Safety and respectful collaboration are the foundation of my teaching philosophy. I encourage a passion for play, self-discovery, and a willingness to see yourself as an artist who has the power to affect change in our world. My acting life began when I was ten, participating in community theater and school productions. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Theater from my undergraduate life and a Masters Degree in Acting from New York University. Having worked now for over 30 years professionally, I view every experience along the way as a valuable stepping stone. Every teacher, every class, every director, every fellow actor, and every audition has provided me with another opportunity to learn and to grow as an actor, storyteller, and human being. I've learned to convert the "no thank you's" into fuel. I look for inspiration from everyone I encounter in my acting life. I have been fortunate to work in theater, television, and in film and believe that, yes, luck plays a part, but also believe that preparation and study is everything. The goal is to increase one's odds of being hired. There is much we cannot control. We do not hire ourselves. However, if we are diligent students of the craft of acting, we enhance our chances. I also believe in the value of living a healthy creative life, whether an actor is pursuing professionally or not. That means paying attention to all the basics...eating well, sleeping enough, and getting exercise....but it also means being curious and diligent about the immense wealth of creativity and resources at our fingertips. Read plays! Go to the theater! Take classes! Read books, see movies, go to museums, take walks, read books, write, write, write! We are creative beings. Living a full creative existence is vital for our own growth as storytellers.