevant and important function of today’s society. Besides the obvious capacity to reflect the world around us, studying theatre builds creative minds and analytical thinkers. It creates confident presenters and strong leaders in the work force.
Fearless. It is easy to be unafraid when you are within your comfort zone, but being truly fearless is being undaunted in the face of the unknown; being bold, daring, and brave even when you cannot predict the outcome. To me, practicing theatre is about taking risks and pushing yourself. I challenge my students to drive themselves beyond what they thought they could do. The best way to learn is by doing. I assess the capabilities of each of my students then present them with individualized opportunities for growth and success. Being fearless is not a finish line, but a path; one that I continually strive to follow as an artist.
Respect. In order to encourage fearlessness, it is imperative to create a safe environment where students can feel free to explore, take risks, and even fail. On the first day of all of my classes I discuss the importance of respect: respect for the work and respect for the artist. We are in school to grow, and rarely are we successful the first time we try something difficult. As artists, we have a lifetime of criticism to face; the classroom is a place to support one another and offer useful assistance from teacher and fellow classmates alike.
Discovery. I believe learning is much more meaningful when it is a discovery. I often present my students with “what if” scenarios to get them to think outside the box. I use questions to guide them in search of the strongest choice. This encourages my students to think for themselves, to be more analytical, and helps them to understand that nothing in theatre is arbitrary.
Teamwork. I am a fierce advocate for teamwork. It takes every individual working to the best of their ability to make a successful production. This means not only doing your own job, but helping others to be able to do theirs. During my career I have taken it upon myself to gain experience in every aspect of theatre, because I believe the best way to be a productive member of the team is to understand the needs of each department, especially as the director and creative leader. My students learn to be accountable, to support and to trust one another.
Relevance. I strongly believe that the arts are a vital yet underappreciated part of the American culture. Theatre is still a relevant and important function of today’s society. Besides the obvious capacity to reflect the world around us, studying theatre builds creative minds and analytical thinkers. It creates confident presenters and strong leaders in the work force.
