Celestine Rae

Celestine Rae is an educator, actor, 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 where she found her voice and the true depth of her artistry. Celestine is a graduate of The William Esper Studio where she first met and studied under Terry Knickerbocker. She continued to train with Terry after graduation and followed him to Brooklyn where he opened the Terry Knickerbocker Studio. There, Celestine shadowed Terry in pursuit of teaching the Meisner work and is currently an Associate Meisner Instructor of the 2 year program. Terry’s mentorship and guidance are the foundation from which Celestine teaches the Meisner work. She is a proud member of the lineage of Meisner instructors who trained with a master teacher. Celestine also teaches acting at Pace University, Montclair State University, and has taught at NYU (Experimental Theatre Wing), New York Conservatory for the Arts, and Primary Stages (ESPA). She served as the Artistic Director for Keen Teens Festival of New Work for 2 years where she produced an off Broadway theatre festival for New York City high school students at Theatre Row. As an actor, Celestine can be seen in various guest star and recurring roles on HBO, NBC, FOX, MTV, Netflix, and more, as well as leading and supporting roles in several feature films. She has also performed in theatre both off Broadway and regionally around the country.

“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