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Teaching as a Theatre Artist

4/30/2018

I have always enjoyed teaching, and now that I have my MFA I am qualified to teach at the collegiate level. This excites me and opens up some fun opportunities like the one I was able to have teaching a wig workshop in Virginia.
When I was working towards my masters degree I worked at Virginia Shakespeare Festival for two summers. While there I worked as the cutter/assistant designer and formed a close relationship with my work team and designer. She happens to be the head of the costume department at a Virginia university. Before graduating a design opportunity was offered to me, but unfortunately I was still in classes and the timing was not going to work out. After graduating I was approached again, but this time to come and teach a workshop on one of my other passions, wigs.
There was a small class of students learning to style wigs as a semester long class, but my workshop was to be a supplement to their course. I would teach ventilating, which is something I enjoy doing. I spoke with the designer and shop head and we created a weekend workshop to introduce students to theatrical hair ventilating and construction. I had a blast teaching.

Unlike a regular class where students are required to attend, this workshop was full of students who wanted to be there. They were all very enthusiastic about learning and asked very specific and well thought out questions. The workshop was made up of college students, staff, and professors who wanted to learn the basics of theatrical hair creation. I could not have asked for a better class.
I hope to continue to teach as I work my way up in my career. I enjoy sharing the information I received while interning, working, etc.

Photo: Some of my students practicing taking a head "mold" on a fellow classmate. Their energy was great and everyone was willing to jump in and try their hands at whatever I threw at them.

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First Invited Dress

4/2/2018

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Two months after leaving (graduating) from grad school I had the opportunity to work on my first Broadway musical as an assistant (runner/shopper/etc.). I had the opportunity to see the show at invited dress this week.

Invited Dress n. One of the final dress rehearsals for a show when those who have worked on the show in certain roles or friends and family are invited to watch.

Tips for your first invited dress experience:

Make sure you know what section your ticket is for- Most invited dress tickets are general admission by area (orchestra, mezzanine, balcony, etc.)
Get there early to get in line- Since the tickets are for general admission you are on your own for seating. The sooner you are in line the better options you have for seating.
Remember it is still a rehearsal- Although the show is nearing it's previews and opening, this is still a dress rehearsal. There may be stopping and starting or malfunctions. (There were two very tiny malfunctions at the one I went to)
Have fun and be supportive of the cast and crew!- Clap and cheer at parts you like! If there is a special announcement before the show (ie: all the people making their Broadway debut get a moment on stage) cheer and show your support for your fellow artists!

It was a lot of fun to see the show I had been working on for about a month. I was brought on late in the process so I had no clue what costume was for what scene. I had not seen any of the show nor had I seen any sketches. It was a lot of fun to see all the garments I had been handling on stage in their specific scenes.

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Teaching as a Theatre Artist

First Invited Dress

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