Teacher Appreciation Week: Meet Emilie Baartman 

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, all this week we’re celebrating and thanking our amazing Gulfshore Playhouse Education team. Today we meet Emilie Baartman, Education Assistant, who has toured and worked as a teaching artist in various theatres before joining Gulfshore Playhouse in 2019!

Q & A with Emilie Baartman

Why do you love being an educator at Gulfshore Playhouse? 
With all the different programs that we get to offer, I love working with so many individuals and students with different backgrounds and different stories. I love learning more about each student and who they are, and what brought them into the world of theatre in the first place.

What makes a good theatre educator?
Heart; you open it a bit more to students who are in need of compassion and attention in their lives, but also keep it strong when wanting the best for your student.

What is the goal of educational theatre at Gulfshore Playhouse?
We want to provide theatre and performing arts to those who don’t have that easy access to it. Every student, regardless of their background, should have the experience of seeing a live professional show at some point in their life. Gulfshore Playhouse assists in providing that opportunity through our programs, whether it be in their school, or at the theatre. 

What does theatre education help to promote in our community? 
Theatre education here in Southwest Florida provides a voice to those who may be seen as quiet or behind the shadows of others. Theatre education also gives students the space they need to be themselves and explore what opportunities they may be open to, whether that be on stage or behind the scenes.

Why does Theatre education at Gulfshore Playhouse matter? 
Gulfshore Playhouse’s goal is to provide theatre to those who may not have easy access to it, and that was one of the goals that Kristen Coury wanted to achieve when she started the company almost 20 years ago. Gulfshore Playhouse wants the Southwest Florida community to know just how impactful the arts are. Theatre education provides both students and audiences the opportunity to learn more about this art form.

What’s the best part of being involved in theatre education at Gulfshore Playhouse? 
For me, I’ve been able to see the students that I started working with as many as four years ago grow through our programs, such as starting with our junior productions, and they are now getting selected into performing arts schools during their senior year. I have one student who started out in The Wizard of Oz back in 2019, and to see him become the performer and actor that he is has been incredible!

What do students gain from their involvement in theatre at Gulfshore Playhouse? 
Through Gulfshore Playhouse Education programs, students gain professional experience, which is so important especially if they want to continue to pursue theatre in the future. Gulfshore Playhouse Education also provides a stepping stone for students who may have never done a show, but after taking part in an in-school program may want to explore the theatre world more.