Angie Foster discovered her love for the theatre unexpectedly. During her first year of college she decided to fill an extra hour in her schedule with a drama class. “I quickly became enthralled with working in a live setting, one in which performances change and evolve nightly, depending on how the members of the cast feel, how the audience responds, and the dynamics between the performers,” Angie said.
When trying to find the best education for her own children, Reed ’00, Deshka ‘03, and Lhotse ‘06, she ultimately discovered Waldorf education and Kimberton Waldorf School. Angie’s amazing spirit, energy, and life experiences made her the perfect candidate to join her children as the school’s highly talented dramatic arts teacher.
Angie is passionate about teaching drama because it presents different challenges every day. Atypical of mainstream high school theater, where students elect to be involved in productions by auditioning, every member of the class at Kimberton Waldorf School performs in a play each year, including works by Shakespeare. "It's not about one person getting a great role and being good," Angie said, "it's how everyone works together. It's about the ensemble." Angie uses the image of a machine when describing the process of creating and performing a play: it is the challenge of getting all the moving parts to work together. “This fuels my enthusiasm,” Angie added.
A great day for Angie is one in which her students have been challenged to do something they have never tried, take risks, and explore new territory. The students work hard on each production. "There is chaos and we make mistakes,” Angie admitted. “When everyone is supporting each other, when I know that the students and I are working together to solve the questions the play or the characters in the play are asking, then I know we are having a successful day. These kids bring such depth, I am moved deeply by how they are willing to work and share."
Aside from teaching at KWS, Angie is a clowning facilitator with Nose to Nose of North America, where she leads workshops with a focus on play and communication and discovering your inner clown. Angie is also a professional actress. She was in the adult ensemble at People's Light for five years and is now a company member with The Rhythm One Company in Philadelphia and auditions in the Philadelphia area. Angie received her BFA from Stephens College and studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She has also training in Clowning and Improvisation with Vivian Gladwell. Angie has performed on Broadway as Miss Heasman in Butley and Anya in The Cherry Orchard.
Angie’s life is as colorful as the productions she works on with the students. She is committed to the students and her long relationship with the school makes her an asset to the school, community, and theatrical-world-at-large. "My favorite KWS memory is......well, I have many amazing memories of different productions....mostly I remember the love that I feel from the students. I'm inspired first and foremost by my own children, colleague and collaborator Ceal Phelan, clowning mentor Vivian Gladwell, and by my theatre mentor Andre Gregory."
Make sure to take time to enjoy the productions that Angie will be working on this year.
