Venus Theatre Company
23 years in business
About this pro
Venus is the premier women's theatre company in the region and stands among the longest-running women's theatres in the world. At Venus, I direct and produce four plays a year with professional actors and designers.
We also run workshops and camps and like to help young people get excited about the craft by discovering their own voice.
I love diving into characters and looking at the human condition from different perspectives. I love guiding people into discovering their own range and voice.
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Credentials
Laurel, MD 20707
Email verified
Phone verified
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Your are in safe capable hands at Venus. Acting can be inherently risky, you have to open up, and be vulnerable, and Deb Randall creates an environment where actors can reach and play and take big risks - and grow.
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My children worked with deb at several ages. They learned practical skills like sound and light, creative skills like channeling ideas and imagination. Even my shy child has a deep love of poetry, classic literature and theater now.
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Deb Randall produced an excellent summer theatre program for our children. Deb is such a seasoned, insightful, and well-skilled teacher that she was able to provide a rich, exciting, and action-packed learning experience that kept the kids engaged, excited, and learning. Deb designed the activities to support the development of the children’s creative voices, confidence, and leadership as well. I was really impressed then and the success of the camp has stood the test of time. My kids are in college now and still talk about the Venus Theatre Camp!
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Deb Randall and the people around her have a dedication to the art that is incomparable.
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FAQs
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
$25 for 15 minutes of online teaching.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I started directing 35 years ago and founded Venus Theatre in 2000. I've given about 1,000 opportunities to professionals in the theatre at Venus. I have always loved sharing what I know and guiding students.
I've been working with students at Venus for 20 years. Before that, I taught with the Helen Hayes Legacy Project in DCPS.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My rate is $100/hour
How did you get started teaching?
Teaching was an outgrowth of directing for me. I found that when I worked with students I could help them in a different way than when I'm directing a professional show.
What types of students have you worked with?
I’ve worked with all ages. Ive designed and run summer camps and taught workshops in schools for all school aged students. I’ve also directed professional child actors as well as adults.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
At then end of 2019 I directed a play written by a woman in Kosovo. I really loved staying in communication with her virtually even as we were working in very different time zones on different continents.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Make sure you feel confident in the experience and knowledge of the teacher you seek. When it comes to theatre and training as an actor, bad habits are dangerous. You can’t unlearn them, you can only train over them. So you really want strong and knowledgeable direction when you are looking to explore this field.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
-What skillset would you like to acquire that you do not yet have?
-How willing are you to try something new and see things through the eyes of a character you may not like or agree with?
-Would it benefit you to be better at articulating your thoughts and ideas?