Graduates of the 2022 Cohort of the Orpheum Teaching Artist Training Program

Graduates of the 2019, 2020, and 2021 cohorts of Orpheum Theatre Group’s Teaching Artist Training Program

The Orpheum Theatre Group Teaching Artist training program seeks to train local artists and educators to leverage their artistic practice in creating high-quality instruction and facilitation for youth and communities throughout the Mid-South. OTG cultivates an annual cohort of trained teaching artists made up of passionate, energized, disciplined, collaborative, and open-minded artists who represent diverse cultural backgrounds, communities, and artistic disciplines in theatre, music, design, and movement.

With the goal of elevating the standard for teaching artistry in the region, the program aims to equip local, regional, and national artists with the skills to formulate sustainable careers as teaching artists while continuing to enrich the artistic landscape of the cities they choose to reside in.

In addition to participating in all mandatory training sessions, participants have required readings, lesson plan drafting assignments, and participate in a sample lesson for evaluation. Mentorship, coaching, and professional development in both artistic practice and pedagogy are ongoing (as available).

Dates for our Next Cohort:

The next anticipated cohort of the Teaching Artist Training Program will occur in Fall 2024. Please check back in March 2024 for application information.

Participant Perspectives

“I'm really grateful to have had this opportunity to learn and grow with other incredible teachers and artists. This has been a defining moment for me in my journey as a teaching artist.” — Calvin Barnes, 2020 Cohort Graduate

“Until now, I've relied primarily on my gut to guide my teaching artist work. I hoped to learn how to articulate what I've been doing instinctually, develop tools for conceiving and planning lessons, explore strategies for teaching, coaching, evaluating. TATP served that goal well. Overall I can't say that my needs could have been served better.” — Brooke Sarden, 2019 Cohort Graduate

“Honestly, I didn't know what the program was about. I saw teacher and artist and thought, ‘Hey, I fit those titles.' But, man, what a ride I was in for! This program helped me to shape an interactive, hands-on, optimum learning classroom where the students are fully engaged through the mind and body. My goal became to build a dance class where the students are more mentally involved, when normally it's just learn the choreo exactly as its taught. TATP helped me bring different multisensory areas to a dance class to make it more meaningful to students!” — Teqosha White, 2020 Cohort Graduate

The Orpheum Theatre Group Philosophy of Education

• We facilitate and instruct through educational experiences that create active opportunities to discover content and processes, engage through differentiated instructional approaches, and emphasize participant-centered learning.
• We believe that learning is intersectional, cross-curricular, and must be integrated with diverse content areas and perspectives.
• We embrace change, innovation, and adaptability in an ever-changing cultural and artistic landscape; always striving to learn more.
• We create positive and professional relationships with youth, communities, and community partners.
• We believe that learning is applied through authentic experiences and allows participants to reflect and grow through multiple formative assessments.
• We create environments that are brave, inclusive, and collaborative.
• We value the life experiences of all participants and respect participants where they are in their individual journey.
• We believe that all people should have access to creative engagement through the arts.

For more information or to nominate a candidate for consideration to this program, please contact Taylor St. John, Director of Education and Engagement at stjohn@orpheum-memphis.com.