​619 361 2755     |     wilfredgrant11@gmail.com
Profile
Highly-talented, passionate actor, singer, dancer, director and choreographer with hands-on teaching, production, and performance experience in stage, musical, dance/movement, and film acting. Accredited with a strong academic and practical background in movement, theatre arts and performance. Strong expertise in theatrical performance production and management as well as directing and choreographing different dance forms. Explain and demonstrate artistic techniques while organizing performance groups and directing their rehearsals. Prepare progressive lesson plans for a diverse student population. Apply innovative instructional methodologies to propel the talent development and career success of students. Backed by a network of stage and screen contacts and a reputation for artistic integrity. Able to develop and maintain strong working relationship with faculty, staff, administration, students, and the community.  Repeatedly recognized for “innovative teaching” and “outstanding instruction” optimizing student success.  
​  Education
MA Theatre Arts
BA Theatre Performance: Acting and Musical Theatre, San Diego State University
AA Liberal Studies: Visual and Performing Arts, San Diego City College
Teaching Experience
La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla, California
Teaching Artist, January 2019 – Present
  •  Collaborate with K-12 classroom teachers to augment existing learning systems by pairing and teaching core content through theatre and dance.
  • Develop and teach adult courses as part of the Spotlight On program: Introduction to Musical Theatre and Song as Monologue.
  • Diversify the modalities in which the students experience and learn content by co-planning with classroom teachers and creating lessons that deeply engage the students’ imagination and creativity in a significant way.
  • Partner with the directors of education at La Jolla Playhouse to fully adhere federal and state grant funding by addressing national art standards, visual and performing arts standards, and the national educational standards.

Arts for Learning, San Diego, California
Teaching Artist, 2018 – Present
  • Create and implement Theatre and Dance curricula for arts enrichment residencies, arts integration programs, and community workshops.
  • Develop and teach arts intervention programs in partnership with the Juvenile Court and Community School system.
  • Co-plan, co-teach, and coach classroom teachers to embed art into core academic disciplines to increase student engagement, and build soft skills such as listening and collaboration.
  • Teach students from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds through a fusion of regular instruction, restorative practices and trauma informed interaction.
  • Execute impactful instruction by acknowledging the creative potential in all students and validating their unique experience of the world.

Meisner and Chekhov Integrated Studio, San Diego, California
Acting Teacher, 2018 – Present
  • Conduct class sessions for adult acting students focusing on Chekhov technique.
  • Clarify, demonstrate, and apply specific acting exercises to text, non-textual exploration, partner work and ensemble building.
  • Provide individual feedback and in the moment coaching of students to improve performance.
  • Plan and implement strategic lessons to ensure student adherence to the two-year trajectory for completion of the program.

Center of Justice and Reconciliation at Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, California
Actor and Teaching Artist for the kNOw More Program, 2016 – Present
  • Regularly perform and facilitate kNOw More Program at high schools and middle schools to increase awareness of Human Trafficking in San Diego County.
  • Provide essential and realistic role play opportunities for students through the Forum Theatre form.
  • Facilitate conversations with middle school and high school aged youth regarding the “red flags” of Human Trafficking and foster dialogue about both online and in-person safety.
  • Conduct programs in diverse student populations including incarcerated youth.

Young Actors Theater, Spring Valley, California
Teaching Artist, Director & Choreographer, 2018 – Present
  • Plan lessons, activities, and assessments for multilevel classes in acting, movement/dance, and musical theatre.
  • Facilitate the development and exploration of ideas with students while teaching them acting, dance, and solo performance.
  • Encourage students to articulate and discuss their thoughts on theatre and main stage productions.
  • Lead exercises and group activities that promote a deeper appreciation of musical theatre.
  • Create, instruct, and supervise the execution of selected youth musical productions including Lion King and Aladdin, etc.
  • Direct and choreograph community level shows with diverse acting talent and movement capacity.

San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego, California
Teaching Artist, 2018 – Present
  • Provide engaging, innovative and high-quality theatre education and productions to enhance the lives of youth of all cultural backgrounds, abilities, and levels of interest.
  • Organize on-site classes and camps to teach students in acting, dance/movement, and musical theatre.
  • Prepare mini play scripts and drama action plans to teach the musical theatre form for in-school residencies: acting, voice and movement.
  • Create and maintain an appropriate classroom environment while adhering to organizational strategies.
  • Choreograph selected main stage productions.

California Center of the Arts/JCCS, Escondido, California
Teaching Artist, 2018 – July 2020
  • Prepare lessons that reflect accommodations for differences in student learning styles.
  • Utilize instructional methods and incorporate restorative practices to create lesson plans, exercises, and other activities to help students’ master theatre performances, dance/movement, acting and directing.
  • Instruct enunciation, diction, voice development, and dialects, using voice exercises and improvisation.
  • Discuss and demonstrate vocal and body expression to teach acting styles.
  • Train the students in character development, and personality projection.
  • Acquire professional development and training in “Restorative Justice and Emotional Literacy” and use restorative conversation as a targeted intervention for students who get involved in peer conflict.

Southwestern College, Continuing Education, Chula Vista, California
Instructor for the Y.E.S Academy, 2019
  • Design, propose, and teach courses in Acting and Dance targeted for youth and young adults.
  • Create curricula that align with the broader mission and philosophy of Southwestern College as an institution of higher learning.
  • Teach truncated, workshop-style classes, and intended for students who are seeking to strengthen existing performance muscles, hone their individual process, and develop soft skills relating to collaboration.

Playwright’s Project, San Diego, California
Teaching Artist, 2018 – 2019
  • Demonstrate passion about working with young people to foster creativity, literacy, and self-expression.
  • Teach playwriting residencies in support of an English/Language Arts class specifically at middle and high school level.
  • Co-plan lessons with classroom teacher to create dynamic experiences that incorporated movement and acting exercises.
  • Increase academic achievement in students by fostering creativity, motivation, and critical thinking skills.
  • Help foster peer support to assist students in personal growth.
  • Provide opportunity for students to share their written work by creating space for performances during class.
  • Plan and coordinate culminating events for in-school residencies.

San Diego State University, San Diego, California
Graduate Assistant, 2017– 2019
  • Guest lecture for THEA 100: The Art of Theatre.
  • Administer, proctor, and grade exams and quizzes for THEA 100 and THEA 120: Heritage of Storytelling.
  • Grade and provide feedback on individual student assignments on a weekly basis.
  • Address student questions regarding course content and/or supplementary material.
  • Assist in updating the THEA 100 course syllabus to include content about musical theatre and acting.

YMCA of San Diego, San Diego, California
Dance Instructor III, 2013 – 2017
  • Coordinated the planning and execution of dance programs in the Greater San Diego area including Theodore Roosevelt Middle School, San Ysidro Middle School, and Granger Junior High School.
  • Directed and instructed different dance forms including Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and cultural styles for all age levels by designing and implementing dance curriculum.
  • Choreographed, demonstrated, and performed the dance moves correctly for the students to follow as well as instructed dance group in a professional artistic environment.

Sweetwater Union High School District, San Diego, California
Director/Choreographer, 2006 – 2012
  • Developed and presented programs at various schools including Chula Vista High School, Montgomery High School, Otay Ranch High School, Castle Park Middle School, and Chula Vista Middle School, to encourage young artists to develop their potential and foster their appreciation of live theatre and dance.  
  • Created original choreography, taught and notated dance steps and formations, cleaned dance combinations, and instructed various dance steps and performance techniques to students ranging from classical to contemporary forms.
  • Encouraged students through appreciation and motivated and supported them to improve their dance.
  • Set an example of professional behavior in rehearsal and in the performance that teaches harmonious relationships and teamwork, centered on the purpose of creating a successful production. 
Publications
Michael Chekhov and Sanford Meisner - Collisions and Convergence in Acting Training. Edited by Anjalee Deshpande Hutchinson.  Published by Routledge of Taylor & Francis Group.
​​Skills
​Highly developed observational skills. Strong coaching and developing skills. Well oriented with leading a team, and accustomed to engaging parents, K-12 students,  and teaching adults.
Training
Acting: Meisner/Chekhov Integrated: Lisa Berger & Liz Shipman, San Diego
Viewpoints: Alexandra Billings, Steppenwolf West—Monterey
Audition Technique: Jeffrey Ingman
On Camera: Episodic/Film Technique: D. Candis Paule, Actor for Reel