All The World's A Stage: Classical & Contemporary Acting, Voice And Speech, Comedy, And Writing
About
"In improv there are no mistakes, only beautiful happy accidents. And many of the world's greatest discoveries have been by accident." – Tina Fey
Hi there! I'm Rachel – a professional actor, writer, and comedian based in Chicago, IL.
I started performing when I was 12 and eventually received a B.F.A. in Acting from Hofstra University. I've been fortunate enough to work alongside great performers, meet influential casting directors, and work with different talent agencies. A major highlight for me was attending the Tony Awards in 2015! I've been working professionally for close to 8 years now. Currently, I'm finishing the professional conservatory at Second City and performing in different theatre's in the Chicagoland area in Improv, Standup, and traditional Theatre!
With Me I Can Help You:
–Prepare for an audition (Monologue or Sides)
–Cultivate or enhance your skills in Voice and Speech - including developing Accents, Dialects, and Impressions
–Develop or sharpen your comedic skills – Improv, Sketch, Standup, Comedic Roles and Characters
–Help you learn or better understand text and language of Shakespeare
–Learn the business side of acting: Major Markets, Agents/Managers, Unions, Headshots, Resumes, How To Live A Sustainable Life As A Performer, and much more
–Learn about Acting from its very roots and sharpen those skills! Text Analysis, Character Development, Objectives, Obstacles, Tactics, Stakes, Bold Choices, Behavior/Mannerisms, and more
–Learn how to develop and write your own roles!
Voice and Speech, Acting, Comedy, the Business of it! Whatever you're interested in, I'm here to help you learn.
Highlights
Payment methods
Specialties
Experience level
Acting venue(s)
People in group
Acting focus area(s)
Students goals
Acting type(s)
Student's age
Photos and videos
Reviews
Ella C.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
My typical process for working with a new student starts with getting to know a little about them, and learning what it is they want to achieve. I.e. prepare for an audition, sharpen voice and speech skills, learn how to act from a beginner, intermediate, or advanced level, etc.
In the process I create a comprehensive lesson plan, tailored specifically for this student. Everyone learns differently. It’s my job to design the system that will help them learn best.
Ultimately, my students are the driver of their goals. But I'm the passenger with the map, guiding them how to get there.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I'm an Actor and Writer based in Chicago who's also worked in the NYC market, and I've been on this ball rolling for 14 years now!
I hold a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts Perfomance – Hofstra University
Alum of The American Theatre Wing's "SpringboardNYC" – Best Part: I attended the 2015 Tony Awards!
Former Teaching Assistant (TA), specifically for "Advanced Voice and Speech for the Actor"
I'm represented with an elite and wonderful agency in Chicago as both an Actor and Model! I'm more than happy to share which agency after establishing a professional relationship with my student(s).
I've worked heavily in children's theatre and as a nanny so working with/entertaining kiddos is second nature to me!
Voice and Speech for the Actor, American Standard Stage, Superb Vocal Resonance, Pitch, Inflection, Tone, Diction, and Specific Dialectical Training are where my training, expertise, and passion lies. That and...
Acting! (Of course)! Specifically, Shakespeare and Contemporary for the Theatre. As well as On Camera Acting.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My price is a flat rate of $45 for an hour lesson. Or $25 for a half hour lesson. Regardless of age, skill level, or what it is specifically a student is looking to learn or improve their skills on!
How did you get started teaching?
I actually had informally been teaching since I was very young to other kids! When it came time for auditions and others wanted a little guidance before hitting the stage I was often sought after.
While in college during my formal training, I worked as a TA (Teaching Assistant) for the "Advanced Voice and Speech for the Actor" class in our B.F.A. program my senior year. My professor had studied at Ithica and Julliard and I learned so much with her as a mentor.
And I have not stopped teaching since! But I've become much more serious about it and teaching more and more students within the last year.
What types of students have you worked with?
I've worked with students of all ages! Teenager, young child, senior, mid-50's, mid-40's, young adult! If you have any concerns or inquiries please feel reach out and I will happily answer everything you need or want to know.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
This was something I did free of charge as this was for a close friend of mine, but is not unlike something I would do for my students.
My friend has been seeking representation, trying to get an agent, and has had zero luck. I asked her to send over her cover letter she's been submitting along with her headshot and resume. Headshot: perfect. Resume and cover letter... there were a lot of places she went wrong. Ultimately, if you want to work professionally as an actor you have to remember it is a business. There were many areas where she had far too much information that would take up too much time for an agent or manager to look over, nor would it really help paint a picture of who she was as a performer and where her talents lie. I made many edits and gave it back to her and after that she received a response from an agency saying they'd love for her to come in and audition for them!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
It's all about specificity! Know what your strengths and weaknesses are. But more importantly, know what it is you feel compelled, and I do mean compelled, to improve upon! Make sure you know exactly what you'd want from ongoing lessons with a teacher, and when reaching out to see who may be a good fit make sure to communicate this to them. And when I say communicate, I mean communicate exactly what it is you want to learn, how much, at what speed, etc. Know what kind of lessons you want to have that will make you look forward to them and make sure the teacher you're reaching out to is on the same page as you. Transparency is essential!
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
First and foremost, ask yourself: What is it I want to learn and why? There should be an answer to your why. It's possible you may think your answer is silly but it's not! You don't have to share your why, you just have to have one.
Think about how much of a workload you can/want to handle. Homework is often included. If you're a busy person it's okay to take lessons slow and keep it to little to no homework! If you want to challenge yourself and really sink your teeth in then a stringent lesson plan may be right for you!
What do you want in a teacher? Ultimately, I am here for you. Not the other way around. Some people prefer direct, no sugarcoating criticism, and that is what helps them improve. Others need to discover on their own where they may need to improve to actually succeed, but just need someone guiding them along the way. Ask yourself what kind of teacher you want, and can you comfortably communicate that to your teacher? If no, that's okay! We'll get there.