Dan Toot
EMC
Experience
Teaching -
Brevard College, Brevard, NC— Assistant Professor
Acting I, Theatre History, Shakespeare in Performance, Stage Combat, Devised and Collaborative Theatre, Music Theatre/Music Director
December 2021 - Present
-Acting I: Introductory acting for both Majors and Non-Majors, focusing on fundamentals of storytelling, exploring truthful behavior, curiosity, and play. Assignments and exercises culminate in a scene study and performance.
-Acting V: Musical Theatre Performance. Focused on advanced Musical Theatre Majors, this class mines both the music and text of American Musical Theatre for the elements of truthful behavior necessary for any actor. Working from solos, duets or trios, then scene-into-song, students learn what it is to "act the song".
-Acting IV: Shakespeare in Performance. Using techniques developed by pioneers such as Patsy Rodenburg, Cicely Berry, John Barton, and David Hammond, with a heavy emphasis on the First Folio, this class allows students to unlock the human behavior infused into Shakespeare's text. Students develop a deep understanding of Shakespeare as he was meant to be understood: in performance.
-Theatre History 1 and 2, and American Musical Theatre History with a focus on experiential learning and widening perspective outside traditional Euro-centric theatre narrative.
-Stage Combat/Fight Choreography: certified and continually educated in a variety of disciplines, teaching students (most of whom have had no combat instruction) the introductory principles to safe and effective stage violence and cultivating healthy rehearsal practices for starting a professional career.
-Responsible for directing the season musical, and 1 additional mainstage production per semester for Brevard College Theatre.
-Music Director - Taking a practical, classically trained musical perspective and applying it to Music Theatre storytelling. Including vocal coaching and actor/musician coaching.
Brevard College, Brevard, NC—Adjunct Professor
Acting I, Theatre History
August 2021 - December 2021
-Introductory acting for both Majors and Non-Majors, focusing on fundamentals of storytelling, exploring truthful behavior, curiosity, and play. Assignments and exercises culminate in a scene study and performance.
-Theatre history with a focus on experiential learning and widening perspective outside traditional Euro-centric theatre narrative.
Back To One Studios and Productions, Raleigh, NC— Lead Instructor
On Camera Acting - Teens, On Camera Acting I, Acting II
April 2021 - July 2021
Instructor of introductory skills to acting on camera including cold reading, memorization, improv, monologues, text analysis, and breath work. Moving on in Acting II to focus on partner work, emotional agility, dialogue for the camera, audition technique and impulse/listening and response.
UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC— Instructor
Introduction to Acting for Non-Majors
January 2018 - May 2020
Introductory acting course focusing on effective storytelling, truthful behavior, gaining breath/body integration, and allowing free flow of impulse.
Acting the Song
Applying the above acting philosophies and principles to the performance of musical theatre. Incorporating music theory and melodic analysis to help craft performance and truthful storytelling.
Private Guitar Teaching
2009 - PRESENT
Working with individual clients to develop personal goals of learning/perfecting guitar skills. Skills can include (but are not limited to): Introduction to the instrument, basic finger/picking patterns, chords, music theory, solo skills, electric vs. acoustic styles.
Teaching Artist/Performance -
PlayMakers Repertory Company, Chapel Hill, NC—
Summer Youth Conservatory
Music Director
Summer 2019
Responsible for rehearsal and music performance for SYC production of BRIGHT STAR. Responsibilities include: Teaching vocal parts, coordinating actor/musicians, hiring/rehearsing band, playing run of the show.
PlayMakers Repertory Company, Chapel Hill, NC— PATP (Professional Actor Training Program) Company Member
8/2017 - 5/2020
Member of the Graduate Acting Company at PlayMakers Repertory Company. Performing in mainstage season programming, as well as the Mobile Shakespeare Unit and PRC2 Blackbox productions
Christian Youth Theatre, Kansas City, MO —
Master Class Instructor
Monologue Workshop
Sept-Nov. 2020
Instructor and Advisor for Monologue Workshop. Leading weekly master classes for student performers to brush up and tighten their monologues for auditions, shows, or personal study.
Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, South Bend, IN— Teaching Artist
2/2014 - 2/2016
Led workshops for High School Students focused on introduction to Shakespeare’s text, and thematic elements of a specific play. Exercises include, word and sound physicalization, Shakespearean insults, and The Run Through - a class-led retelling of the entire play in as little time as possible.
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Bozeman, MT—
Company Member/Fight Captain
5/2013 - 9/2013
In addition to performing Henry V and The Recruiting Officer in rep, also led introductory Stage Combat workshops to local summer programs and schools, and operated as fight captain for both shows.
Management/Development -
The Joffrey Ballet, Chicago, IL— Development Associate
3/2015 - 1/2016
Responsible for processing small individual gifts/donations to the ballet. Also managing company transition into Tessitura software system. Transferring data, learning software to help educate staff on navigating new systems.
Awards & Fellowships
David A. Hammond Medal for Excellence in Dramatic Art
-The highest honor the UNC Dept. of Dramatic Art gives to a Graduating Student.
Laura Jewell Dobbins Graduate Fellowship
-Given by UNC Dept. of Dramatic Art in recognition of Academic Achievment
Training And Certification
Stage Combat:
- Recommended Pass in Rapier & Dagger by the SAFD 2023
- Recommended Pass in Unarmed by the SAFD 2023
Experience and continuing training in: Broadsword, Shield, Quarterstaff, Knife, Smallsword, Whip
Memberships & Organizations
Member of the National Alliance of Acting Teachers
Senator in Graduate and Professional Student Federation for UNC Chapel Hill
Skills
Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, Sharepoint
Sound Engineering: Audacity, Qlab, Pro Tools
Development/Marketing: DonorPerfect, Tessitura
EDUCATION
UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC— MFA
August 2017- May 2020
Instructors: Julia Gibson, Ray Dooley - Acting, Tracy Bersley - Movement, John Patrick, Tia James, Gwendolyn Schwinke - Voice
The Hartt School, Hartford, CT— BFA
August 2005 - May 2009
Instructors:
Acting- Alan Rust, David Watson, Diana Moller-Marino, Henry Fonte
Movement - Anne Marie Davis
Voice - Robert H. Davis, Joanna Morrison