Mega-talent Rachel Burttram Powers to judge December 4 T.G.I.M.
Since summertime, Rachel Burttram Powers has not had much time off. By day, she works as the Production Manager for ArtFest Fort Myers. With just three months before the opening of Fort Myers’ premier outdoor art festival, she could not be busier. And most nights and some afternoons, she’s appearing as Emily Kapoor at the Artstudio Theater at Florida Rep in Ayad Akhtar’s hard-hitting play Disgraced. But she has graciously agreed to serve as one of the celebrity judges at the December 4 T.G.I.M.
When it comes to judging acting performances, whether the medium is film or theater, few people in Southwest Florida can match Rachel’s credentials, experience or keen eye for talent. Her screen work includes three independent 
films (Emma’s Fine, World Traveler, Alchemy) and television (Burn Notice), along with national and regional commercials. But most of Southwest Florida knows Rachel from her prodigious work in local theater. Not only is she starring with Amir Darvish in Disgraced, she just completed a critically-acclaimed appearance as Rosemary in Outside Mullingar, a romantic comedy set in the hinterland of Wesmeath County, Ireland. In all, Rachel’s participation as an ensemble member at Florida Repertory Theatre spans a period of nearly fifteen years.
As anyone who has seen her perform well knows, Rachel’s talent is 
bigger than Southwest Florida. Her stage work has been seen across the country – in venues ranging from the Actors’ Theatre of Louisville in Kentucky, Kitchen Theatre in Ithaca, New York (where she appeared most recently in Mark St. Germaine’s romantic comedy Dancing Lessons), The Hippodrome Theatre in Gainesville, Florida, Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, Florida, Gloucester Stage in Massachusetts, 
Barnstormers’ Theatre in New Hampshire, City Equity in Alabama, Geva Theatre, and various stages in New York City, including the prestigious Actors’ Studio. She has even shared the boards with the legendary Carol Lawrence and Tony-nominated Daniel Sunjata.
Prior to her performance in Outside Mullingar, Rachel was seen in the ArtStage Studio Theatre in 
Doublewide. Other Florida Rep appearances include Florida Rep’s nationally-acclaimed production of The House of Leaves, Mark St. Germain’s Best of Enemies, Ralph’s mother in Jean Sheperd’s good-natured holiday play, A Christmas Story, Nell in the world premiere of Split in Three, Mary Jo in Dividing the Estate, Betsy/Lindsey in Clybourne Park, Brooke in Other Desert Cities, Ruth in Miracle on 34th Street and Sally in Talley’s Folly.
Rachel has also appeared of late in the Foulds Theatre at the Alliance for the Arts in Theatre Conspiracy’s productions of Amy and David Sedaris’ The Book of Liz and the Lillian Hellman classic Toys in the Attic.
R
achel apprenticed through the Actors’ Theatre of Louisville Acting and received her Bachelor’s degree in theatre from the University of Alabama. Among her many accolades, Rachel is the recipient of Florida Weekly’s Best Actress 2013. Notable nominations include the Angel of the Arts award for Performance Artist of the Year in 2009, Broadway “World’s Best Actress in a Play 2012 – Central NY” for Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune at Ithaca’s Kitchen Theatre, and Broadway “World’s Best Actress in a Play 2013 SW Florida” for Other Desert Cities.
“For me it’s about the process,” Rachel told Gulfshore Business ournalist Michael Korb in an interview for his January, 2016 piece, 
“Passion Players: The thespians of Southwest Florida have their work cut out for them.” “It is a beautiful, wonderful thing when you share a human experience and are able to create something. It’s all about the tinkering. I love to solve the puzzle of a script. It’s the exploration of human behavior and relationships. Performances are great, but I love being in a rehearsal room with other actors and the director and stage manager.”
Rachel is also an Arts Administrator. In that capacity, she has served as an Associate Director, Director of Audience Development, Company Manager, Director of Education, Box Office Manager, and Fundraising Research, Community Programs Director and mentor. She has developed programs for theaters around the country for under-served populations. Rachel is also a teaching artist and has taught classes and workshops for a variety of populations all over the country with her husband and fellow theatre artist, B
rendan Powers, who starred with her in Outside Mullingar.
Rachel is the creator of Welcome to the Green Room, a resource for actors, singers and performing artists to share ideas and tips for a healthy lifestyle on a budget. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and an honorary member of the NAACP. For more on Rachel, please visit http://www.rachelburttram.com/.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear a unique talent dish on the films and acting screened by Eric Raddatz and Melissa DeHaven at this December’s T.G.I.M.
The doors open at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center at 6:30 with screenings beginning at 7:00 p.m.
November 30, 2017.
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About the Author
Tom Hall is both an amateur artist and aspiring novelist who writes art quest thrillers. He is in the final stages of completing his debut novel titled "Art Detective," a story that fictionalizes the discovery of the fabled billion-dollar Impressionist collection of Parisian art dealer Josse Bernheim-Jeune, thought by many to have perished during World War II when the collection's hiding place, Castle de Rastignac in southern France, was destroyed by the Wehrmacht in reprisal for attacks made by members of the Resistance operating in the area. A former tax attorney, Tom holds a bachelor's degree as well as both a juris doctorate and masters of laws in taxation from the University of Florida. Tom lives in Estero, Florida with his fiancee, Connie, and their four cats.