Theatre Arts Educator

It was a no-brainer that I should diversify my performing arts to include the hyphenate actor-educator, since I believe the role of all arts as an educational tool is vital. 

For the past 20 years, I’ve worked creating and teaching theatre. I’ve worked within diverse communities that include: pre-schoolers, senior citizens, college theater and dance majors and public school students.

Currently, I am on faculty at The Alvin Ailey Dance School.

I am also a part-time Adjunct Professor at SUNY Empire College where I am a PLA (Previous Learning Assessment) Evaluator for student’s requesting college level credit from their life experience in the performing arts.

What I teach at Alvin Ailey Dance School in New York City:

Fundamentals of Musical Theatre

This class is part of the curriculum for the 3-Year Professional Certificate Program Division. The class introduces students to the three disciplines that make up Musical Theatre: Acting, Singing, Dancing. Each discipline is touched upon through various exercises, where the key component is to help the student recognize and operate from the awareness that they are storytellers. The class culminates with students performing a solo song as well as a group musical theatre number.

I created this course in collaboration with the Artistic Directors of the Ailey School.

I am an AEA/SAG actor with 40 years experience that I bring into the classroom with me.

My spin on this class is to infuse the experience with humor and share a breadth of knowledge from my own journey of being a seasoned triple threat performer, actor, singer and dancer, while still continuing to be a working professional.

I’ve always wanted to obtain a Masters Degree. As I came off a 3-year stint on the National Tour of Monty Python’s Spamalot, I enrolled as a full-time Masters Student in Applied Theatre at CUNY - School of Professional Studies.

The degree opened up my perspective on how to be a collaborator, especially when being an educator. Best decision I ever made.

I consider myself a life-long learner even as I continue to teach and perform. There is always something more to understand. And the Performing Arts provide a powerful platform for that ongoing learning to occur.

HERE’S WHAT I CAN DO FOR YOU & YOUR GROUP:


Design a workshop that focuses on storytelling and its importance in your specific workplace.

Design an improv workshop that invites participants to learn through various improv games and exercises (i.e., the value of saying “Yes, and…”)

I can tailor a specific workshop for you and your group/company. Contact me below and let’s discuss what that might be.

WORKING WITH YOUNG PERFORMERS:

Worked in NYC public schools for 20+ years, with pre-school through high school students, bringing theater arts into the classroom;

Taught acting in after-school programs;

Created/devised original theatre with my students from their own ideas;

Working with the young people ALWAYS inspires me and reminds me of the power of joy and wonder!

Co-Facilitated workshops for seniors culminating in a devised piece of theatre created from the ideas of the participants.

Working with seniors and hearing their stories, their lived experiences, is awe-inspiring! The key ingredient I’ve learned from these truly unique life masters, is don’t sweat the small stuff. Live! Laugh! Love!

LGBTQIA+

Co-facilitated an intergenerational theatre-building project for the LGBTQ community, Bridging the Gap, in partnership with SAGE (Services and Advocacy for Gay LGBTQ Elders).

This included a 12-week theatre workshop culminating in a performance of an original piece created by the participants.

Project was the recipient of an LMCC (Lower Manhattan Cultural Commission) grant.