About the Artist
The arts and education have been at the center of Rachel’s life since childhood.
Her mother, a drama teacher turned principal, developed the English standards curriculum for the New York City public school system in the late 1990s. Rachel’s father was a psychologist, professor and writer. As a first generation Jewish immigrant, he was discouraged from the arts, and knew well the importance of artistic expression. Above all else, Rachel’s parents prioritized and preached their mission to do work in service of others. They encouraged her to embark on the creative path they weren’t allowed to pursue, and passed on an innate love for bringing out the best in others.
Art is pivotal to a life filled with meaning.
A bit of a rebel and empowered to seek out her own path,
Rachel happily immersed herself in the world of performance. She attended the LaGuardia High School of Arts, earned a BFA in Acting at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, studied at Moscow Art Theatre School, and received her Masters in Educational Theatre from NYU. She has continued to grow as a writer and artist, participating in workshops on inclusivity, race, and education as well as directing socially-motivated, community-fueled theatre.
Needless to say, the skills for building curricula and cultivating community practically run in Rachel’s veins. She’s dedicated her professional life to telling meaningful stories and using theatre education to teach empathy, vulnerability, and unite peers. Rachel currently works as the Director of Theatre at Newark Academy and fuels her passion by fostering future generations of storytellers.
The Pivotal Artist was established in 2020. A dream made reality for Rachel and her way of bringing a human-first approach to the training of tomorrow’s artists. Let’s be honest - the stage has no need for factory manufactured smiles.
It craves truth and a great story. So what’s yours?
Rachel participating in Community Engaged Theatre while studying at The Samuel Beckett Center of Trinity College in Dublin. A piece about interconnectedness, created in service to the needs of the community, as opposed to commercial theatre.
Recent Professional Experience:
Rachel’s Educational Credits
Include working as a teaching artist in the New York City public and private school system, where she facilitated theatre arts programming and the rollout of violence prevention techniques. Rachel also worked as the founding performing arts teacher and later Department Chair for Arts and Enrichment at BOLD Academy, part of KIPP NJ, as well as a performing arts coach for Admit Consulting. She was a Curriculum Consultant for Music Theatre Philly, and has spent the last five years as the Director of the Theatre Program at Newark Academy.
Director of the Theatre Program at Newark Academy
Rachel teaches and mentors middle and high school students in their theatrical education. She directs their various productions, chairs The Global Speaker Series, and is a facilitator for the Creating Community Course. She operates as a faculty leader for the Young Women's Affinity Group where students get to explore gender identity and make meaning of the space they occupy. Across the board, Rachel’s work at Newark Academy fosters reflection and intentionality within the community she serves.
The Voting Writes Project - In collaboration with Luna Stage, Rachel wrote and performed in Another Number in the Pool, a verbatim theatre piece exploring the real stories of why people don’t vote.
The Distance Theater Youth Collective
In the midst of the pandemic, Rachel directed and mentored local Maplewood students in Signs of Life, a socially-distanced performance that addresses what it’s like to be young in this trying time. Rachel was quoted by Broadway World NJ for her work with the Youth Collective.
