Teaching Philosophy

As a teaching artist, I believe in empowering people. Teaching for over 5 years with an inter-disciplinary approach to learning and a variety of experiences in theatre--acting, directing, writing, devising, improvising--I hope to foster a diverse skillset for my students which will allow them to grow and develop as collaborators, artists, and citizens. My teaching style, therefore, is grounded in nurturing and fostering each student's creativity and personal expression, as well as providing a space to ask and ponder urgent questions about theatre-making today.

I ground my pedagogy mostly in Stanislavski, Viewpoints, and Lecoq, and also intertwine conversations about how art can function as a tool for social justice. I challenge students to investigate historical and present modes of theatre-making to strengthen their relationship to their artistic missions and our present theatre world. Throughout the pedagogical process, I urge students to mobilize and reflect: In order to develop and fully understand the act of theatre making, there must be time to both practice and reflect on the creative process and think critically about the work being created. As a result, I view the classroom as a laboratory for generating ideas and galvanizing the next daring cohort of contemporary theatre makers.

WORKSHOPS

The workshops listed below are designed for schools, businesses, studios, and various other organizations interested in offering experiences geared towards team-building, ensemble-building, creative exploration, theatre introduction, and various other explorations. Nate caters and crafts each workshop to the interests and mission of your organization, and workshops are designed for all ages. If you are interested in offering a workshop or have questions on a specific workshop, please email Nate at rothermeln@gmail.com!

Activism and Leadership Workshop:

Through exercises in introspection, collaboration, and goal-setting, we will investigate what it means to be a responsible citizen in the world, and how we can work each day to empower others and be active leaders. For more information, go to Nate's Activism Page!

PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS:  

• Branches of Ensemble and Creativity

Offered at Branches of Dance Studio in Reading, PA, this workshop consisted of ensemble-building exercises and improvisational exercises geared towards developing a deeper understanding of collaboration and creativity. Through discussion and application, workshop participants were able to nurture not only their identity as a creative person, but also their understanding of the collaborative process. 

• Creative Process Workshop

Offered at various Olivet Boys and Girls Clubs, this workshop explores the complex and empowering nature of the creative process. Through ensemble and team-building games, as well as creative improvisation exercises geared towards creating original/devised work, participants are encouraged to consider not only their role in a collaborative setting, but also their role in their own creative processes. 

Courses Taught

Kimmel Center:

• ONE MUSICAL Program--Nate completed a residency with the Kimmel Center for their Pilot ONE MUSICAL Program. During the Program, 5th grade students from the Philadelphia School District explored introductory skills of acting, including voice, body, and teamwork. In addition, students rehearsed a section of CINDERELLA and performed it with multiple other students from Philadelphia’s School District at the Kimmel Center.

Albright College:

• Devised Theatre Workshop--Nate instructed a semester-long Devised Theatre Workshop as a part of Albright College's Directing Studio Course. During the Workshop, undergraduate students were encouraged to explore the world of devised theatre through readings, real-life applications, and hands-on experience crafting original pieces of devised theatre.

Curio Theatre Company:

• Devised Theatre Workshop--Nate instructed a several week-long workshop with Curio Theatre Company exploring the ensemble-devised theatre process. Throughout the workshop, students explored various means of theatre-making and theatre roles, including storytelling, design (set/costume/props), and production. At the end of the workshop, students showcased their original devised pieces, which they had been creating in ensembles during the duration of the workshop.

Yocum Institute for the Arts:

• Drama Club--Ensemble-based club geared towards exploring the various aspects of the theatre, including acting, directing, storytelling, design, and collaboration. Students engage in a variety of acting exercises, design projects, creative discussions, and ensemble-building activities that challenge their creative process and expose them to a variety of theatrical skills.

• Improvisation and Theatre Games--This course offered an introduction to improvisation by providing foundational skills, like "Yes, And", to students through applied theatre games, improvisation exercises, and more! Throughout the course, students were encouraged to use their imaginations, develop specific characters, support their scene partner, and experience the power of performing in the moment.

• Introduction to Acting--This course offered students glimpse at the very basic foundational skills of acting. Through tailored workshops and exercises, students explored aspects of vocal training, physical training, ensemble training. In addition, students gained an insight into introductory acting technique-- exploring Stanislavsky's method and various improvisation exercises--and gained experience applying course material to a devised theatre experience.

• Acting Level 1--This course offered students an introduction to acting. Throughout our journey, students were exposed to Stanislavsky technique, Anne Bogart's Viewpoints technique, and various movement theatre exercises. Through many tailored exercises, students were encouraged to apply these techniques with all aspects of acting--to the body, mind, and voice--and to discover and deconstruct their perception of what it means to act.

• Acting Level 2 --This course offered students an intensive study into acting technique, building on material and foundational skills covered in Acting Level 1. Throughout our journey, students studied various acting methods/techniques, including Stanislavsky, Strasberg, Meisner, Brecht, and Bogart, and were exposed to the basics of the "business" of acting (creating a resume, preparing for auditions, and monologue preparation).

• Winter Playwriting to Performance--A master class in playwriting, this course offered an intensive look at the role of a playwright. Students reflected on the resonances of Aristotle's six theatrical elements and also the basic structural elements of a play, and afterwards created their own ten-minute plays that were put through a series of editing workshops, and then were performed via a staged reading.

• Rockstar Music Composition to Performance--A week-long summer workshop that offered students the opportunity to compose an original song and create a music video for such. Students were exposed to the ways in which artists create new work, and also to the various elements (design, performance, technical) of creating a music video.

• Greek and Roman Mythology Performance--A two-week long summer intensive workshop that exposed students to various Greek and Roman myths. Students were able to reflect on the concept of a myth and how people use myths to tell stories. Afterwards, students created several original devised pieces inspired by a variety of Greek and Roman myths, and then presented these pieces at a final performance.

Olivet Boys and Girls Club:

• Creative Process--In collaboration with ASTEP, members of the Olivet Boys and Girls Club in Reading, PA got to explore the creative process and the concept of creativity. Students were exposed to a variety of improvisational, ensemble-building, and creative exercises.

• Acting Workshop--In collaboration with ASTEP, this workshop was a collaborative series of week-long meetings that fostered knowledge of acting technique, vocal technique, and directing technique. Students devised an original ten-minute piece together and presented such during a final performance. :