Rebecca Foster Professional Vita

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY FACULTY POSITIONS

2002-2003 Winona State University Department of Theatre and Dance. Gretchen Cohenour, chair. Sabbatical replacement position. Courses taught: Acting One, Dialects, Oral Interpretation, Creative Dramatics. Courses team-taught: Voice & Movement, Acting Styles. Directing: West Side Story, Still Life with Iris.

2000-2002 Brigham Young University--Idaho Department of Theatre. Susan Whitfield, chair. Sabbatical replacement position. Courses taught: Introduction to Theatre, Introduction to Film Art & Analysis, Dramatic Structure & Analysis, Acting One, Voice & Diction, IPA/Dialects, Stage Management. Directing: The Dining Room, A Voice of My Own, Little Women; Costume Design: Annie, Together Again for the First Time.

GRADUATE TEACHING EXPERIENCE: INSTRUCTOR

1994-1996 University of Oregon Department of Theatre. Dr. John Watson, chair. Courses taught: Acting One, Acting Two, Theatre Production--Costumes.

GRADUATE TEACHING EXPERIENCE: TEACHING ASSISTANT

1994-1996 University of Oregon Department of Theatre. Courses assistant-taught: Audition, Vocal Technique, Styles, Shakespeare, Lyric Performance (with Dr. Robert Barton); Play Direction (with Dr. John Watson).

1985-1986 Brigham Young University--Provo Department of Theatre & Media Arts. Course assistant-taught: Introduction to Theatre (with Dr. Marion Bentley).

DEGREES EARNED

Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts: Directing, University of Oregon, June 1996.

Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts: Acting and Directing, Brigham Young University--Provo, April 1986. Graduated magna cum laude.

Teacher Certification: Secondary Education, Washington. St. Martin’s College, December 1999. Primary endorsement in Drama, additional endorsement in English.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

ASSITEJ/USA
Educational Theatre Association
Theatre Communications Group

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY COURSES TAUGHT

Introduction to Theatre (1 semester at BYU-Idaho). Undergraduate class of 12 students; General Education course. Overview of theatre history, directing, acting, playwriting, design, audience and criticism. Text: Another Opening, Another Show by Tom Markus and Linda Sarver.

Introduction to Film Art and Analysis (6 semesters at BYU-Idaho). Undergraduate class of 26-30 students; General Education course. Elements of filmmaking; criticism and appreciation of films. Text: The Art of Watching Films (5th ed.) by Joseph M. Boggs and Dennis W. Petrie.

Acting One (1 semester at Winona State University, 4 semesters at BYU-Idaho, 6 terms at University of Oregon). Undergraduate class of 8-24 students; required for majors. Introductory course in Stanislavsky, including open scenes, scripted scenes, and monologues. Text: Acting: Onstage and Off (3rd Ed.) by Robert Barton.

Acting Two: Characterization (1 term at University of Oregon). Undergraduate class of 20 students. Second course in a six-course program. Advanced work in realistic acting. Intensive physical and vocal life workshops, sonnet work, directed scenes. Texts: Acting: Onstage and Off (3rd Ed.) by Robert Barton; Voice: Onstage and Off by Robert Barton and Rocco Dal Vera.

Style for Actors (1 semester at Winona State University). Undergraduate class of 10 students. Required for majors. Third course in a three-course acting sequence. Cultural background of period styles and their influence on physical, vocal and emotional life of characters in historical plays. Greek, Elizabethan, Restoration, Moliere and Georgian scene work is showcased. Text: Style for Actors by Robert Barton.

Voice and Diction (1/2 semester at Winona State University, 1 semester at BYU-Idaho). Undergraduate class of 14-32 students; required for majors. Fundamentals of vocal production with emphasis on body and breath. Standard American and vocal skills prepare students for interpretive work. Texts: Your Voice and Articulation (4th ed.) by Glenn, Glenn and Forman; Voice: Onstage and Off by Robert Barton and Rocco Dal Vera.

Oral Interpretation (2 semesters at Winona State University). Undergraduate class of 20 students; required for Education majors. Fundamentals of vocal work applied to interpretation of prose, poetry and drama. Text: Oral Interpretation (10th ed.) by Charlotte Lee & Timothy

IPA/Stage Dialects (1 semester at Winona State University, 2 semesters at BYU-Idaho). Undergraduate class of 8-12 students. Intensive study and performance of dialects, using the International Phonetic Alphabet. Text: Stage Dialects by Jerry Blunt.

Creative Drama for Children (1 semester at Winona State University). Undergraduate class of 30 students. Required for Elementary Education and Recreation majors. Techniques in Creative Drama for use in educational and recreational situations. Text: Creative Drama in the Classroom and Beyond (7th ed.) by Nellie McCaslin.

Dramatic Structure and Analysis (1 semester at BYU-Idaho). Undergraduate class of 8 students; required for majors. Approaches to script analysis as an aid in production and performance. Text: Script Analysis for Actors, Directors and Designers (2nd ed.) by James Thomas.

Stage Management (1 semester at BYU-Idaho). Undergraduate class of 5 students. Responsibilities of Equity and non-Equity stage managers, including working with directors and actors, managing crews, safety issues, and overseeing technical rehearsals and performances. Text: Stage Management (7th ed.) by Lawrence Stern.

Theatre Production: Costumes (2 terms at University of Oregon). Undergraduate class of 18-22 students; required for majors. Basic skills, techniques and vocabulary for working in a costume shop. Hand sewing, machine sewing, fabrics, who's who, running a show. No text.

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY COURSES: ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

Acting Three: Audition (1 term at University of Oregon). Undergraduate class of 36 students. Third course in a two-year program. Strategies for effective auditioning, cold readings and callbacks. Students develop a file of audition material and present two prepared auditions. Text: Audition by Michael Shurtleff. Dr. Robert Barton, instructor.

Acting Four: Vocal Technique (1 term at University of Oregon). Undergraduate class of 18 students. Fourth course in a two-year program. Understanding and control of the vocal instrument, American and foreign dialects, voiceovers. Text: Voice: Onstage and Off by Robert Barton and Rocco Dal Vera. Dr. Robert Barton, instructor.

Acting Five: Styles (1 term at University of Oregon). Undergraduate/graduate class of 16 students. Fifth course in a two-year program. Cultural background of period styles and their influence on physical, vocal and emotional life of characters in historical plays. Greek, Elizabethan, Restoration, Moliere and Georgian scene work is showcased. Text: Style for Actors by Robert Barton. Dr. Robert Barton, instructor.

Acting Shakespeare (2-term course at University of Oregon). Undergraduate/graduate class of 20 students. Immersion in the worlds of the plays. Development of Shakespearean alter-egos, with improvisational court visits. Intensive physical, vocal and text work. I served as “verse angel” (scansion, pronunciation, text work). Text: Style for Actors by Robert Barton. Dr. Robert Barton, instructor.

Lyric Performance (1 term at University of Oregon). Undergraduate/graduate class of 18 students. Optional studio course designed to increase emotional availability and size required for Shakespeare and musical theatre. Students tap into their personal truth to discover the lyric performer within. Musical solos and Shakespeare monologues showcased. Text: Auditioning for the Musical Theatre by Fred Silver. Dr. Robert Barton, instructor.

Play Direction (1 term at University of Oregon). Undergraduate class of 20 students; required for majors. Basic directing skills, text analysis, conceptualization, communication, focus and space, movement. Directed scenes using Acting Two students are showcased. No text. Dr. Jack Watson, instructor.

Introduction to Theatre (3 semesters at Brigham Young University--Provo). Undergraduate class of 125 students; General Education course. Overview of theatre history, directing, acting, playwriting, design, audience and criticism. Text: Theatre: Brief Edition by Robert Cohen. Dr. Marion D. Bentley, instructor.

CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION AND AWARDS

Do-It-Yourself Shakespeare. Workshop presented at the American College Theatre Festival (Region V), January 2003.
The Politics of Editing. Workshop and discussion regarding the editing of scripts for performance. Where is the line between the playwright and the director to be drawn? Between adaptation and censorship? American College Theatre Festival (Region VII), February 1995.
Regional Winner of the Critic’s Workshop Award, Northwest Drama Conference/American College Theatre Festival (Region VII), February 1995.

OTHER TRAINING AND SKILLS

Alexander Technique training with Lynne Compton (Freehold, Seattle).
Certified Actor Combatant, Society of American Fight Directors (Broadsword, Rapier & Dagger, Unarmed). Stage Combat training with Geoffrey Alm, (Freehold, Seattle).
Acting and Directing Shakespeare workshops with Neil Freeman (Stratford Ontario Shakespeare Festival) and Hal Ryder (Cornish Institute, Seattle). Experience with Elizabethan acting, music, and dance.
Dialect Coach for West Side Story, Anna Christie, The Pirates of Penzance, I Remember Mama, A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan, Translations, The Secret Garden, Riders to the Sea, etc. Dialect skills include American Southern, Brooklyn, Standard English, Cockney, Irish, German, French, Italian, Russian, and Scandinavian.
Coloratura soprano with seven years formal vocal training; ongoing choral experience, including musical theatre; legit and belt styles; three-octave singing range.
Costume design, costuming, costume history, and teaching movement in period costume. Costumed over 30 productions, including children’s shows, musicals, and Shakespeare. Ten years experience as a stitcher and first hand in university and professional costume shops.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

A Tribute to Charles M. Schulz. Workshopped and directed this original play with music for Children’s Educational Theatre (Salem, OR) using materials from Schulz’s biographies and 50 years of PEANUTS comic strips, with special permission from United Feature Syndicate.
So What's the Difference? A Comedy About "Us" and "Them." (MFA Final Project). Translated, adapted and directed this children's play from the original German (Ein Fest bei Papadakis, GRIPS Theatre for Youth, West Berlin). Toured to six middle schools, in conjunction with a workshop on racism designed by myself and dramaturg Lisa Bornstein.
The Nine Dragons. A Chinese/Hawaiian folktale. Directed this play at CET (Salem, OR) using costumes, movement and vocal techniques from Chinese Opera. A hearing-impaired child was integrated into the cast and performances were sign-interpreted.
Shakespeare Northwest. Co-founded in Tacoma, WA in 1988 and served as Artistic Director 1989-1990. SNW produced an outdoor show each summer and developed Shakespeare Alive!, an educational collage of scenes, music and dance which toured schools, libraries, and other organizations. Shakespeare Northwest now operates in Seattle under the name Greenstage.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE: CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Directing, Children’s Educational Theatre, Salem, OR, 1994-2000.
Stage Dialects, Children’s Educational Theatre, Salem, OR, 1994-7.
Classical Acting, Children’s Educational Theatre, Salem, OR, 1994-9.
Theatre History, Children’s Educational Theatre, Salem, OR, 1994-9.
Voice & Movement, Children’s Educational Theatre, Salem, OR, 1998-2000.
Drama II, Kent Meridian High School, Kent, WA, Winter 2000.
Sophomore English (3 sections), Kent Meridian High School, Kent, WA, Winter 2000.
Junior American Literature, Kent Meridian High School, Kent, WA, Winter 2000.
Beginning Drama, Peninsula High School, Gig Harbor, WA, Fall 1999 (Student Teacher).
Play Production, Peninsula High School, Gig Harbor, WA, Fall 1999 (Student Teacher).
Hollywood Century, Peninsula High School, Gig Harbor, WA, Fall 1999 (Student Teacher).
Freshman English, Peninsula High School, Gig Harbor, WA, Fall 1999 (Student Teacher).
Beginning Acting (12-18). Avenue Act I School of Performing Arts, Auburn WA, 1987-89.
Creative Dramatics (6-11). Avenue Act I School of Performing Arts, Auburn WA, 1987-89.
Creative Dramatics (4th/5th grades). Six-week afterschool EXPLORE program. Fruitland Elementary School, Puyallup WA, 1987.
BYU--Provo High School Summer Theatre Workshop (12-18). Assistant Director, Acting Coach and Counselor. Five-week workshop with full musical production (The Four Fields 1985, The Human Comedy 1986). Dr. Charles Whitman, Supervisor.