TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

            It has long been my belief that education isn’t just for the young, and that if I didn’t learn something new on any given day, then I just wasn’t paying attention.  I loved being a student, which is why I think I love teaching. There is no greater honor than to be in the room when that light bulb goes on for a student – to catch that first glimpse of potential and self belief.  This is what keeps me coming back, and encourages me to keep replenishing my own arsenal of knowledge.

            When working with young performers, I want to be kind and affirming.  Theatre is an extremely difficult and demanding field, and I have met more than my share of destructive, egotistical instructors.  My goal is to not be one of them – the industry has too many, as it is!  This does not mean that I coddle my students.  I want to create an environment in which they can feel comfortable enough to try, and bold enough to fail. 

            I spent a year and a half teaching Science to elementary age students – a unique, fun, exhausting and extremely rewarding experience.  I had never taught the little guys before, and I learned a lot about myself.  I think one of the most beneficial things for me was that I wasn’t teaching theatre.  I had no personal investment in science – except that I liked it – so was therefore to let go of my own high expectations and just have fun as we all explored new realms (and exploded things!)  The added bonus was that I got to travel all over Oregon and SW Washington and wear a lab coat to work each day.

            I have recently begun teaching arts and crafts to adults, which requires a slightly different set of skills.  When in doubt, I treat them like kids – not to condescend, but to remind them to HAVE FUN!  Learning shouldn’t be a chore and it’s not about perfectionism, yet this attitude prevents so many adults from even trying.  So I encourage people to make mistakes and laugh at themselves, all while sharing awful anecdotes about my own mishaps! 

FORMAL EDUCATION

Ohio University, Athens, OH  - Master of Fine Arts, 1996  
Professional Director Training Program

Yale School of Drama, New Haven, CT - Technical Certificate, 1986
Concentration in Lighting and Electricity

Clark University, Worcester, MA - Bachelor of Arts, 1985
Double concentration in Music and Theatre Arts

University of Sussex, Brighton, England - 1983-84
International Exchange Program

TEACHING RESUME:

TEACHING

Mad Science of Portland and Vancouver, Portland, OR

Senior Instructor (2005-2006)

Part-time instructor of after school science programs, special events, science fairs, and summer camps for international education and entertainment franchise company.   Taught various age groups, from pre-Kindergarten through early middle school.  Topics covered included Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Earth Science, Rocketry and Aerodynamics, Space, Meteorology, Ecology, Electricity, Crime Investigation, and Paleontology.  Trained, observed and coached new instructors.

Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR    -    Director of Theatre (2003-2004)

Part-time faculty position at private liberal arts institution.  Directed and produced two mainstage productions per year; taught four additional courses in Acting, Directing and Theatre History; supervised student crews, stage managers, work-study, and staff Technical Director, Costume Director and Director of Dance.  Supervised 2 mainstage dance concerts and 10 student-directed productions.  Executed publicity and sound design needs for mainstage productions.  Helped integrate new Dance minor into Theatre Dept.  Created opportunities for students to meet working theatre professionals, see free or reduced-price professional productions, and restructured department rehearsals and auditions. 

Northwest Children’s Theatre and School, Portland, OR    -    Actor/Teacher (2002-04)

Taught Creative Dramatics in Portland area schools (K-12), including Spanish immersion classes.  3-5 week residencies focused on theatre games and group activities, leading to skill building and story dramatization using parallel play, reader’s theatre, and story theatre techniques.  Specific curriculum tie-ins were incorporated into each class demonstrating the ability of theatre to more deeply explore and understand other academic subjects. 

The Haven Project, Portland, OR    -    Artist Mentor (2002-03)

Facilitated the creation of original theatre with at-risk youth.  In a group setting, students were taught theatre games designed to free the imagination so that a 2-character play may be written from the heart.  Dramatic structure, conflict, crisis and consequences were taught through improvisation and writing exercises designed to move the piece forward while allowing the student to retain ownership of their work.  Each two-week session culminated in a performance before the students’ peers.

National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan    -    Senior Fulbright Lecturer (2001-02)

Taught two courses in English, “Directing II”, and “Hamlet: Performance Studies”, and directed fully-supported mainstage production of Bertolt Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle in English, at Taiwan’s premiere national university as part of a 5-month Fulbright scholarship.  Other activities included guest lecturing at local universities, presenting a stage combat workshop, and research in classical and contemporary Asian theatre and dance forms on Mainland China.

Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ    -    Interim Director of Opera Theatre (1998-99)

Liaison between Theatre and Choral Studies Divisions, teaching courses and working closely with students in both performance areas.  Duties included directing and producing two major productions per year with orchestra; fiscal management of program with annual budget of $15,000; supervision of graduate assistant, musical director and student stage managers; faculty Publicity Advisor for all Theatre and Opera productions and special projects.  Taught two courses with release time for administrative duties: large-lecture “Introduction to Theatre” course for undergraduate non-majors; created new “Acting and Movement for Singers” course, which was added to the Vocal Performance major.  Directed first operas in their original languages.  Instituted “Real World Seminar” series to prepare students for work in the industry after graduation. 

Private Theatre Instruction, Flagstaff, AZ (1999-2000)

Acting: Topics included basic Stanislavsky Method, monologue work, overcoming stage fright, movement and imagery exercises, auditioning techniques, headshots and résumés, modeling, and commercial presentation.

Directing: Topics included organization, script analysis, pre-production, casting, scheduling, design and performance elements.
 

COURSES TAUGHT

Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR

• Directing, Spring 2004

• Acting II, Spring 2004

• Theatre Company Performance, The Servant of Two Masters, Spring 2004

• Acting I, Fall 2003

• Theatre History, Fall 2003

• Theatre Company Performance, The Visit, Fall 2003

National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

• Hamlet: Performance Studies, Fall 2001

• Directing II, Fall 2001

• Production and Performance, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Fall 2001

Portland State University, Portland, OR

• Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Winter 2001

• Asian Minimalism, workshop, Summer 2002

Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ

• Introduction to Acting, Spring and Summer 2000

• Acting and Movement for Singers, 1998-99

• Opera Performance Workshop/Opera Production Workshop, 1998-99

• Introduction to Theatre, 1998-99

• Production Practicum – Publicity, 1998-99

Northern Arizona University Preparatory School, Flagstaff, AZ

• Theatre I (5-8 yr. olds), 1999-2000

• Theatre II (9-12 yr. olds), 1999-2000

• Theatre III (13-16 yr. olds), 1999-2000

Ohio University, Athens, OH

• Introduction to Directing, Winter 1996

Carnegie Mellon University Pre-College Program, Pittsburgh, PA

• Audition Techniques, Summer 1994-96

• Movement, Summer 1994-96

• Speech, Summer 1994-96

Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD

• Introduction to Theatre, 1992-93

 

WORKSHOPS TAUGHT

• Stage Combat - National Taiwan University - 2001

• Auditioning - Theatrikos Theatre Company - 2000

• British Dialect - Theatrikos Theatre Company - 1999

• Ensemble Acting - Theatrikos Theatre Company - 1999

• Directing a Musical - Northern Arizona University - 1999

• Headshots and Résumés - Northern Arizona University - 1999

• Finding the Right Graduate School - Northern Arizona University - 1999

 

WORKSHOP AND SEMINAR PARTICIPATION

• Viewpoints - Melody Bates - University of Portland - 2003

• Viewpoints II - Melody Bates - University of Portland - 2003

• Raw Material - Nancy Keystone - Portland Center Stage - 2003

• Stage Combat - John Armour - Ironclad Productions - 2001

• Meisner Technique - Chris Coleman - Portland Center Stage - 2001

• Script Analysis - Chris Coleman - Portland Center Stage - 2001

• Awareness Through Dance - Jayne Lee - Coconino Comm. College - 2000

• Feldenkrais Technique - Sarah Witham - Flagstaff Adult Center - 2000

• Outreach/Commissioned Writing - Melissa Martin - Pittsburgh New Voices           1998

• Play Revision & Editing - Jeanne Drennan - Pittsburgh New Voices - 1998

• Building a Character/Playwriting - Bill Kovacsik - Pittsburgh New Voices - 1998

• Merce Cunningham Master Class - Robert Swinton - Pittsburgh Dance Council - 1997

• Playwriting - Frank Gagliano - Carnegie Mellon University - 1996

• Audition Techniques - Ed Stern - Ohio University - 1995

• Modern Noh Theatre - Kongoh School - Carnegie Mellon University - 1995

• Playwriting - Howard Stein - Ohio University - 1994

• Stage Combat - Bill Reith - Great Lakes Theater Festival  - 1990

• Kabuki Technique - Leonard Pronko - Clark University - 1982

 

EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION

• Portland Center Stage, Portland, OR

• Education Director (2000-01)

  Oversaw the design and implementation of a new education program for LORT B regional theatre.  Duties included maintenance and expansion of existing audience enrichment programs including study guides, Forum series, audience Q&A sessions, pre-show chats; worked with Access Coordinator; explored outreach opportunities; created High School and University Student Ambassador programs; positioned institution for creating a national caliber pre-professional acting internship; expanded the scope of technical and administrative internship programs; created a relationship with the public school system; directed, evaluated, and wrote curriculum for Visions & Voices playwrighting-in-the-schools program; established connections with local artistic and educational institutions; and researched and explored the most impactive ways for PCS to establish itself as a leader in artistic education.

• Great Lakes Theater Festival, Cleveland, OH

• Director of Student Education (1990)

  Designed, directed and administered in-school residency programs focusing on bringing the works of Shakespeare to Cleveland area junior and senior high schools which reached 10,000 students annually.  Controlled marketing and fiscal management of department with $100,000 budget.  Institutional development; established school contacts; preparation of classroom syllabi and scripts; casting, hiring and training of actor/teachers; observed and evaluated actors in schools; assisted in mainstage casting; supervised assistant.

RELATED SKILLS

Read and Write Music, Play Guitar, Vocal Coach, Dialect Coach, Translation skills, Choreographer, Movement Specialist, Improvisation.
Languages: nearly fluent Spanish, good Italian, good German, beginning Mandarin Chinese; working knowledge of Latin, Yiddish, French, Flemish and Japanese.

EDUCATION

• Ohio University, Athens, OH - Master of Fine Arts, 1996 - Professional Director Training Program

• Yale School of Drama, New Haven, CT - Technical Certificate, 1986 - Concentration in Lighting and Electricity

• Clark University, Worcester, MA - Bachelor of Arts, 1985 - Double concentration in Music and Theatre Arts

• University of Sussex, Brighton, England - 1983-84 - International Exchange Program

HONORS AND AWARDS

• SDCF Observership, with Jon Jory, Intiman Theatre, Seattle, 2006

• Fulbright Scholar, Senior Lecturing Award, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, 2001-02

• Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society, Ohio University, 1995

• In the Spring of 2006, I won an Observership through the Stage Director’s and Choreographer’s Foundation – an arm of SSDC (the Society of Stage Director’s and Choreographer’s – the union of professional theatrical directors).  I observed Master Director Jon Jory (founding Artistic Director of the Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, and Founder of the Humana Festival of New American Plays).  He was directing George Bernard Shaw’s Heartbreak House with some of the finest actors in Seattle.  I spent 7 weeks at the Intiman Theatre, which had just won a prestigious Tony Award for Outstanding Contribution to Regional Theatre.  (Yes, I got to see the Tony, but not touch it.  It was prominently displayed in a case in the lobby of the theatre.  It was silver and shiny and smaller than I thought it would be!) 

• One of the added bonuses to this great experience was meeting the Sherman family of Mercer Island, WA.  Ben & Gwen Sherman (and their daughter Jen – no joke!), housed me for the duration, and we became fast friends.  So much so that I was invited back to direct for The Next Step Theatre Company, of which they are on the board.  I even managed to get them to feed me for Thanksgiving!  (For more information about my experiences in Seattle – and, or course, photos! - check out my Travel section).

CONTINUING EDUCATION

I consider myself to be a life-long student, and frequently go back into the classroom to satisfy my intense curiosity about many different subjects.  Here’s a sampling of recent classes I’ve taken:

Independent Study:   

• Mandarin Chinese (Qing Sheng (AZ); Ping Khaw (OR))

• Watercolors (Ping Khaw)

• Iris Folding (Martha Sharp)

• Monoline Italic Calligraphy

Portland Community College:

• Advanced Spanish Conversation (Gabriel Torres)

• Italian I-IV (Sabri Azizi)

• Beginning Chinese

CURRENT CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS:

I am currently teaching classes at Portland Community College’s Capital Center Campus in Beaverton, OR.  For the most updated listing, fees and dates, please consult www.pcc.edu.

Portland Community College:

• Iris Folding (a crafting class making intricate Iris Fold collages)

• Card making (covering techniques that include rubber stamping, punches, collage and using found and recycled objects)

• Acting for Professionals (a survey acting course for people who deal with the public and would like more confidence when doing so.  Perfect for teachers, lawyers, nurses, or anyone who has to make a presentation or speak in public.  No previous acting experience necessary).

• Portland Theatre Sampler (an 8-week class, half of which is spent in the classroom discussing genre, structure, “show biz” and theatre etiquette.  The other half is spent at the theatre seeing a varying array of performances at established Portland theatres.  No previous theatre-viewing experience necessary.  Just bring an open mind).
   

Independent Study:

• Crafting-making Parties (I travel to your home, organization or business to teach you a variety of crafting techniques, including Card making, Iris Folding, Paper Ornaments, Basic Origami, or a combination of several crafts.  For ages 8 to adult; limited to 5-15 people).

• Acting (By appointment only.  One-on-one classes covering a variety of topics, appropriate to age level and experience).

• Dialects Learn to speak in a correct and authentic dialect for theatre and film.  Over three dozen dialects are available, including:

  • North American: Standard American (Midwestern U.S.), Bostonian, Down East (Maine), New York, Long Island, Brooklyn, Amish, Georgian (Standard American Southern), Arkansas, Minnesota, Canadian, Baltimore, Texan, Cajun, Mexican

  • British Isles: Standard British (Received Pronunciation), Cockney, Geordie, Liverpool, Essex, Nottinghamshire, West Midlands; Scottish (Standard & Brogue); Irish (Dublin, West Country & Northern Counties).

  • European: French, German (Hoch Deutsche, Bavarian, & Berliner), Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Standard Scandinavian, Standard Russian, Transylvanian/Romanian, Standard Eastern European, various grammalots.

  • Asia & Oceania: Standard Chinese, Beijing & Northern Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Standard Indian, Vietnamese, Australian.

  • African: Standard West African (Nigeria/Ghana), South African (black & white variations).

  • I am also able to tutor actors in speaking in foreign languages: Italian, Spanish (Castillian and Mexican), German, Mandarin Chinese, and Japanese.

  • Help is also available for getting rid of an accent.

Website - ConsultingSpike