TEACHING RESUME

EDUCATION

New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York, NY

M.A. in Educational Theatre, Grades K-12, Initial Certification

Expected Completion: May 2021

New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, New York, NY- 2012

B.F.A. in Drama, Atlantic Acting School, Playwrights Horizons Theater School

EXPERIENCE

Student teaching experience

STUDENT TEACHING, The dalton school; NEW YORK, NEW YORK (2021-PRESENT)

  • Provided remote instruction on Zoom to elementary school students in theater, often taking on responsibility as the lead teacher.

  • Harnessed students’ prior knowledge of myths, poetry, and art in lessons that applied film techniques to remote performance.

  • Recommendation can be requested from cooperating teacher:

    • Justin Greer (jgreer@dalton.org)

student teaching, new york city doe; new york, New york (2020)

  • Completed student teaching at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts.

  • Assisted in direction of Never the Sinner and Spring Awakening at FSSA, working closely with students to help them take ownership of acting techniques.

  • Designed unit for sophomores in which they applied improvisation to scripted scene work.

  • Recommendation can be requested from cooperating teacher:

    • Jamie Cacciola-Price (jcacciolaprice@fssahs.org)

YOUTH DIRECTING experience

THEATER DIRECTOR, FRENCH WOODS FESTIVAL OF THE PERFORMING ARTS; HANCOCK, NEW YORK (2008-PRESENT)

  • Responsible for directing and producing full-scale musical and dramatic productions with children ages 6-18 in as little as 24 hours of rehearsal time.

  • Coordinated assistant directors, choreographers, musical directors, and technical designers to ensure success and continuity of productions.

  • Adapted or wrote several productions to be performed as world premieres.

  • Directed the Improv Troupe, which focused on bringing longform technique to short form games.

  • Created and executed curricula for a variety of theater classes including scene study, improvisation, script analysis, directing, play reading, mime, voice, and speech.

  • Oversaw and managed many one act play festivals, often supervising campers making their directorial debuts.

  • Led revamp of theater class structure and curricula.

  • Successfully made the transition to remote instruction on Zoom with classes in improvisation, sketch comedy, devising, and theater games.

  • Lived and worked closely with children as camp counselor, ensuring that each child had an exceptional experience at camp.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, RANDOM FARMS KIDS THEATER; ELMSFORD, NEW YORK (2012)

  • Directed Oliver! at the Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, New York with children ages 7-17.

  • Responsible for creating blocking and choreography and maintaining its integrity across four separate casts.

  • Worked closely with producer, choreographer, musical director, and technical designers to collaborate on artistic choices for the production.

  • Assisted director in producing workshop of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown with elementary students.

  • Worked closely with actors, coaching them to find freedom, confidence, and energy in their choices.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, PLAY ON STUDIOS!; NEW YORK, NEW YORK (2014-2015)

  • Assisted director and music director on production of Urinetown at The Computer School with middle school students.

  • Worked closely with principal cast and ensemble on acting, stage presence, projection, and memorization techniques.

  • Assisted director in teaching choreography.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, PS87 AFTER SCHOOL; NEW YORK, NEW YORK (2013-2015)

  • Responsible for assisting director on production of Crazy for You and co-directing Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

  • Worked together with producer, director, choreographer, and music director to cast show.

  • Led group exercises to help students discover character and connect to historical context of show.

Teaching artist experience

TEACHING ARTIST, NEW YORK CITY CENTER; NEW YORK, NEW YORK (2019-PRESENT)

  • Taught pre- and post-show workshops for the Encores! program at various middle and high schools in Queens and Brooklyn.

  • Created original choreography to Washington Square Dance for Call Me Madam workshop.

  • Modified lesson plan for special needs class, which included student creation of choreography.

TEACHING ARTIST, JAMAICA CENTER FOR ARTS AND LEARNING; JAMAICA, NEW YORK (2018-PRESENT)

  • Taught and assisted on theater classes in after school programs at PS 82Q, PS 86Q, PS 136Q, and PS 160Q.

  • Devised an original short play through structured improvisation with the students at PS 86Q based on characters they created through physical exploration.

  • Led various theater games to teach the basics of improvisation during weekend classes for the community. 

TEACHING ARTIST, LEAP; NEW YORK, NEW YORK (2018-PRESENT)

  • Taught improv classes to K-3 students at PS 75K, focusing on instruction through a variety of theater games.

  • Devised short play about immigrant experience based on interviews with students.

  • Worked extensively with children to create culturally responsive classroom culture.

  • Provided assistance to students with homework.

TEACHING ARTIST, INSIDE BROADWAY; NEW YORK, NEW YORK (2017-PRESENT)

  • Implemented CASA programs by directing and choreographing NYC Musical Mystery Melodies with 2nd graders at PS 169X (Baychester Academy), Broadway Boro Big Top with 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders at PS 164Q, and Getting to Know Me at PS 16Q.

  • Collaborated with art teacher, principal, and vice principal to ensure successful scheduling and execution of program.

  • Responsible for teaching music to students from recorded tracks.

Coaching and teaching experience

THEATER TEACHER, CREATIVE MUSE; NEW YORK, NEW YORK (2020-PRESENT)

  • Virtually co-facilitated student driven character creation and playwrighting process on Zoom. 

  • Recorded, directed, and edited final remote performance video which included green screen special effects.

  • Designed and implemented original curriculum which used structured improvisation in devising process.

TEACHING ARTIST, ATLANTIC ACTING SCHOOL; NEW YORK, NEW YORK (2017-PRESENT)

  • Directed and choreographed Oliver! and A Year With Frog and Toad Kids with elementary school students.

  • Led theater games to help immerse children in the world of Victorian England.

  • Worked closely with shy children who were hesitant to participate.

  • Devised an original musical, I Gold You So!, with children using character-based structured improvisation.

FOUNDER, AARON FARENBACK-BRATEMAN LLC; NEW YORK, NEW YORK (2013-PRESENT)

  • Coached students for college auditions who received acceptances to NYU Tisch, Syracuse University, The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Oklahoma City University, Elon University, Pace University, Marymount Manhattan College, University of Miami (with full scholarship), Emerson College, Rider University, The Hartt School, Point Park University, Montclair State University, and Muhlenberg College, among others.

  • Coached students for graduate school auditions who received callbacks to Julliard and NYU’s Graduate Acting Program.

  • Designed and maintains website for the business.

  • Created Playgrounded, an improv program for kids and teens.

    • Created and executed original improv curriculum.

    • Designed and maintains website and social media accounts.

    • Responsible for tracking marketing and analytics.

    • Recruited students to, and taught multiple 10-week sessions of advanced long form improvisation classes.

    • Facilitated workshops at LaGuardia High School, Commack High School, and Kansas State University.

ACTING TEACHER, CURTAIN UP KIDS; NEW YORK, NEW YORK (2013)

  • Responsible for directing the Wizard of Oz with children ages 6-11.

  • Collaborated with head of program to plan weekly rehearsals, cast show, and to make artistic decisions.

  • Led improvisation and vocal exercises to help immerse students in the world of the play.

ACTING TEACHER, CHILD'S PLAY NY; BROOKLYN, NEW YORK (2013)

  • Worked with head of program on creating and executing weekly improvisation classes.

  • Directed and choreographed Free to Be...You and Me with second and third graders at The Packer Collegiate Institute.

  • Created and executed lesson plans exploring Greek mythology through theater games.

ACTING TEACHER, ACTORS TECHNIQUE NY; NEW YORK, NEW YORK (2012-2015)

  • Responsible for creating and executing curricula for multiple acting classes.

  • Collaborated with head of program to direct and produce performance of one-acts rehearsed in class.

  • Instructed students ages 8-22 in successfully understanding and applying Practical Aesthetics to scene work.

  • Engaged with parents to keep them updated on students’ progress.

Professional Theater Experience

READER, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU; NEW YORK, NEW YORK (2014-2015)

  • Worked on Tony-nominated Broadway production rehearsing with an understudy.

  • Responsible for helping actor to show significant improvement with knowledge of material under short deadlines.

  • Maintained open communications with Stage Management and Associate Director to keep them updated throughout rehearsal process.

LITERARY COMMITTEE MEMBER, THE BOWER GROUP; NEW YORK, NEW YORK (2011-2012)

  • Founding member of theater company—member of ensemble of inaugural production.

  • Served on the literary committee of the company that was responsible for reading and selecting works to be produced by the company.

  • Helped to organize reading of original play at local coffee shop.

  • Participated in marketing and fundraising campaigns for several productions.

ACTOR; NEW YORK, NEW YORK (2008-PRESENT)

  • Member of Actors’ Equity Association.

  • Performed Off-Broadway in the Atlantic Theater Company’s production of 10x25 directed by David Pittu.

  • Played Templeton in Theatreworks USA’s International Tour of Charlotte’s Web.

  • Improv House Team player at the PIT, as well as member of Indie Team, My First Tattoo!.

  • Completed improv training at UCB, The PIT, and The Magnet.

  • Performed Off-Off Broadway in The Bower Group’s production of Eurydice at Atlantic Stage 2.

  • Devised and performed in The Ape and the Child at the Wings Theatre.

  • Involved in several developmental readings of Straight on ‘Til Morning, directed by Lee Kasper (Associate Director of You Can’t Take It With You).