For a Curriculum Vitae click here.
For a Directing Resume click here.
Read an article featuring Gail in Dramatics Magazine - 
:
Click here.
Educating credits include:
In Madison and the Wisconsin area:
Capital City Theatre Conservatory
Level UP - College Prep Musical Theatre Intensive
Find Your Light - Summer Musical Theatre Intensive
College Prep Course
Acting Through Song
Performing Cabaret
Kennedy Center American Theatre Workshop Festival
University Of Wisconsin, Madison - Theatre Department
Edgewood College - Theatre Department
Madison Country Day School
Madison Creative Arts Program
Children's Theatre of Madison - Nancy Thurow Acting Academy
Wisconsin High School Theatre Festival
Four Seasons Theatre
UW Continuing Studies
UW Summer Music Clinic
Overture Center Jerry Awards Workshops and Reviewer
WSMA Certified Adjudicator
Outside Wisconsin
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (Twin Lake, MI)
Wunder Studios (Chicago, IL)
Batavia High School (IL)
Education Philosophy – Gail Becker
What makes a student’s education successful? In what capacity are our teachers responsible for directing our artistically talented? Educating young minds in the Arts is much more involved than say teaching traditional academics. Seeing where the Arts have declined to in our school systems is devastating. Programs first on the chopping block are usually Music and Drama departments. Without these influences we are saddling our youth for an existence without freethinking, widened emotions, unbridled expressions, a sense of intimately sharing of ideas, and language. As a professional actress and singer I want to prepare these young talented individuals to explore their gifts and find the balance of working and living as an artist.
A teacher can provide a plethora of information, drill it home, give technical advice, but without the passion behind the words, the student will falter. The “education” involves getting them excited about propelling their growth as an artist. “You can never imitate, only emulate!” is one of my favorite mantras. Guiding a student to discover that they will become the best artist, singer, actor, musician, etc., that they alone can become is one of the most difficult lessons to teach. Only after living and learning through the rigors of college did I figure it out. Coming from Jr. High and High School, where I was a big fish in a small pond, I thought I had all the answers, all the techniques. In college I had those chips systematically removed from my shoulders and really got down to the basics. Only through hard work, discipline, and honest self-analysis was I able to become the best singer and actress I was capable of; not a copycat of others I admired. This is most evident in my musical theatre and cabaret career. There are many incredible singers, but not many truly incredible performers. It is those who draw upon their own personal truths who are the most captivating. Had I learned that lesson at a younger age, I feel as I may have excelled to even greater heights sooner. Through teaching those basics, I intend to bring these vital lessons to my students now, so they may be prepared for greater lessons in the future.
Another one of my favorite quotes is, “It’s not called show-party, or show-fun-times, it’s called show-business.” I like to give my students the real life information to making the arts a livelihood. Treating them as peers and expecting an equal level of respect is my way of creating a bond with my students. They are challenged to produce high quality results when working with me, and seeing them strive to do so is thrilling and rewarding. When I get exited, they get excited.
And ultimately isn’t that what we all are looking to achieve? A sense of excitement and exhilaration when working? I understand the importance of hard work and responsibility, but without fulfillment in your career, I believe you are not living to work, just working to live. Adapting this path in life begins early, before the overwhelming flood of owning more stuff, technological toys, excess, over consumption, and greed begins to taint the road we travel. These distractions are everywhere, and giving the best mentoring to my students will influence their choices forever. Some of the most moving artistic experiences I have witnessed have been in a plain black box, with one small microphone, and a piano. I hope to inspire such future experiences.
