Associate Acting Teacher
Celestine believes in the beautiful power of art to transform not only the artist but those who bear witness. The ability to see oneself in a character or to identify with an experience being portrayed on stage or on screen is a gift to one’s soul.
I believe in the American theatre. I believe in its power to inform about the human condition, its power to heal… its power to uncover the truths we wrestle from uncertain and sometimes unyielding realities. – August Wilson
Celestine Rae is an actress, dancer, and emerging director. Her artistic journey began as a modern dancer in her hometown of Philadelphia where she studied dance at Philadanco!, Koresh, and Soliloquy in Motion Dance Studios. Her training in various forms of dance grew into a deep passion for acting. Though dance remains her first love, acting is where she found her voice and the true depth of her artistry. Celestine is a graduate of The William Esper Studio where she studied under Terry Knickerbocker. To this day, Celestine continues to train with Terry and has also studied with Maggie Flannigan.
Celestine has performed in various off and off off Broadway shows as well as performing in regional theatre. Most recent NYC theater credits include In the Parlour, (National Black Theatre), Manhood (National Black Theatre), The Minstrel Show (Classic Stage Company), Plenty of Time (The Billie Holiday Theatre), All American Girls (Actors Temple Theatre), and Diary of a Catholic School Dropout (Actors Temple Theatre) Regional: From the Author Of (Resident Ensemble Players, Delaware). She has also worked with Premier Stages, Abingdon Theatre Company, LaMaMa, NJ Rep, New Dramatists, NYMadness, The American Slavery Project, and the Obie Award Winning 48 Hours in Harlem.
She has had the pleasure of working on many new plays at The Lark and enjoys developing new works by new and emerging voices in American theater. Celestine has also enjoyed working in TV & Film; most recently in The Blacklist (NBC), Boardwalk Empire (HBO), The Mysteries of Laura (NBC), Law & Order SVU (NBC), Eye Candy (MTV) and many independent films. Celestine has also directed for The United Solo Festival, Keen Teen Company, The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, and various staged and private play readings. She was also the co-creator and co-artistic director of The Naked Expedition Project, a play reading series dedicated to showcasing underrepresented voices and stories in theatre.