I have been a teaching artist and storyteller since 1985 after I graduated from Florida State University and completed a year as an intern at the Alliance Theatre.  My first teaching artist residency was at Fort Benning and I have since visited many towns and cities in Georgia, as well as schools in the Atlanta area. My goal in a Classroom Acting Workshop is to provide an environment for students to achieve an understanding of events, facts, and significant people, as well as explore aspects of their own creativity, language skills, powers of observation, concentration, and memory. I believe what they experience by using acting techniques can have lifetime benefits. I use a variety of stage techniques in my storytelling performances, including magical illusions, puppets, drawing stories, audience participation, and humor.   As a performer, I hope to unite the audience and provide a shared, focused experience.

Arts Disciplines: Storytelling, Theatre/Drama

Core Content Curriculum Areas: Science, English/Language Arts, Social Studies/History, Theatre/Drama

Specialized Content Areas: Arts Integration, World Cultures

Grade Levels: Pre-K, K-2, 3-5, 6-8

Pre-Service Learning and Professional Development: Professional Development for K-12 Teachers

Geographic Availability: Metro Atlanta, North Georgia, Middle Georgia

Program Fees:

• Performances:
  • Queen Emeralda – “Magical Garden Stories”
    • $250 plus travel outside Atlanta area
    • pre-K-3rd grade, 250 students, 45 minutes
  • Queen Snowflake – Winter Wonderland
    • $250 plus travel outside Atlanta area
    • pre-K-3rd grade, 250 students, 45 minutes
  • Tall Tales – Paul Bunyon and Johnny Appleseed stories
    • $250 plus travel outside Atlanta area
    • pre-K-3rd grade, 250 students, 45 minutes
  • Mrs. Twiggy Winkle – Frog Tales and Aesop’s Fables
    • $250 plus travel outside Atlanta area
    • pre-K-3rd grade, 250 students, 45 minutes
  • Sun Stories – Sun Stories from around the World
    • $250 plus travel outside Atlanta area
    • pre-K-3rd grade, 250 students, 45 minutes
• Workshops:
  • 45 minutes
  • $125 per workshop, two workshop minimum
  • 35 students per workshop
  • Location:  Classroom or open room
  • Note: All workshops were developed through requests from principals or teachers.
• Residencies: To be suited to the needs of each community

Artistic Profile:

After graduating with a BA in Theatre from Florida State University, I served as an Alliance Theatre Intern. I’ve acted in dinner theatre, commercials, and film. I use several storytelling personas and perform at libraries, schools, festivals, and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. As a Teaching Artist for Young Audiences and Georgia Council for the Arts, I have worked throughout Georgia in schools and communities.

I was Program Director for Circus Camp for 21 years and directed their weekly shows, as well as supervised art, clowning, and acting.  I’ve been a presenter at many conferences and workshops for teachers on “Using Acting Techniques in the Classroom.” I taught classes and workshops for Georgia State University and have worked as an enrichment teacher for preschool children. After 30 years, I continue to conduct afterschool acting classes in my neighborhood.

I use a variety of stage techniques in my storytelling performances, including magical illusions, puppets, drawing stories, and audience participation. I like to leave plenty of room for humor. As a performer, I hope to unite the audience and provide a shared, focused experience. 

Teaching Experience:

Besides a BA in Theatre from FSU and my Alliance Theatre internship, my education as a teaching artist includes a sponsorship (by Mary Lin Elementary) to attend a Drama-Based Arts Education Conference at the Southeastern Center for Education in the Arts at Chattanooga.  For 15 years, Young Audiences annually offered special speakers and workshops and I attended these as often as possible.

I have been a Teaching Artist since 1985 when an elementary school principal asked me to act out The Boston Tea Party. I found I enjoyed researching topics and applying theatre techniques. My first Teaching Artist residency for Georgia Council for the Arts was in 1987 at Fort Benning and I have since visited many towns and cities in Georgia, as well as schools in the Atlanta area.  I taught classes and workshops for Georgia State University and have worked as an enrichment teacher for preschool children. After 30 years, I continue to conduct afterschool acting classes in my neighborhood.

My goal in a Classroom Acting Workshop is to provide an environment for students to achieve understanding of events, facts, and people, as well as explore aspects of themselves including their creativity, language skills, and powers of observation, concentration, and memory. I believe what they experience by using acting techniques can have a lifetime benefit.

Sample Programs:

• Riding West
  • Theme: “Travel” out West on the Oregon Trail
  • Grade Level:  4
  • Number of Students:  35
  • Facility:   Classroom
  • Technical Requirements:  none
  • Fee:   $125 per workshop, two workshop minimum
  • Standard Connection:  SS4H6
• Queen Snowflake’s Winter Wonderland Show
  • Theme: Winter
  • Grade Levels:  K-2
  • Number of Students:  225
  • Facility:  Stage (approx.. 10’ x 12’)
  • Fee:  $250 per performance
  • Standards Connections:  SKCS5. SKCS2. S1E1. S1E2.S2E2. S2L1.
• Insects are Everywhere
  • Theme: Insects’ Environments and Lives
  • Grade Levels:  K-2
  • Number of Students:   25
  • Facility:  Classroom or open space
  • Fee:  $125 per workshop, two workshop minimum
  • Standards Connections:  SKL1, SKL2, S1L1, S2L1

Sample Lesson Plans/Study Guides:

• Riding West Study Guide
• Queen Snowflake Study Guide
• Insects are Everywhere Study Guide

• Listing ID: 6025