How does the APH teaching philosophy look in your classroom?
In a theater classroom, I strive to create an inclusive environment where all students feel welcome and able to expand their creative voices. Empowering young people can look like allowing them to share their creative ideas, like dissecting the shots of a film in Film Studies, or pushing past their biggest fears, like preparing and delivering an intriguing speech in Public Speaking. Young people need more outlets to express themselves, and I’m so glad APH offers them these opportunities through theater and art.
What excites you about The Academy at Penguin Hall?
Share something interesting about yourself.
Every summer, I like to drop my director hat and audition for a local theatre company. Last year I got to play Cassius in Julius Caesar at outdoor venues in both Beverly and Salem. I’ll be sure to let the APH community know of what show I’ll be in this upcoming summer!
Jess Emerson has a Master’s degree from Emerson College in Theatre Education and two Bachelor’s degrees in Acting and in English from the University of New Hampshire. She has taken numerous acting classes in New York City covering subjects such as acting for the camera, Shakespeare, dialects and directing. She spent 3 years in NYC pursuing a career on stage before deciding to become a teacher, which has helped her prepare students for the reality of the Broadway theatre world.