Amanda Tepe
Sierra Madre,CA
Summary
Highly skilled performing arts chairperson, program director, teaching-artist, experienced acting instructor, theatre arts educator, director of theatre and professional actress who contributes several years of hands-on expertise in department management as well as the process of guiding the young actor in a warm and welcoming classroom environment. Compassionate team player, humble yet confident leader, producer, department head, self-starter and group facilitator. Possesses substantial expertise in collaborative and interpersonal leadership skills. Offers extensive experience teaching, devising curriculum and directing plays and musical theatre to adults, adolescents and children of all ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities and learning differences. Excels in faculty/staff collaboration, inter departmental leadership and support of faculty, staff, administration, artists and students. Contributes an impressive and varied background in television, film, commercials and professional theatre as well as personal insight into human growth and understanding of the entertainment industry. Based in Los Angeles for over two decades as an actress, arts educator, private acting coach, director, instructor and advisor.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Acting Conservatory Instructor
Citrus College
11.2024 - Current
- Instructs Senior Seminar for graduating Acting students in a prestigious Conservatory setting
- Delivered intensive dual-enrollment curriculum designed to hone students' acting skills and prepare them for professional careers
- Fostered inclusive environment that celebrated diversity, catering to students of varied talents, abilities, and backgrounds
- Cultivated students' unique artistic voices and guided them in developing polished performance pieces and professional portfolios
Musical Theatre Conservatory Instructor
CS-Arts San Gabriel Valley
08.2024 - Current
- Instructs Casting 101 to Intermediate Musical Theatre Conservatory sophomores in fast-paced conservatory environment with diverse student population of all talent, abilities and backgrounds
- Casting 101 is designed to provide students with comprehensive understanding of audition process, as well as skills necessary to excel in musical theatre productions
- Curriculum allows students to immerse themselves not only in process of performing, but offers glimpse into role of casting director
- Also leads Acting Conservatory in preview days for incoming students
Performing Arts Department Chair, Theatre Program Director, Acting Instructor, Director of Theatre
Notre Dame High School
08.2014 - Current
- Instructs Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, and Honors Acting classes, Improvisation, Television and Film Acting and Musical Theatre in fast-paced college preparatory classroom environment with diverse student population of all talent, abilities and backgrounds
- Serves as stage director for two plays and one musical per school year and produces five productions per year
- Oversees performing arts as well as theatre department and creates its curriculum and implementation, chooses theatrical material for all productions and hires all full-time, part-time, guest-artists and personnel involved in classroom and live shows
- Is responsible for production management of Theatrical Season for overall department (Theatre, Music, Band, Dance) and promotes and recruits for performing arts department frequently
- Creates opportunities to work collaboratively and cross-circularly with various departments and advises administration accordingly
- Privately coaches all students in preparation for conservatory college audition process
Acting Instructor, Director of Theatre
Campbell Hall School
06.2012 - 08.2021
- Designs and presents stimulating lesson plans to foster creativity and challenge gifted students aged 7-12 to work cohesively to develop original production based on universal theme
- Conducts all rehearsals, integrates musical guests and vocal development, choreography and instructs students in all aspects of technical theatre
- Culminates in final performance with mostly improvised script after four weeks
- Also offered Film, Stage Combat, Yoga for Children, Improv and Greek Mythology workshops among many others
Acting Instructor, Director of Theatre
Westmark School
08.2013 - 06.2014
- Instructed all school Performing Arts classes and devised new dramatic curriculum for children with language-based learning differences (i.e.: dyslexia, ADHD/ADD) across grades 2-12, in college-preparatory environment
- Served as director for all school plays and musicals, directed on-campus student films/scene work, constructed cross-curricular lesson plans in conjunction with visual and media arts while providing on-going mentoring for student directors
- Dramatic instruction at every grade level encompassed variety of modalities and created learning environment that used cutting-edge technology
Teaching Artist, Interplay; Producer/Director, Interplay
Interact Theatre Company
07.2011 - 08.2013
- Integrated and tailored original lesson plans for participants with wide range of ages (6-17) and socio-economic backgrounds in original production based on inspirational theme
- Directed all aspects of staging, rehearsal and production as well as coordinated guest artists ranging in music, stage-combat, art and choreography
- After two weeks, all participants performed full-scale, student-written original stage production
Acting Instructor, Director of Theatre
The Wesley School
06.2011 - 08.2011
- Guided students aged 5-13 through intensive five-week program consisting of lesson plans designed with young professional actors in mind
- Through exploration of scene study, monologue analysis and voice, ensured that young artists were exploring all aspects of their craft and artistry in challenging environment
- Directed students in final culmination performances and all in-class scene and monologue presentations
Acting Instructor and Director of Theatre
Children's Theatre Group of Southern California
09.2009 - 05.2011
- Conducted both Classical and Beginning Acting classes for young performers with ages ranging from 7-18 in highly professional children's theatre environment
- Utilized various aspects of improvisation, vocal techniques, sensory work and Theatre of the Oppressed innovations to challenge students, build cohesive company and heighten self-awareness
- Selected and directed challenging contemporary scenes, monologues and various musical theatre selections for all final culmination pieces
Acting Instructor and Director of Theatre
Campbell Hall School
06.2008 - 08.2010
- Created various motivating lessons in auditioning, scene study, monologues, poetry, vocal techniques for young professionals through intensive summer program with participants aged 5-13
- Established productive and focused classroom with hands-on activities and on-going rehearsal, coaching and direction for final culmination, student-written pieces
Resident Teaching Artist
East L.A. Classic Theatre
09.2008 - 06.2009
- Implemented 'Language in Play' and 'Beyond Borders' curriculums over the course of one academic year with two final culmination performances, both student-generated
- Educated English as Second Language students in reading as well as playwriting in collaboration with final acting performances, all written and performed by middle-school aged student youth
Education
Master of Arts - Educational Theatre
New York University
New York, NY01.2005
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Acting
California Institute of The Arts
Valencia, CA01.2000
Skills
- Educational Leadership
- Student engagement
- Subject expertise
- Group facilitation
- Communication skills
- Adaptability
- Cultural awareness
- Collaborative learning
- Curriculum development expertise
- Effective lesson planning
- Student rapport
- Student advocacy
- Innovative lesson planning
- Student-centered learning focus
Websites
Credentials
Career Technical Education Teaching Credential
Arts, Media and Entertainment
Valid: 07/23/2024 to 08/01/2027
Document Number: 240200048
Graduate Fieldwork
- Royal National Theatre Complex, London, England, 2003, 2004
- Graffiti Theatre Company, County Cork, Ireland, 2003
- Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, 2003
- The Globe Theatre, London, England, 2003, 2004
- Trinity College, Samuel Beckett Center, Dublin, Ireland, 2004
- The Abbey Theatre, Dublin, Ireland, 2004
- Universidad de Puerto Rico en Cayey, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2005
- Yerba Bruja Theatre, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2005
Affiliations
SAG-AFTRA: Member (2003 – Present)
Actors' Equity Association: Member (2000– Present)
Theatre of the Oppressed, Member (2005 – Present)
Timeline
Acting Conservatory Instructor
Citrus College
11.2024 - Current
Musical Theatre Conservatory Instructor
CS-Arts San Gabriel Valley
08.2024 - Current
Performing Arts Department Chair, Theatre Program Director, Acting Instructor, Director of Theatre
Notre Dame High School
08.2014 - Current
Acting Instructor, Director of Theatre
Westmark School
08.2013 - 06.2014
Acting Instructor, Director of Theatre
Campbell Hall School
06.2012 - 08.2021
Teaching Artist, Interplay; Producer/Director, Interplay
Interact Theatre Company
07.2011 - 08.2013
Acting Instructor, Director of Theatre
The Wesley School
06.2011 - 08.2011
Acting Instructor and Director of Theatre
Children's Theatre Group of Southern California
09.2009 - 05.2011
Resident Teaching Artist
East L.A. Classic Theatre
09.2008 - 06.2009
Acting Instructor and Director of Theatre
Campbell Hall School
06.2008 - 08.2010
Master of Arts - Educational Theatre
New York University
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Acting
California Institute of The Arts
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