Rachel Atkins

Primary Discipline: Theatre

Areas of Specialty: Theatre Integration (Literacy and Social Studies), Playwriting, Teacher Professional Development

Based in: Seattle
Phone: 206-355-4891
Email: rachelsatkins@gmail.com
Website: www.livingvoices.org

Biography: Rachel Atkins is the Scriptwriter and Education Director for Living Voices, a Seattle-based educational theatre company which tours her 10 different multi-media shows in ongoing national repertory. She is also a master teaching artist for Seattle Repertory Theatre and Book-It Repertory Theatre, and a theatre artist mentor with Arts Impact. As a playwright, she has adapted numerous productions for Book-It’s main stage and educational touring seasons, and her play Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Missing Eagle was produced by Seattle Children’s Theatre in 2008. Previously, she was an Annex Theatre Hothouse 2004 playwright, and served as the Scriptwriter/Dramaturge and Director of Education for Ardeo Theatre Project in St. Julien l’Ars, France. Rachel has over 16 years of writing, teaching and directing experience, working with K-12 students and teachers in Seattle, New York and France. She graduated from Dartmouth College and holds her Masters in Educational Theatre from New York University.

When asked about her approach as a Teaching Artist, Ms. Atkins wrote this: "My teaching philosophy is based in co-intentional education: starting where the students are and empowering them to participate in their own learning. I place strong emphasis on the development of student-centered work. So often, my “best” students are the classroom teacher’s “worst”: the students who learn kinesthetically, interpersonally, visually, who need to talk things through out loud or get up on their feet and try things out. I believe strongly in the power of theatre to increase a student’s understanding of all curriculum areas. I have developed and led a wide variety of arts integrated lessons. When students become what they are studying, when they step into the shoes of a character from a book or a figure from history or an element in an electrical pathway, they truly understand what they’re learning—and they don’t forget it."

Suitable for Grades: K-12
Preferred Grades: 3-12

Curriculum Integration Possibilities: Literacy/Reading/Writing, Math, Science, History/Social Studies,Other Arts Disciplines

Additional Interests/Experience:

• Leading Professional Development workshops for K-12 Teachers
• Working with at risk students
• Working with students who are English Language Learners
  
  

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