TRAHC (Texarkana, AR) – I have had weeklong residencies with elementary, middle, and high schools throughout Texarkana. TRAHC has provided a great partnership that allows students to experience the arts in the classroom. I have collaborated with teachers and students to devise new works in accordance to grade level specific projects, had an in-depth study of Peter Pa, and taught improvisation workshops to encourage creativity and collaboration.
Arts Integration Services (Little Rock, AR) – I am part of the “Crystal Bridges in the Classroom” team. These weeklong residencies for fifth graders include two teaching artists that use pieces of visual art combined with other art forms to teach the core curriculum. We have used art to better understand habitats and environments, the systems of the body, and discuss the idea of “who is telling your story?”
Dallas Children’s Theatre (Dallas, TX) – I worked with Pre-K-Middle School age students in culturally diverse after-school programs using classical music, musical theatre, and theatre skills to build literacy and math skills for students (including ESL students). Students demonstrated growth in confidence and knowledge through hands-on activities that also provided individual moments as well as collaborative opportunities to work together as a team.
Missoula Children’s Theatre (Midwest Tour) – I toured the midwest providing weekly residencies in rural and urban communities that aimed to provide community-driven performing arts experiences for school age children (K-12th Grade). Alongside my tour partner (and husband), Daniel Collier, we rehearsed with and directed up to 64 children in a 5 day residency which culminated in an hour long musical theatre performance. We also provided additional workshops in rhythm in music, stage makeup, and theatrical improvisation.
Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre Program (Atlanta, GA) – I worked within a team of 4 members of the Educational Company Outreach team to create and perform hands-on workshops and theatrical experiences with the focus of encouraging healthy living for all ages. Topics ranged from making healthy food choices to mental health issues (including depression and stress) and physical fitness for people of all ages. I also created 9 interactive songs for the Mumferd’s Safety Tales series which teaches safety lessons to children in preschool-2nd grade. I participated in professional development experiences at the AATE conference in Chicago, IL and performed in Fragments: Impressions of Grief at conferences in Orlando, FL and Seattle, WA. Although I no longer work for Kaiser Permanente, I have stayed up to date with their outreach, and they have continued to use many of the lesson plans and tools (and songs) that I created during my time with the company.
Wildwood Park for the Arts (Little Rock, AR) – I have worked as an actor, teacher, and administrator at Wildwood. Recent teaching opportunities have included working alongside our partner school, Chenal ES, where I have assisted with their musical production (providing choreography and directing assistance to the lead teacher), provided musical direction for the 5th grade promotion ceremony, and coordinated the talent show/coached talent show performers. I’ve also taught as an instructor at the Wildwood Academy of Music & the Arts (WAMA) teaching theatre, musical theatre, and voice lessons to students ages 6-19.
LISA Academy North (Sherwood, AR) – I led a weekly after-school theatre program for ES students as well as MS/HS students. Students explored the fundamentals of drama and theatrical production through scene studies in a club for MS/HS students. Scenes were selected from plays ranging from comedic to dramatic, Shakespeare, and Theatre for Young Audiences, including “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” “The Miss Firecracker Contest,” “Our Town,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and “The Crucible”.
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