Staff Spotlight: Johanna Gorman-Baer, Resident Teaching Artist

CTC: What is your role at CTC? 

Johanna: I am a Resident Teaching Artist here in our Education department at CTC 

CTC: What does your job involve? 

Johanna: I teach classes onsite in our Theatre Arts Training program, and have also taught offsite at different schools, community events, day cares, libraries, and more! I also coordinate our early childhood residencies in schools and daycare sites around the Twin Cities, and schedule other off-site workshops. I work with all of our amazing teaching artists to support their classes and make sure everyone has what they need.  

CTC: What is your favorite thing about your job? 

Johanna: My favorite thing about being a resident teaching artist is that I get to be creative and do different things each day. I get to come up with fun new crafts and games that connect with our plays onstage; talk with teachers and educators about how we can support students as a community; and I get to try new ideas, stories, and games in class and watch my students make connections and grow as young artists!  

CTC: What do you love most about CTC? 

Johanna: One thing that still amazes me about CTC is that even though we do so much and have so many different people working here, everyone is working together towards the same goal, which is to provide an amazing experience for all of the families and students in our audiences, classes, and community. Performers, educators, artisans and craftspeople, ushers, experts in how to make this theatre run smoothly… there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes. As a theatre, we have people doing so many different things and bringing so many incredible talents to the table, and it all comes together to create magic.

CTC: How can someone prepare for a career like yours?  

Johanna: Be open to trying new things, and listen to the people who know you best. I didn’t know this kind of career existed until one of my theatre teachers told me they thought I would be a good fit, and suggested I apply for a job here. I didn’t know I would love teaching this much, until I was encouraged to give it a try! As a kid I had all kinds of ideas about what I was going to be when I grew up, and every time it was someone in my life who cared about me, that steered me towards the choices that eventually worked out.