Sean Harris is an actor, director, and teacher. He is an owner of Playhouse on Park theater in West Hartford, CT, as well as an acting teacher at the Spence School in New York City. Previously, he served as the theater teacher at Hall High School in West Hartford and taught different levels of acting. Perhaps his biggest achievement at the small-town high school was that he was continuously selected to have his students perform his work in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, one of the largest arts festivals in the world. Harris would bring a group of theater students to perform their play in the festival, as well as explore London and Scotland for 2 weeks. (I was on the trip one year, and it was extremely life-changing and rewarding.)
I sat down with my former acting coach to discuss just how he got involved in the industry, his inspiration, and what’s next:
1. Why do you teach acting?
“I teach acting because it is my drug. It is inescapable. The high is experiencing a student who understands themselves more than they thought they could, care more about others more than they thought they could, and discover their passion more than they thought possible.”
2. What helps you decide which plays to do at your theater, Playhouse on Park?
“I take [a play] into consideration if I am passionate about it, if it can work in our space, if it is a vital story to tell, and if it is a show that needs to be seen.”
Playhouse on Park in West Hartford, CT
3. What do you think makes an actor successful?
“Intelligence, emotional availability, trust and flexibility.”
4. Do you enjoy teaching kids or adults more?
“Kids because I can take them further. Adults have been told so much by so many teachers there is a lot to unlearn.”
5. What is the most rewarding theater experience you’ve ever had?
“’Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry’ is. No question. Working on a play for a year developed by students and taking it all over to spread awareness then it getting published, can’t be beat.”
For more information about Harris or Playhouse on Park, visit: http://playhouseonpark.org