when you meet someone for the first time you ask them their name hello my name is
you ask them their name hello my name is
you ask them their name hello my name is Rachel Harry and invariably without fail
Rachel Harry and invariably without fail
Rachel Harry and invariably without fail the second thing you ask is what what do
the second thing you ask is what what do
the second thing you ask is what what do you do very good what do I do
you do very good what do I do
you do very good what do I do I I do theater what does that mean
I I do theater what does that mean
I I do theater what does that mean I do theater well I teach I write
I do theater well I teach I write
I do theater well I teach I write scripts I direct plays musicals I create
scripts I direct plays musicals I create
scripts I direct plays musicals I create performance art I do a lot of design
performance art I do a lot of design
performance art I do a lot of design work my furniture can be seen on stage
work my furniture can be seen on stage
work my furniture can be seen on stage my children and my dogs have been
my children and my dogs have been
my children and my dogs have been incorporated into some of my productions
incorporated into some of my productions
incorporated into some of my productions my son
my son
my son many years ago provided the recorded
many years ago provided the recorded
many years ago provided the recorded voice of a wailing infants Helen Keller
voice of a wailing infants Helen Keller
voice of a wailing infants Helen Keller stricken with scarlet fever for my
stricken with scarlet fever for my
stricken with scarlet fever for my production of The Miracle Worker
production of The Miracle Worker
production of The Miracle Worker and sometimes from time to time I can be
and sometimes from time to time I can be
and sometimes from time to time I can be seen performing on stage which is
seen performing on stage which is
seen performing on stage which is actually the original reason why I
actually the original reason why I
actually the original reason why I became enthralled in this artform as a
became enthralled in this artform as a
became enthralled in this artform as a six-year-old you see I’m the youngest of
six-year-old you see I’m the youngest of
six-year-old you see I’m the youngest of a large family right you can guess I
a large family right you can guess I
a large family right you can guess I found that dance and acting were
found that dance and acting were
found that dance and acting were terrific ways to get a little attention
terrific ways to get a little attention
terrific ways to get a little attention and contrary to what my siblings will
and contrary to what my siblings will
and contrary to what my siblings will tell you I was not showing off I was
tell you I was not showing off I was
tell you I was not showing off I was performing this is my life and this is
performing this is my life and this is
performing this is my life and this is my world I learned how to be human in
my world I learned how to be human in
my world I learned how to be human in the theatre my first kiss was a stage
the theatre my first kiss was a stage
the theatre my first kiss was a stage kiss alright my first three kisses were
kiss alright my first three kisses were
kiss alright my first three kisses were stage kisses I learned how to view the
stage kisses I learned how to view the
stage kisses I learned how to view the world by reading plays I learned about
world by reading plays I learned about
world by reading plays I learned about life by doing theater and my students
life by doing theater and my students
life by doing theater and my students will tell you when asked over the years
will tell you when asked over the years
will tell you when asked over the years what they learned in my classes that
what they learned in my classes that
what they learned in my classes that they learned more than just theater
they learned more than just theater
they learned more than just theater pedagogy they learned about life life
pedagogy they learned about life life
pedagogy they learned about life life lessons and this is important to me in
lessons and this is important to me in
lessons and this is important to me in fact it’s probably the most
fact it’s probably the most
fact it’s probably the most important reason why I teach theater you
important reason why I teach theater you
important reason why I teach theater you see when I find that when I teach
see when I find that when I teach
see when I find that when I teach theater concepts I’m also teaching how
theater concepts I’m also teaching how
theater concepts I’m also teaching how to cope with a life now this is of
to cope with a life now this is of
to cope with a life now this is of immense value to my students it’s also
immense value to my students it’s also
immense value to my students it’s also of immense value to the world you see
of immense value to the world you see
of immense value to the world you see what we learn in theater is a terrific
what we learn in theater is a terrific
what we learn in theater is a terrific way to interact with a very diverse
way to interact with a very diverse
way to interact with a very diverse world now you might wonder what does
world now you might wonder what does
world now you might wonder what does this woman teacher in her classes well
this woman teacher in her classes well
this woman teacher in her classes well I’m gonna give you some concepts of
I’m gonna give you some concepts of
I’m gonna give you some concepts of theater when I talk to my peers about
theater when I talk to my peers about
theater when I talk to my peers about diversity in theater they all nod yes
diversity in theater they all nod yes
diversity in theater they all nod yes yes theater includes people of all kinds
yes theater includes people of all kinds
yes theater includes people of all kinds ethnicity sexual orientation and that’s
ethnicity sexual orientation and that’s
ethnicity sexual orientation and that’s true but I’m referring to something else
true but I’m referring to something else
true but I’m referring to something else theater teaches one to communicate to
theater teaches one to communicate to
theater teaches one to communicate to diverse to create to communicate to
diverse to create to communicate to
diverse to create to communicate to diverse skills sets of thinking skills
diverse skills sets of thinking skills
diverse skills sets of thinking skills there we go I know I get that out you
there we go I know I get that out you
there we go I know I get that out you see theater is the only art that
see theater is the only art that
see theater is the only art that actively collaborates with all the other
actively collaborates with all the other
actively collaborates with all the other art forms theater needs visual arts it
art forms theater needs visual arts it
art forms theater needs visual arts it needs music it needs dance
needs music it needs dance
needs music it needs dance it needs the written word and the
it needs the written word and the
it needs the written word and the artists from all these genres they think
artists from all these genres they think
artists from all these genres they think differently but there’s more theater
differently but there’s more theater
differently but there’s more theater also depends on science and technology
also depends on science and technology
also depends on science and technology to promote or to produce its productions
to promote or to produce its productions
to promote or to produce its productions to create a play requires not only a
to create a play requires not only a
to create a play requires not only a diverse set of population but a diverse
diverse set of population but a diverse
diverse set of population but a diverse set of thinking communication skills you
see a theater program draws on students
see a theater program draws on students from all programs all departments in a
from all programs all departments in a
from all programs all departments in a school and each is recognized and
school and each is recognized and
school and each is recognized and respected for what they bring to the
respected for what they bring to the
respected for what they bring to the table I have a wonderful story of
table I have a wonderful story of
table I have a wonderful story of collaboration between these different
collaboration between these different
collaboration between these different thinking skills my stage manager decided
thinking skills my stage manager decided
thinking skills my stage manager decided last fall that I needed snow to fall
last fall that I needed snow to fall
last fall that I needed snow to fall from the ceiling in the final scene of
from the ceiling in the final scene of
from the ceiling in the final scene of the first act of the musical so I
the first act of the musical so I
the first act of the musical so I described to her how a professional
described to her how a professional
described to her how a professional theatre with fly space and rigging such
theatre with fly space and rigging such
theatre with fly space and rigging such as New York City
as New York City
as New York City creates the snow for their productions
creates the snow for their productions
creates the snow for their productions of Nutcracker now my stage manager is
of Nutcracker now my stage manager is
of Nutcracker now my stage manager is also a dancer and a member as well of
also a dancer and a member as well of
also a dancer and a member as well of our acclaimed robotics team she is
our acclaimed robotics team she is
our acclaimed robotics team she is incredibly skilled at communicating with
incredibly skilled at communicating with
incredibly skilled at communicating with both artists and scientists she
both artists and scientists she
both artists and scientists she collaborated with my lighting designer
collaborated with my lighting designer
collaborated with my lighting designer who is also a member of the robotics
who is also a member of the robotics
who is also a member of the robotics team and using their familiarity with
team and using their familiarity with
team and using their familiarity with our agricultural base devised a 35 foot
our agricultural base devised a 35 foot
our agricultural base devised a 35 foot long snow machine made of PVC irrigation
long snow machine made of PVC irrigation
long snow machine made of PVC irrigation pipe multiple drilled holes a very
pipe multiple drilled holes a very
pipe multiple drilled holes a very elegant rigging system and of course the
elegant rigging system and of course the
elegant rigging system and of course the obligatory duct tape to teach this I
obligatory duct tape to teach this I
obligatory duct tape to teach this I actively teach this by using a process
actively teach this by using a process
actively teach this by using a process in in how we would critique student
in in how we would critique student
in in how we would critique student scene performance my student critique
scene performance my student critique
scene performance my student critique errs are only allowed to say this works
errs are only allowed to say this works
errs are only allowed to say this works keep it this works this or this does not
keep it this works this or this does not
keep it this works this or this does not work how can we make this stronger and
work how can we make this stronger and
work how can we make this stronger and as a class we brainstorm ways to help
as a class we brainstorm ways to help
as a class we brainstorm ways to help strengthen that scene we consider what
strengthen that scene we consider what
strengthen that scene we consider what works for us and then we modify that to
works for us and then we modify that to
works for us and then we modify that to fit the individual onstage embracing
fit the individual onstage embracing
fit the individual onstage embracing diversity requires just that the ability
diversity requires just that the ability
diversity requires just that the ability to acknowledge and accept the strengths
to acknowledge and accept the strengths
to acknowledge and accept the strengths and weaknesses of others without
and weaknesses of others without
and weaknesses of others without judgment and to accept the strengths and
judgment and to accept the strengths and
judgment and to accept the strengths and weaknesses within ourselves what if all
weaknesses within ourselves what if all
weaknesses within ourselves what if all the countries of the world could
the countries of the world could
the countries of the world could acknowledge and accept both these
acknowledge and accept both these
acknowledge and accept both these attributes and then collaborate to help
attributes and then collaborate to help
attributes and then collaborate to help strengthen each other theater teaches a
strengthen each other theater teaches a
strengthen each other theater teaches a student to develops one’s own voice over
student to develops one’s own voice over
student to develops one’s own voice over the course of development of the human
the course of development of the human
the course of development of the human being there evolves a desire to fit in
being there evolves a desire to fit in
being there evolves a desire to fit in to belong and this desire is so strong
to belong and this desire is so strong
to belong and this desire is so strong we’re willing to subjugate our own
we’re willing to subjugate our own
we’re willing to subjugate our own feelings our own needs our own thoughts
so we can conform in class when we’re
so we can conform in class when we’re working on acting or improvisational
working on acting or improvisational
working on acting or improvisational skills we actually have exercises that
skills we actually have exercises that
skills we actually have exercises that promote original thought we practice
promote original thought we practice
promote original thought we practice games that help us to stop listen to our
games that help us to stop listen to our
games that help us to stop listen to our instincts not judge them but allow them
instincts not judge them but allow them
instincts not judge them but allow them out there’s an actor’s term called flash
out there’s an actor’s term called flash
out there’s an actor’s term called flash now flash occurs when you’re on stage
now flash occurs when you’re on stage
now flash occurs when you’re on stage listening to someone and if you’re
listening to someone and if you’re
listening to someone and if you’re really listening to someone a
really listening to someone a
really listening to someone a recognition a realization a flash of an
recognition a realization a flash of an
recognition a realization a flash of an idea will pop into your head we learn to
idea will pop into your head we learn to
idea will pop into your head we learn to listen to those thoughts because they
listen to those thoughts because they
listen to those thoughts because they are important they are your own and they
are important they are your own and they
are important they are your own and they have a value in an improv scene an actor
have a value in an improv scene an actor
have a value in an improv scene an actor will have these responses occur to her
will have these responses occur to her
will have these responses occur to her and instead of shutting them down or
and instead of shutting them down or
and instead of shutting them down or stifling them she learns to give those
stifling them she learns to give those
stifling them she learns to give those thoughts of voice and often these are
thoughts of voice and often these are
thoughts of voice and often these are the best lines the audience responds to
the best lines the audience responds to
the best lines the audience responds to them because they are honest in class we
them because they are honest in class we
them because they are honest in class we work on enhancing our creativity through
work on enhancing our creativity through
work on enhancing our creativity through just these kinds of exercises and we
just these kinds of exercises and we
just these kinds of exercises and we learn to enhance our creativity by
learn to enhance our creativity by
learn to enhance our creativity by simply freeing up the student’s
simply freeing up the student’s
simply freeing up the student’s imagination what if a country
imagination what if a country
imagination what if a country specifically trained its citizens to
specifically trained its citizens to
specifically trained its citizens to enhance their creativity to solve
enhance their creativity to solve
enhance their creativity to solve problems and to have courage and
problems and to have courage and
problems and to have courage and confidence in their own voice to speak
confidence in their own voice to speak
confidence in their own voice to speak up when the need arises last concept
up when the need arises last concept
up when the need arises last concept finding a character demands empathy now
finding a character demands empathy now
finding a character demands empathy now in class I work on providing tools for
in class I work on providing tools for
in class I work on providing tools for the students to develop an honest
the students to develop an honest
the students to develop an honest character on stage you see when an actor
character on stage you see when an actor
character on stage you see when an actor is cast they’re given a script and all
is cast they’re given a script and all
is cast they’re given a script and all it contains is the dialogue of a story
it contains is the dialogue of a story
it contains is the dialogue of a story and they must explore that character by
and they must explore that character by
and they must explore that character by creating a backstory or history that
creating a backstory or history that
creating a backstory or history that motivates the character to say and act
motivates the character to say and act
motivates the character to say and act as they do as an actor I use the
as they do as an actor I use the
as they do as an actor I use the backstory to inform my mood and that’s
backstory to inform my mood and that’s
backstory to inform my mood and that’s how I might deliver a line
how I might deliver a line
how I might deliver a line I must seek out similarities between
I must seek out similarities between
I must seek out similarities between myself and that character and then
myself and that character and then
myself and that character and then contemplate how I might respond in those
contemplate how I might respond in those
contemplate how I might respond in those same situations I must also seek out the
same situations I must also seek out the
same situations I must also seek out the divert the differences between myself
divert the differences between myself
divert the differences between myself and that character and ponder what were
and that character and ponder what were
and that character and ponder what were the forces that caused those differences
to find the motivation of a character I
to find the motivation of a character I have to define the reasons for her
have to define the reasons for her
have to define the reasons for her actions and to teach this I ask my
actions and to teach this I ask my
actions and to teach this I ask my students to make observations of others
students to make observations of others
students to make observations of others close observations but not to judge to
close observations but not to judge to
close observations but not to judge to learn I ask them to initiate a
learn I ask them to initiate a
learn I ask them to initiate a conversation with someone who might have
conversation with someone who might have
conversation with someone who might have similar qualities to the character
similar qualities to the character
similar qualities to the character they’re studying or perhaps maybe even
they’re studying or perhaps maybe even
they’re studying or perhaps maybe even emulate some of the aspects of that
emulate some of the aspects of that
emulate some of the aspects of that lifestyle Dustin Hoffman is famous for
lifestyle Dustin Hoffman is famous for
lifestyle Dustin Hoffman is famous for dressing as a woman and living as a
dressing as a woman and living as a
dressing as a woman and living as a woman in New York City to create his
woman in New York City to create his
woman in New York City to create his celebrated character of Tootsie he said
celebrated character of Tootsie he said
celebrated character of Tootsie he said he wished he to explore this character
he wished he to explore this character
he wished he to explore this character as a much younger man he said he missed
as a much younger man he said he missed
as a much younger man he said he missed out on meeting so many interesting
out on meeting so many interesting
out on meeting so many interesting wonderful women because he didn’t know
wonderful women because he didn’t know
wonderful women because he didn’t know how to truly value a woman until he had
how to truly value a woman until he had
how to truly value a woman until he had lived as one what could happen in a
lived as one what could happen in a
lived as one what could happen in a country what could happen in our country
country what could happen in our country
country what could happen in our country if we were taught actively taught to
if we were taught actively taught to
if we were taught actively taught to truly empathize with others now I’ve had
truly empathize with others now I’ve had
truly empathize with others now I’ve had the joy of spending many years a lot of
the joy of spending many years a lot of
the joy of spending many years a lot of years working with a large group of
years working with a large group of
years working with a large group of teenagers from the ages of 14 and 18 and
teenagers from the ages of 14 and 18 and
teenagers from the ages of 14 and 18 and we have spent classes working on lessons
we have spent classes working on lessons
we have spent classes working on lessons to help them learn how to view others
to help them learn how to view others
to help them learn how to view others without judging to develop diverse
without judging to develop diverse
without judging to develop diverse communication strategies to enhance
communication strategies to enhance
communication strategies to enhance their character or creativity and their
their character or creativity and their
their character or creativity and their character and to
character and to
character and to to truly understand and have confidence
to truly understand and have confidence
to truly understand and have confidence in their own voice and this is all falls
in their own voice and this is all falls
in their own voice and this is all falls under the aspect or the title of
under the aspect or the title of
under the aspect or the title of teaching theater we have spent countless
teaching theater we have spent countless
teaching theater we have spent countless hours exploring the lives of people both
hours exploring the lives of people both
hours exploring the lives of people both fictional and true
fictional and true
fictional and true now you’re going to if you are familiar
now you’re going to if you are familiar
now you’re going to if you are familiar with this production you’re going to go
with this production you’re going to go
with this production you’re going to go she uses a lot of pictures from a
she uses a lot of pictures from a
she uses a lot of pictures from a musical called catch me if you can that
musical called catch me if you can that
musical called catch me if you can that one and it’s true and I chose this
one and it’s true and I chose this
one and it’s true and I chose this musical because it’s an excellent
musical because it’s an excellent
musical because it’s an excellent example that expresses the ideas I’m
example that expresses the ideas I’m
example that expresses the ideas I’m trying to convey to you today
trying to convey to you today
trying to convey to you today on the surface this is a fast-paced
on the surface this is a fast-paced
on the surface this is a fast-paced glittery Vegas style production of high
glittery Vegas style production of high
glittery Vegas style production of high kicks and jazz hands it’s also the true
kicks and jazz hands it’s also the true
kicks and jazz hands it’s also the true story of Frank Abagnale jr. his parents
story of Frank Abagnale jr. his parents
story of Frank Abagnale jr. his parents and a detective named Hanratty a very
and a detective named Hanratty a very
and a detective named Hanratty a very smart detective on the surface we see a
smart detective on the surface we see a
smart detective on the surface we see a criminal who bilked thousands out of
criminal who bilked thousands out of
criminal who bilked thousands out of more than a million 1960s dollars before
more than a million 1960s dollars before
more than a million 1960s dollars before he reached the age of 21 but as we
he reached the age of 21 but as we
he reached the age of 21 but as we explore the character more deeply we see
explore the character more deeply we see
explore the character more deeply we see a young man reeling from the breakup of
a young man reeling from the breakup of
a young man reeling from the breakup of his family and the tragic demise of a
his family and the tragic demise of a
his family and the tragic demise of a father whom he idolized and as we
father whom he idolized and as we
father whom he idolized and as we explore this character scene by scene we
explore this character scene by scene we
explore this character scene by scene we we see the motivations and so we
we see the motivations and so we
we see the motivations and so we understand and we also see a detective
understand and we also see a detective
understand and we also see a detective who understands that he’s not chasing a
who understands that he’s not chasing a
who understands that he’s not chasing a hardened criminal but rather a very
hardened criminal but rather a very
hardened criminal but rather a very troubled very bright young man and his
troubled very bright young man and his
troubled very bright young man and his compassion and ability to see past those
compassion and ability to see past those
compassion and ability to see past those actions was discussed in many a
actions was discussed in many a
actions was discussed in many a rehearsal now the real Frank abigail
rehearsal now the real Frank abigail
rehearsal now the real Frank abigail junior sent us some emails and a letter
junior sent us some emails and a letter
junior sent us some emails and a letter which my music director has framed in
which my music director has framed in
which my music director has framed in his office that was exciting and he
his office that was exciting and he
his office that was exciting and he talked about that compassion and empathy
talked about that compassion and empathy
talked about that compassion and empathy that detective had for him
that detective had for him
that detective had for him and that Detective ultimately became in
and that Detective ultimately became in
and that Detective ultimately became in real life his mentor and best friend now
real life his mentor and best friend now
real life his mentor and best friend now all this happened in a theater program
all this happened in a theater program
all this happened in a theater program in a small rural High School in a
in a small rural High School in a
in a small rural High School in a community that understands and supports
community that understands and supports
community that understands and supports a full four-year theater program taught
a full four-year theater program taught
a full four-year theater program taught by a teacher with a master’s degree in
by a teacher with a master’s degree in
by a teacher with a master’s degree in theater and I tell you this because it
theater and I tell you this because it
theater and I tell you this because it is rare and I firmly believe we need to
is rare and I firmly believe we need to
is rare and I firmly believe we need to change that fact you see less than half
change that fact you see less than half
change that fact you see less than half of all secondary public schools have any
of all secondary public schools have any
of all secondary public schools have any kind of a theater class in their
kind of a theater class in their
kind of a theater class in their programs and of that 45 percent 12
programs and of that 45 percent 12
programs and of that 45 percent 12 percent only 12 have a full four-year
percent only 12 have a full four-year
percent only 12 have a full four-year program now most high schools offer an
program now most high schools offer an
program now most high schools offer an after-school production and this is
after-school production and this is
after-school production and this is terrific but again realize only half of
terrific but again realize only half of
terrific but again realize only half of those productions are taught by someone
those productions are taught by someone
those productions are taught by someone who is a certified art specialist in
who is a certified art specialist in
who is a certified art specialist in theater if we look at these statistics
theater if we look at these statistics
theater if we look at these statistics you’re going to see well first let me
you’re going to see well first let me
you’re going to see well first let me tell you I don’t want to cash aid on
tell you I don’t want to cash aid on
tell you I don’t want to cash aid on music and visual arts because remember I
music and visual arts because remember I
music and visual arts because remember I collaborate with them we need them but
collaborate with them we need them but
collaborate with them we need them but you’re going to see that music and
you’re going to see that music and
you’re going to see that music and visual arts garner far more respect than
visual arts garner far more respect than
visual arts garner far more respect than theater now is this important
theater now is this important
theater now is this important what depends on what you want if you
what depends on what you want if you
what depends on what you want if you want students to simply have an
want students to simply have an
want students to simply have an experience performing on stage then this
experience performing on stage then this
experience performing on stage then this is enough because honestly theater can
is enough because honestly theater can
is enough because honestly theater can happen anywhere and it can be done
happen anywhere and it can be done
happen anywhere and it can be done pretty well but but if you want students
pretty well but but if you want students
pretty well but but if you want students to learn the skills to mount a quality
to learn the skills to mount a quality
to learn the skills to mount a quality production if you want students to
production if you want students to
production if you want students to become better world citizens in any
become better world citizens in any
become better world citizens in any career they choose well then you need a
career they choose well then you need a
career they choose well then you need a strong theatre program taught by a
strong theatre program taught by a
strong theatre program taught by a qualified instructor
Theatre needs to take the stage as the
Theatre needs to take the stage as the important art form in public education
important art form in public education
important art form in public education that it truly is thank you
that it truly is thank you
that it truly is thank you [Applause]
”
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