2008 Woodie Awards
Teeter takes on teaching
Actor-turned-professor Lara Teeter prepares Conservatory students for rigors of theater
By: Jennifer Ginger
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Lifestyle
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to strangers.
Teeter began teaching after he was given the opportunity to direct and choreograph a production of "West Side Story" at California State University, Long Beach. He said he was challenged to train and choreograph a routine for performers who weren't advanced in their craft. When the show opened, Teeter told the stage and the audience he loved teaching and intended to pursue it as
a career.
Teeter embraced his new role as teacher, becoming a full professor at California State University, Fullerton. A few days later, he was called to audition for the show "Crazy for You." The call for an audition developed into Teeter being offered a role, but he was unable to convince theater companies that he could be in the show as well as produce student work.
Teeter briefly became unsatisfied with teaching, during which time he married Kristen, a dancer, choreographer and gymnast he met in a California dance class. He returned to the stage, performing as the scarecrow in the Madison Square Garden production of "The Wizard of Oz," starring Rosanne Barr. He later toured the show with Mickey Rooney and Eartha Kitt.
There weren't many auditions for male dancers in the late '80s and early '90s, and Teeter began to miss teaching. He became the artistic director at Light Opera Works in Evanston, Ill., in 1999. A year later, he became an assistant professor at Northwestern University in Evanston and worked both jobs simultaneously until 2004.
Teeter later headed a musical theater program at Shenandoah University in Virginia. His schedule was not as intense as his previous one, so he was able to spend time with his children, twins Charlie and Elizabeth, born in 2001. But Teeter and his wife missed the culture and diversity of the Midwest. He interviewed and accepted his position at WU and in June 2007, Teeter, his wife, twins and 18-month-old daughter Katherine moved to Webster Groves.
Teeter currently teaches jazz, tap and ballet classes for adolescents at Stages St. Louis. He plans to audition for Stages if the rehearsals fit into his schedule, but said his current priorities are his family and
his students.
Teeter began teaching after he was given the opportunity to direct and choreograph a production of "West Side Story" at California State University, Long Beach. He said he was challenged to train and choreograph a routine for performers who weren't advanced in their craft. When the show opened, Teeter told the stage and the audience he loved teaching and intended to pursue it as
a career.
Teeter embraced his new role as teacher, becoming a full professor at California State University, Fullerton. A few days later, he was called to audition for the show "Crazy for You." The call for an audition developed into Teeter being offered a role, but he was unable to convince theater companies that he could be in the show as well as produce student work.
Teeter briefly became unsatisfied with teaching, during which time he married Kristen, a dancer, choreographer and gymnast he met in a California dance class. He returned to the stage, performing as the scarecrow in the Madison Square Garden production of "The Wizard of Oz," starring Rosanne Barr. He later toured the show with Mickey Rooney and Eartha Kitt.
There weren't many auditions for male dancers in the late '80s and early '90s, and Teeter began to miss teaching. He became the artistic director at Light Opera Works in Evanston, Ill., in 1999. A year later, he became an assistant professor at Northwestern University in Evanston and worked both jobs simultaneously until 2004.
Teeter later headed a musical theater program at Shenandoah University in Virginia. His schedule was not as intense as his previous one, so he was able to spend time with his children, twins Charlie and Elizabeth, born in 2001. But Teeter and his wife missed the culture and diversity of the Midwest. He interviewed and accepted his position at WU and in June 2007, Teeter, his wife, twins and 18-month-old daughter Katherine moved to Webster Groves.
Teeter currently teaches jazz, tap and ballet classes for adolescents at Stages St. Louis. He plans to audition for Stages if the rehearsals fit into his schedule, but said his current priorities are his family and
his students.
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