Teaching Philosophy
I have a special place in my heart for theatre education and youth theatre. I see how the skills and accomplishments experienced in theatre can touch and enhance so many areas of our lives. I've seen youth obtain confidence, shoulder responsibilities, and find their voice. I've seen them discover themselves, see the world around them with new eyes, and open their hearts to diversity and change - all through experiencing theatre.
It is important to me as an educator to expand my students' understanding of the world of theater. Two things I try hard to convey when working with youth is that theatre is not all about acting, and acting is not all about theatre:
Theatre is not all about acting is an important concept for youth who are drawn to the artform, but don't aspire to the stage. I want up-and-coming theatre lovers to understand that there are a multitude of art forms that contribute to a production. Theatre is truly the most collaborative art in existence, drawing from an eclectic array of talents to create one final piece. Too often, an emphasis is put on the acting talent as the critical aspect of theatre, when in actuality the actor is only one piece of the puzzle. The idea that tech crew exists to support the actor needs to be replaced with the realization that the tech and stage crew exist to support the show, and the actors themselves also exist to support the show. They all serve the art. Set design, lighting design, props design, costume design, and stage management all take an immense amount of creativity and artistry, and are all crucial aspects of theatre. It's important for youth to understand that no matter where their artistic talents lie, they have a place in theatre.
Acting is not all about theatre addresses the fact that honing and nurturing acting skills does not have to be about taking the stage. Taking an acting class can inspire poise, self-assurance, creative thinking, expanded imagination, discipline, collaboration, and a sense of accomplishment. All of these things can translate to better grades, improved social skills, healthier concepts of self, more intelligent risk-taking, and the ability to see both the forest and the trees.
Those who are Actors are already Actors. They will find their way to the craft with or without classes and training. Teaching theatre to youth cannot be about creating actors. It must be about creating a generation of theatre-lovers who will fill the seats at live theatre shows, who will have bigger, fuller lives because of what they have learned in theatre, and who will teach their children to love theatre.
It is important to me as an educator to expand my students' understanding of the world of theater. Two things I try hard to convey when working with youth is that theatre is not all about acting, and acting is not all about theatre:
Theatre is not all about acting is an important concept for youth who are drawn to the artform, but don't aspire to the stage. I want up-and-coming theatre lovers to understand that there are a multitude of art forms that contribute to a production. Theatre is truly the most collaborative art in existence, drawing from an eclectic array of talents to create one final piece. Too often, an emphasis is put on the acting talent as the critical aspect of theatre, when in actuality the actor is only one piece of the puzzle. The idea that tech crew exists to support the actor needs to be replaced with the realization that the tech and stage crew exist to support the show, and the actors themselves also exist to support the show. They all serve the art. Set design, lighting design, props design, costume design, and stage management all take an immense amount of creativity and artistry, and are all crucial aspects of theatre. It's important for youth to understand that no matter where their artistic talents lie, they have a place in theatre.
Acting is not all about theatre addresses the fact that honing and nurturing acting skills does not have to be about taking the stage. Taking an acting class can inspire poise, self-assurance, creative thinking, expanded imagination, discipline, collaboration, and a sense of accomplishment. All of these things can translate to better grades, improved social skills, healthier concepts of self, more intelligent risk-taking, and the ability to see both the forest and the trees.
Those who are Actors are already Actors. They will find their way to the craft with or without classes and training. Teaching theatre to youth cannot be about creating actors. It must be about creating a generation of theatre-lovers who will fill the seats at live theatre shows, who will have bigger, fuller lives because of what they have learned in theatre, and who will teach their children to love theatre.
