UCONN, Dramatic Arts
Featuring a class led by Helene Kvale
Watch the video
Learn more about the Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut
The curious actor never stops exploring, deepening their work and developing their craft. Classwork is crucial, but one on one coaching is also key, whether in person or online. You can keep training in spite of Covid.
Let’s talk about how we can work together to help you grow as an actor.
Create bold, truthful, inspired characters. Strengthen your moment to moment playing with clear, insightful feedback. Challenge yourself and take your work to a new level in a gentle, supportive and professional environment.
With 30 years of experience in theater, film and television as an actor, director and coach, I will help you set, realize and retain your goals so you can create freely with passion and meaning.
Audition Technique
Monologue
Text Analysis
Scene Work
Contact me for more information:
- Single + Multiple Class Rates
- Student Discounts
- Reduced Rates for UCONN alumni
Check out my biography page for details:
- Coach + Professor
- Actor + Director
- Writer + Workshop Leader
My professional affiliations include:
- Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
- Equity + American Association of University Professors
Student Testimonials
“Without a doubt, I trust you wholeheartedly. Thank you for thinking about us, supporting us, and helping us become better artists. We couldn’t have asked for a better educator and friend.”
“I hope I can continue to live up to the standard we’ve set this year and raise the bar even higher throughout the rest of the semester! Thank you again for all the help you’ve lent me and the class thus far. I really enjoy your class and I can’t wait to keep growing both with the company and as an individual!”
“I just wanted to thank you again for everything you have done for me and our class. Your astute and up-to-date knowledge is very beneficial to our class and it really feels as though we’re being treated as adults. Also the honest and insightful feedback is the best to work with. Thank you for going out of your way to help me, answering calls late and staying past the end of class. Your time is so valuable! Thank you for giving time to me.”
“I just wanted to say thank you again for the wonderful year! You have been amazing to all of us, and I am sad that our time together is over! I always looked forward to my acting sessions with you, and only wish I could’ve had more. I couldn’t have gotten where I am without your inspiration, passion, and love. Thanks again for everything.”
“I just wanted to thank you and tell you how much you are appreciated and loved! It was wonderful working with you, and I look forward to another go next semester”.
“Please know that you had a tremendous amount to do with birthing this actor so I am forever indebted. I have grown so much, and that is priceless to me. The grace and integrity with which you approached the show, and the way you shared your vision with us as actors allowed me to not only come to be comfortable but really get to enjoy the “rawness” of this piece.”
“UCONN is so lucky to have you work here as a teacher, director, and a professional to look up to. I feel so blessed and I couldn’t feel this way without your direction and feminine energy of understanding.”
“Thank you so much for your encouragement! It has been quite a journey this past year. Last year I was on the brink of quitting the theater all together. I’m glad I didn’t. I enjoyed so much the work we did this semester. I really feel your support and direction allowed me to feel more at ease and explore the text and character.”
“I wanted you to know that your genuine care for not only the work, but your students as artists is an inspiration. Furthermore, it is rare. Your candor and honest perspective has warmed my soul like a beam of sunshine. Yours will be a presence I will continue to seek in the future.”
“I just wanted to thank you again. Starting my semester off working with you really kick started my drive to dig deeper in my work. As I look at the semester as a whole, I am very happy with my work and where I am as an artist. So again, I just wanted to share with you my appreciation and hope that do work together again once I leave here.”
“I just wanted to take the time to thank you for this opportunity. I feel absolutely blessed to be going on this journey with you at the helm. You have created something special with this process. I feel safe to challenge and push myself further and further each time we work, I’m eager for rehearsals, and over all I’m just in love with what we are creating as a group. This has been one of the most organic processes for me as an actor to date, and I can’t thank you enough for letting me just go and try to figure it out, giving me little things here and there to spark my creativity. Really I am just having a wonderful time working with you.”
“Thank you for all the support and the challenge you gave me. I know I’d be very lucky if I ever got to work with you on any project in the future.”
Anonymous Student Evaluations
‘There is an openness that Helene brings to class that allows us as students to bring our true selves to class, rather than a diluted version of us that I feel is necessary to bring to classes. We were able to bring up concerns that we had about our education and found complete trust in Helene.”
‘Helene catered to our needs and questions. Sometimes it can feel like our professors are in a different world than us but by raising issues that we’ll face in the future, Helene widened our perspective and addressed our actual concerns. Helene’s direction is very clear and her feedback is extremely helpful. She is easy to talk to and very understanding.’
‘Helene was easily one of the best professors I ever had. Her discussions regarding the industry, as well as her complete honesty, was extremely valuable and appreciated. Her feedback was always spot on and poignant. UConn students are so lucky to have the opportunity to witness and learn from her immense knowledge.’
‘She’s very empowering and instills a sense of meaningfulness in the work that we do.’
‘Very open with the students about the profession they are trying to pursue. There wasn’t any sugarcoating, however she was careful and precise with her responses to students.’
‘Taking time in class to talk about how we were feeling about our work and our futures and the discussions about what we would be going into once we left school were crucial.’
‘Very helpful and insightful about the industry and the craft.’
‘She never once made me feel bad about myself, which isn’t easy in an acting class. Somehow her feedback was always gentle and truly useful. She talks to her students with a unique kind of respect, and always makes us feel heard.’
photo by Derrick Holmes
