Teaching Artists

Hartford Children's Theatre is very proud of its diverse and talented Teaching Artists!  We use the term “Teaching Artist” because all of our teachers are highly trained theatre professionals who have ties in multiple artistic communities.  They perform, direct, create and teach because of their passion for theatre and their deeply rooted commitment to working with children.  They come from all over the state (and beyond) to bring their expertise and love of the arts to our students. 

Emely Larson

Emely Larson is one of Hartford Children's Theatre's most sought after Teaching Artists! She has taught at our "home base" for many years - working successfully with students of all ages while teaching such classes as Let's Act, Comedy Improv and Teens Making Scenes. Emely also heads up our successful Private Acting studio. Several of her students have found success in local regional theatre, as well as in film and television!

Emely has also been a vital part of our outreach programs - bringing her enthusiasm and expertise to Hartford High and Girls, Inc. at the Salvation Army, just to name a few. Some of her specialty classes include Social Issues Improvisation, Monologue Building and Shakespeare. She is now working as the Outreach Coordinator for our growing Dramatic Outreach Program.

She is a highly trained professional, having earned her BFA from the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, and also works as a professional actress and lead singer for her band "Hardwood." She has released 2 albums, and her latest album "The Way Home" can be downloaded on iTunes! Emely's love of the arts and skill as a teacher make her a wonderful addition to every program she becomes involved in!

Jill Luberto

Jill Luberto has been a teaching artist with Hartford Children's Theatre for the past five years teaching a variety of classes for all ages. She previously directed a production of Anne of Green Gables for the educational department in 2005.

Jill holds a B.F.A in Performing Arts with concentrations in acting, and dramaturgy from Eastern CT State. She also has a year of graduate credit from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro in Youth Theatre.

As a performer Jill has had the privilege of performing Off-Broadway twice, as well as at the Greensboro Fringe Festival, as an American College Theatre Festival competitor, and as a participant in the Eugene O'Neill Puppetry Conference working along side members of the Jim Henson Company.

Jill serves as a member of the Windham Theatre Guild play-reading committee, is founder of the Fantastic Forum- a community playwriting group, and is a proud member of the CT Rollergirls Derby League serving on their board of directors.

When not running around puppteering, acting, improving, writing, mask making, directing and telling ghost stories, Jill leads a quiet life as a special education reading teacher for Windham High School in Willimantic, CT

Suzanne Sayers

Suzanne Sayers is an actor, storyteller, artist and educator. She received her Master’s degree in Education from the Creative Arts in Learning program at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Suzanne is a Master Teaching and Performing artist through the CT Commission on Culture and Tourism. In addtion to working at Hartford Children's Theatre, Suzanne works with Hartford Stage through their Education department and  also as a Teaching Artist throughout schools in CT, and performs "Drama Around the World" her multicultural storyelling performance.  Suzanne is also a certified Master Gardener and works as a Garden Consultant and Designer.

Jeff Howey

Jeff has been teaching music since 1972, after graduating from Hartt College of Music. He has taught in schools, and most recently retired from Hamden Hall Country Day School after 25 years. He is currently the choir director at Bethany Lutheran Church in West Hartford. He has performed on piano, guitar, and as a vocal soloist at churches, restaurants, private parties, and wedding ceremonies.  Jeff has also been seen in Gilbert and Sullivan operas with the Middletown Gilbert and Sullivan Players.  Jeff studied voice with Mary Mack, as well as Dr. Peter Harvey. He studied piano with Herbert Chatzky, Charles Gigliotti, and Bruce David Smith.  As an all around musician he really enjoys working with his students, making the process of learning fun.

 

Jeff lives in West Hartford, with his wife Linda, and his cat Cordelia. His daughter, Katrina, lives in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Barbara Robbins

Barbara Robbins delights in making music with musicians of many genres and ages.  She holds a position as staff accompanist for the Vocal Department at the University of Hartford, keeping a busy schedule of lessons, recitals, and recordings.  Concurrently, she regularly accompanies two area choirs, the West Hartford Women's Chorale, and the Concert Choir of the Connecticut Children's Chorus, while playing occasional rehearsals and performances for professional organizations such as Concora and Connecticut Concert Opera.  Barbara enjoys teaching children's classes at the Hartford Children's Theatre, as group gatherings build character and a sense of community.  She is keenly interested in the music and Vedic knowledge of India.  She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Music degree on a full scholarship from the University of Connecticut in Storrs. 

 

Becky Beth Benedict

Becky Beth Benedict is a vibrant teaching artist who joined forces with Hartford Children’s Theatre in the Spring of 2011.  Becky Beth has taught at numerous institutions such as the Summer Institute for the Gifted at Yale, the Hampshire Shakespeare Company’s Williston Workshops, and the Hartford Conservatory.  She specializes in improv, audition techniques, and acting. Becky Beth is also a passionate and active director in the world of theatre.  She particularly enjoys directing new plays and working with budding playwrights. As an actress Becky Beth has performed in All the Comforts of Home at the Gillette Castle State Park.  She has done numerous Shakespearean roles as well, including Escalus in Romeo and Juliet with the Valley Repertory Company and one of the witches in MacBeth.  Becky Beth has an M.A. in theatre arts and trained with Olympia Dukakis at Voices of Earth.