Teaching from Heart & Soul Episode 2: Karen Oster & David McCarty
Meet Karen and David, teachers who know how to play, and believe teaching begins by creating the space for exploration and deep enquiry through kindness and nurturing support.
From the very beginning ‘Teacher’ was written in Karen’s future - she always felt a strong connection to other people, wanting to bring the best out of them. It was 9/11 that caused her to question her focus as a performer and ultimately shifted her into the rich and rewarding world of teaching. She is a hands on co-collaborator with her students: “We’re all playing in the same sand box!” Her tools of creativity and curiosity help bring a student’s voice front and center by giving room to explore the undiscovered aspects of themselves - the results can be surprising and joyous, challenging and life changing.
David really enjoys teaching! He realized long ago the value of remaining open to receive the learning inherent in the act of teaching. “To teach is to learn twice” was the mantra of his mentor, and he has come to know this as a deep truth. He offers kindness and love of the art form, creating a bridge which opens up and expands to help others fulfil their dreams of becoming an artist. He knows from his creative endeavors that liberating your own voice can be an awesome thing - bringing exhilaration and joy - and he knows the courage it takes to find the deep well of who you really are, and go for it.
Meet This Episode's Guests
Karen Oster
KAREN OSTER, has a BFA from The Boston Conservatory in Musical Theatre and Directing and an M.Ed from Cambridge College. She has facilitated, directed and coordinated the performances and involvement of young cast members in numerous productions including the Broadway/ National tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Paul Simon’s The Capeman on Broadway with Marc Anthony. Karen is a professional musician and actress as well, having performed throughout the country in various productions and studied with well known cabaret artists. Karen’s adaptation of The King and I is currently licensed for performance throughout the country as Getting to know… The King and I. She has also directed and produced the revival of The Baker’s Wife with composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz Karen is currently the Chair of Performing Arts at Middlesex Community College in Massachusetts and is pursuing her PH.D at Lesley University in Education and Theatre.
David McCarty
David McCarty has directed and choreographed in the fields of Musical Theater , Opera and Dance for over 30 years and is currently a principal teacher and the Director of School Productions at the Academy of Performing Arts in Orleans, Ma.
As stage director in Opera, past productions include Faust with Cleveland Opera, Madame Butterfly with Syracuse Opera, The Elixer of Love with Indianapolis Opera, and The Merry Widow with Opera Providence. As Producing Artistic Director of Cape Cod Opera his productions include Cav/Pag, Carmen, Tosca, Cosi fan tutte, The Merry Widow, Die Fledermaus, and Don Pasquale.
