I have been an educational theater teaching artist for the past decade, teaching a wide range of skills including Acting, Voice and Speech, Movement, Dialects, Clown, Shakespeare, and Songwriting.
I’m currently an Adjunct Professor at Southern Connecticut State University, teaching Voice and Speech in the Theatre Department.I have regularly taught as a director and specialty coach at Arc Stages, and also with Burgh Healthy Hub, White Plains Performing Arts Center, New Stage Theatre, Lighthouse Youth Theater, Westchester Broadway Theater, New Generation Theatre, and the South Dakota and Texas Shakespeare Festivals. I also had the honor of speaking at the University of Connecticut as part of a professional panel about marketing and self-promotion for artists, focusing on the theater industry.
Teaching Philosophy
My teaching draws from many backgrounds, including Poetic Dynamics (with elements of Commedia dell’Arte, Melodrama, and Clown), The Miller Voice Method (of which I’m a Certified Teacher), Dramatic Circumstances, and my professional experience. My basic teaching philosophy is: “Play the mask intuitively.” “Play” – From the spirit of play comes innovation, connection, and a willingness to engage with the unknown. From there, profound discoveries can be made, and what is discovered is more fodder for play. The spirit of play makes anything possible, which I believe is the most important aspect of the theatrical process and performance. “The mask” – This could be a literal mask, the text of a play, or the music of a composer. Our side of the creative collaboration is to see and honor the mask, and bring our unique life spirit to it. The mask leads us to discover new sides of ourselves, which allow us to be simultaneously genuine and transformative in our storytelling. “Intuitively” – Learning to listen to and act on our own intuition is one of the most important skills an artist (or anyone) can develop. We become willing to trust, to fail, to get out of our heads, and our explorations of play move away from having to be “right” or “good” toward discovering how we can be alive and joyful.
I believe everyone benefits from practicing live theatre whether or not they pursue a career in it. Through inhabiting characters we learn how people exist and co-exist in the world, cultivate empathy, and reveal our authentic selves. I want my students to tap into their unique perspective and creativity and to develop an empowered sense of self to carry with them wherever their lives may lead. Art (and the possibility of creating art) exists to reveal the full capacity of humanity.
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Here’s footage from Burgh’s 2018 End-of-Year production of Where the Mountain Meets the Sea, co-devised and co-directed for Drama, Circus, Dance, Tumbling and Parkour students with Burgh Director Charlie Truscott.Testimonials
- “Smart, captivating, caring. Jeff Raab is the real deal. He is a versatile teacher/director who has a passion for the art and craft of acting and theatre. Jeff’s passion is what captivates his students. He always delves deeply into objectives and desires and is able to give his students a deeper understanding of the craft of acting and I would go so far to say the human condition.” – Adam Cohen, Artistic Director, Arc Stages
- “Jeff is a talented, caring, and thoroughly professional teacher. He has the ability to communicate clearly, efficiently, and in a manner which takes into account the specific needs of the student, no matter his or her level of expertise or experience. Jeff, because of his passion for craft, and his drive to be well prepared, as well as his compassionate heart, would be an invaluable asset to any artistic or educational enterprise. I have had the great fortune to work with Jeff as an actor, and as as stage manager/co-director. I am also proud to call him my friend.” – JL Rey, Artistic Director, Spanish Lyric Theatre
- “One of the great things about Jeff is the range of subjects he can teach. We knew we could count on him for not only basic skills classes, but also the unique and unusual classes students would struggle to find anywhere else.” – Matthew Simpson, Associate Artistic Director, Texas Shakespeare Festival
- “Jeff’s passions extend beyond the traditional musical theatre production and delve in to the deeper meanings of exploring a character and relationships. He is not only helping to create great performers but instill in them a strong sense of self and an understanding of the world around them.” – Lexie Fennell Frare, Director/Choreographer/Educator
- “The process of rehearsing and performing the Dining Room last spring was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had, and part of the reason why I loved it so much was because you were a director. You brought the entire cast together as a leader and a teacher in ways that I had never experienced before. You also helped me on my journey as an actor, and taught me how I can understand a script and make it real for me.” – Emma, Student
- “Jeff is an amazing person and teacher, and working with him was such a great experience, I learned and grew as a performer and actress due to him.” – Megan, Student
- “In my work with Jeff Raab I have learned to blend all the impulses of my body with all the backstory of a character to help me build realistic characters. Jeff has helped me connect actions with intentions and movement so that I am not just saying words and doing blocking but I am truly acting and discovering. He has helped me unlock my inner child and need to play on stage.” – Alex, Student