About
Equity actress Helen T. Clark is trained and disciplined in a trifecta of techniques which make the actor fully present and engaged. Students will study components of: Script Analysis, the merging of the psychology and physiology of the character via the techniques of Michael Chekhov, and the physical world of the character of the Suzuki Method, and other movement based techniques. Most trainings focus on one of these, Helen provides all three.
Helen has been a professional stage actress since 2005. Her training has allowed her to perform with laudations in a variety of genres such as Shakespeare, Realism, Avant-Garde, and interactive happenings. She was trained in the Suzuki Method of Acting by student/collaborators of Tadashi Suzuki, and trained rigerously for five years. This all allows her to coach a wide variety of genres, from the Greeks to Shakespeare to period pieces, realism, and avant-garde theatre.
She received her BFA in Acting from UConn and her MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College. As an educator, she fully believes her job is to find where her students naturally learn and teach through that.
More at www.HelenTClark.org
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
1) I find out what goals the student has to figure out how to best meet them.
2) I find out what strugges the student has to figure out how to best overcome them.
3) We work on a variety of material both supplied by the student, and recommended by me.
4) As acting can feel a lot like hopping on one foot while rubbing your stomach and patting your head, we focus on one thing at a time per lesson. (Example: one lesson on memorization, one on psychology, one on action analysis.)
5) Each lesson ends with a review of what we've done.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
BFA Acting: University of Connecticut
MFA Interdisciplinary Arts: Theatre Performance and Education Concentrations.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I don't turn anyone away based on finances. That being said, I am an artist myself and have bills to pay! Basic financing is:
$75/ 30 minute slot
I will consider bulk discounts for long-term coaching, and family discounts as well.
How did you get started teaching?
As I grew in my profession of Acting, I always thought of those who taught me, from childhood to the current day. I thought the best way to pay it forward to them was to become a teacher myself.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with students grades Pre-K-college aged of all backgrounds and abilities.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I had a student come to me in the summer of 2014, my first summer as Education Director for The Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, NY. They were uncertain if they would even like theatre.
They came back every summer since, and are now a theatre major in college! While this was this young person's own journey, being able to help them find their strenghts and passions means everything to me.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Find who teaches in the way you need to be taught. There are so many different methods of acting and various views to their help. Keep looking till you find what works!
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
What am I hoping to get out of this? How do my long-term goals match my short-term? How open minded am I to other ideas?