Audra enjoys taking a hands-on approach to any endeavor. A passionate theatre artist, she endeavors to share that passion and ignite the flame of creativity in all of her students. She has a passion for her students above all. Theatre is her chosen path to share the love of Art and creativity with others. Audra’s teaching style works to promote a safe environment where students feel free to try, to fail, and to succeed. 

The Play’s the Thing! In her performance programs, Audra uses team-building exercises, to create a cohesive group of supportive performers. The students work to support one another toward a common goal: their performance. Performance programs may be used as a one day workshop, a week long residency, or for the length of an entire production (from audition to final performance and striking of the set.)

A Walk In Someone Else’s Shoes. In her Process Drama programs, Audra takes on the requested theme in order to work with her students. Often used to build character in children and young adults, Process Drama affords students the opportunity to express themselves in non-threatening ways. Students will role-play, create dramas, and more, all while working with one another to better understand each other, and themselves, through the magic of drama.

Audra has been directing plays since she was in high school. Since 2011, she has worked with Young Actors Guild where she has had the privilege of directing plays with cast members from 5-18 years of age. Before that, she was a classroom teacher for ten years. Eight of those years, she enjoyed teaching theatre as the head of the Alma High School Theatre Department. Where, alongside her husband, Shane, she had the honor of taking a production to the Fringe Festival as part of the American High School Theatre Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. She has served as Chapter Director for the Arkansas Chapter of the International Thespian Society. In 2010, she and Shane were honored by the Arkansas Thespian Society by being inducted into their Hall of Fame. She received her MA from New York University where she spent time in New York City, London, England, and Dublin, Ireland, studying Educational Theatre. In her time at NYU, she had the opportunity to specialize in Process Drama. She was able to work with children of all ages, from around the world, to create dramas. Through Process Drama, she learned to guide children to discover more about the world around them while learning more about themselves.