Education Teaching Staff
Meet the Teaching Artists
Erika Lynnette Baker has been working for the education program at the Shakespeare Festival for 3 years. Erika has also taught various workshops through Northwest Missouri State University where she recently finished her undergrad in theatre and writing. She studied as an actress primarily but has also worked in various other aspects of theatre including puppetry, movement studies, playwriting and design.
Matt Rapport has been a performing arts teacher in and around Kansas City for over 15 years. His areas of expertise include Shakespeare, improvisation, acting as well as physical skills including juggling, puppetry and physical comedy. He has taught in a variety of settings including public schools, community centers, and art camps. In addition to being the Festival’s lead teaching artist, Matt has taught classes for the Coterie Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Accessible Arts, and Theatre For Young America. Some of his more rewarding teaching experiences have been with underserved students including work with the Shakespeare Festival at ReStart, a homeless shelter in Kansas City, MO and with Kansas City Repertory Theater at DeLaSalle and Hilltop, both high schools for adjudicated youths. Most recently he has been teaching adults with Down's Syndrome in Mission, Kansas through Accessible Arts. Matt is also a professional actor and musician with many local and regional credits.
Erika Baker
Matt Rapport
