PROFESSIONAL & ACADEMIC RECOMMENDATIONS & OBSERVATIONS
JOANNA MERLIN - President, MICHA-The Michael Chekhov Association and Faculty, NYU Graduate Acting, Professional Recommendation
"Rebecca Rich is a powerhouse! She has organized MICHA's summer workshops for several years with consummate skill, authority and confidence. She is unrelenting in her patience and ability to handle details. Her answer is always "Yes, I can." And she can. And does. We depend on her to make decisions and carry them out. She is a great collaborator, never without a positive attitude, no matter what the challenge. She is full of the playfulness that is an inherent part of the Chekhov technique. As a student, her appetite to learn and absorb the Michael Chekhov work has been exciting to watch. She is fearless and imaginative in creating character. I'm sure her own students benefit from the spirit of joy that she radiates to all. Her ability to create an atmosphere of play and support is what encourages students to dare and explore, which is a gift that Rebecca can give them. Rare."
DR. ELISABETH HOSTETTER - Chair of Department of Theatre and Dance, Rowan University, Academic Recommendation
"Rebecca is a gifted, methodical, charismatic and compassionate teacher. In the span of one academic year she earned the respect and support of our entire student body. In the 2011 fall semester she very successfully collaborated with our full-time performance faculty member in teaching an advanced majors-only acting course focused on the work of Tennessee Williams. The capstone production of her class was a nuanced and richly acted production of Spring Storm. The course is one of the most demanding performance classes in our curriculum and Rebecca’s influence clearly showed in the progress that the student performers demonstrated on the stage. She also effectively taught major classes in voice and speech, musical theatre and non-major acting classes. We certainly benefited from her versatility and she demonstrated her ability to quickly, effectively create and teach thought-provoking, organized and challenging courses."
PETER REYNOLDS - Head of Musical Theatre, Assistant Chair of Department of Theatre, Temple University, Academic Recommendation
"During her first semester of graduate school, she assisted me in the class room for Musical Theater Voice and Acting. The following year, my confidence in her abilities enabled me to assign her as the sole teacher for the junior level Musical Theater Scene Study course. She was an active and positive presence in the classroom, contributing thoughtful and meaningful coaching to the undergraduate actors. I was impressed by her passion for teaching. A stunning performer on stage, she also demonstrated real artistry in the classroom... Rebecca performed in a number of productions at Temple, and each role she created was highly professional and memorable. I had the privilege to direct Rebecca as Mrs. Lovett in Temple Theaters’ production of Sweeney Todd. Her work ethic was impeccable and the result of her efforts was a powerfully sung, riotously funny, and affecting performance. Her ability to live in the moment and get inside the skin of a character is inspiring. Simply put, Rebecca is tremendously skilled...Her dedication to craft and consummate artistry inspire young actors and provide exemplary tutelage... On a personal note, I have also found Rebecca to be a kind and considerate person who works well in an ensemble."
PAULE TURNER - Assistant Professor, Rowan University,
Academic Peer Observation of Experiencing Acting
"The game of focus and concentration awakened the students, and Rebecca, shaman-like, delightfully played the game with lightness and breath. Students quickly followed her suggestions. Rebecca is intense in her focus as she commits to the exercise. Weaving in and around the students, she gave them permission to be spontaneous, open and brilliant….I honestly believe that the students left the room having worked extremely hard and focused to gain a greater appreciation of themselves in relation to place, time and energy – the elements of theatre. Rebecca is a gifted artist-educator and a tremendous asset to the Department of Theatre and Dance."
JULIET WUNSCH - Associate Professor, West Chester University,
Academic Peer Observation of Acting I
"Students were fully committed to warm up exercises and games, willing to volunteer their thoughts regarding the class reading, and well invested in the scene projects…. In only 50 short minutes, the students had opportunities to reflect on their own work, draw parallels between acting theory and the choices they had made, and begin working on a new project while the theory and feedback were fresh in their minds - and it didn't feel rushed. Professor Rich positively responded to questions about the feedback, encouraging positive and critical reflection. She encouraged students to discuss and respond to what they understood regarding performance theory and the Stanislavski method. After discussing the reading, she used group activities to demonstrate topics discussed in the text. Regardless of the topic they were focusing on during the session, Professor Rich would ask for thoughts or questions, and reinforce the students’ engagement with meaningful follow-up."
CONSTANCE CASE - Assistant Professor, West Chester University,
Academic Peer Observation of The History of Musical Theatre
"The day I observed the class the students were presenting projects on specific areas of Musical Theatre. I found them informative, entertaining and an excellent way for the students to demonstrate what they have learned. Ms. Rich gave feedback and support which successfully supported the course objectives…Students were comfortable and willing to openly engage with the professor. Ms. Rich had excellent control of the classroom, and students seemed to respect her. I think this not only has to do with her upbeat personality, but also the strong knowledge and experience she brings into the room."