Chris Kotera

AS A PERFORMING ARTIST
Chris is a New Yorker from Kansas. A dynamic artist with diverse talents, he has been living his dream of traveling North America performing professionally as well as teaching and choreographing around the US. He is a proud union member of Actors’ Equity Association and the American Federation of Musicians. Some of his favorite Musical Theatre performing credits are the first lover in The National Tour of Evita, Violinist/Emcee Cover in The International Tour of Cabaret, and the male quartet of Will Rogers Follies, Anything Goes, and My Fair Lady. Chris is currently a singer with Songful Artists in NYC and former soloist with Kenny Smith Harlem Gospel Choir. Selected choreography credits include White Christmas, Anything Goes, and The Wedding Singer. As a violinist he has performed and recorded with NYC’s Prospect Theatre Company, Virgin Atlantic Airlines, and songwriters Joey Contreras and Desi Oakley. Chris attended the prestigious Musical Theatre Performance program at University of Oklahoma, and graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance.

AS A COACH
Chris’s coaching sessions will focus on building a character from scratch. Students will practice and learn various techniques to unlock and answer questions about their character. This means students will discover who their character is, what they need and want, where they just were and where they need to get to, who they are speaking to, and how to get what they need. What do they know and not know? Chris will integrate musicianship and vocal technique training as he believes it can inform acting choices, not disrupt them. On the way, they will find confidence and strength in the body through fun, explorative exercises that will serve the character. Additionally, he knows how to transform that nervous energy that feels like it will impair one’s ability to do their best into fuel for a convincing, powerful, and moving performance in the audition room or on the stage.