Meet Our Teaching Artists!
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Acting“The craft of acting goes far beyond the surface of performing. It connects with the soul and draws out raw unfiltered behavior that breeds authenticity; stripping you from every pretense and allowing you ...to be YOU! THAT'S why I love teaching the craft! There's no hiding. Through vulnerability, it uncovers and taps into the full potential of your artistry.... Are you ready to commit?
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Acting, Creative Drama, ImprovNatasha Gallop, a Newark NJ native, will be teaching Creative Drama, Acting and Improv. She believes the gift of watching adolescents come into self confidence is unmatched. The freedom and pure joy in play, exploration and understanding is what draws her to teaching the arts. Acting allows children to objectively look at themselves, and the world around them while deciding what to adopt and what to pass over. As they grow they learn perspective and thus empathy. This is the gift and empowerment of self through free play.
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Improv, Dance, and Director of Summer ConservatoryJulia is the Teen Summer Conservatory Director as well as a teaching artist for Dance and Improv at Luna Stage. She has taught in both educational and recreational settings for the past 6 years including in middle schools, high schools, dance studios, and regional theatre companies. Her passion for dance and theatre stems from her belief that the arts are integral to child development and growth. With opportunities to express creativity and find belonging in artistic settings, children can be empowered with self-love and confidence as well as strengthen problem-solving skills. In an environment where students can learn, grow, and have fun, Julia is dedicated to making the arts accessible to all children!
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Improv, Stage CombatLucas is teaching Improvisation and Stage Combat, two of his absolute favorite classes to teach. As a process-oriented teaching artist, Lucas loves exploring the techniques behind how to craft an entertaining piece of theatre. This is so important for improvisation because, even though much is made up on the spot, there are many rules and guidelines to follow to do this most successfully. It is equally as important for stage combat because, although it is best when the combat is convincing and thrilling, it is most vital that it is done safely and accurately. Both of these theatrical practices require patience, commitment, and bravery. Sharing necessary techniques and tactics with theatre students is always rewarding - leading to lots of laughs and awe.
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Teen Acting TechniqueFor over 30 years, Carla Brothers has been a professional actor in film, television, and Broadway. Films include: THE FIVE HEARTBEATS and 10,000 BLACK MEN NAMED GEORGE for SHOWTIME. Television includes: COSBY, THIRD WATCH, and MIAMI VICE. On Broadway she starred in the hit a cappella musical, SHEILA'S DAY, which received international accolades as well. Off- Broadway venues: NEW FEDERAL THEATRE, THE MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB and THE PUBLIC THEATER. Regional credits: CROSSROADS THEATRE, HARTFORD STAGE, FORD’S THEATRE, and THE KENNEDY CENTER. Carla is the recipient of 4 AUDELCO Awards for acting excellence. As a playwright and composer, Carla is currently writing both book and score for an original musical. Carla began her teaching career in the 1980’s, serving 4 years as head acting instructor of the YOUNG PEOPLE'S ACTING PROGRAM at the LEE STRASBERG THEATRE & FILM INSTITUTE in New York City. Since then, she has conducted her acting workshops and classes throughout the New York metropolitan area. For 8 years Carla served on the faculty of MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY’S GIFTED AND TALENTED YOUTH PROGRAM teaching a wide range of creative writing and performing arts classes. Additionally, Carla has formulated a methodology for dynamic public speaking. Carla Brothers holds a BFA in Theater from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and holds a “Teacher of Theater” certification from the N.J. Department of Education.
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Scene StudyNatasha Warner is a theater artist whose body of work straddles new plays and the classics. As an actor, Natasha has appeared at New York theaters including HERE Art Space, MCC, The Civilians, The Lark, and New York Performance Space (formerly PS 122). Regional credits include New York Stage and Film, SPACE on Ryder Farm, The Geva Theater, Merrimack Repertory Theater, The White Heron, The Cape Playhouse, Boston Court, and the Gulfshore Playhouse. TV: Ground Floor (TBS); and Betas (Prime). Film: Odyssea (Slamdance) and Farah Goes Bang (TriBeCa). Upcoming: Space Cadet (Prime). Natasha also worked as a producer and on-set acting coach for the film The Unknown Country starring Lily Gladstone, which premiered at SXSW in 2022. As a director and teaching artist, Natasha has worked at Juilliard, PlayMakers Rep, The Vineyard, The Tank, Shakespeare at the Manor, Bellarmine Jefferson High-School, and with community programs like 52nd St. Project and Hunts Point Alliance for Children. Natasha completed her MFA at Juilliard where she received the Laura Pels Award, the Bill Irwin Scholarship, and the prestigious Goldman Fellowship for her teaching work.