Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Craig
Hi Rachel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Ever since I was young, I knew I needed more than just the ordinary. I have a creative spirit, and have the urge to constantly improve my craft. I grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. I began performing in plays in elementary school, and continued my theatre education all the way through college. I attended Middle Tennessee State University, where I studied theatre and dance. After college, I performed in regional theatre, with favorites including Tweetsie Railroad and Tecumseh! Outdoor Drama. Eventually, I found myself needing a more permanent residence, so I made my way to Chicago, which became my home for seven years. While in Chicago, I worked in commercial, film, children’s and musical theatre, stage combat, intimacy direction, and voiceover.
Then…the pandemic hit. My creative endeavors were put on hold, and I made my way back to Tennessee, eventually landing in Chattanooga. However, with this time to stop and reflect, I decided to peruse higher education, and received my Master’s of Education in 2022. I began working in theatre education soon after. Throughout this journey and a bit of a career reset, I discovered where my passions truly lie, voiceover. I began studying with On the Mic Training, and honed my skill in commercial narration, audiobook narration, video games, and animation. Not only did I began studying voiceover, but I also grew my skills in intimacy direction, studying with Theatrical Intimacy Education. I have had the honor of intimacy directing several shows in the Chattanooga area, such as Macbeth, The Crucible, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
When I was a kid, all I wanted to be was an actor. Now, as an adult, I am please to identify as so much more. My name is Rachel Craig, and I am a voiceover artist, intimacy director, director, dancer, singer, educator and of course, actor.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has absolutely not been a smooth road. As is common in the creative arts, you often see many people succeed when you don’t. As an actor, rejection is just part of the process. And boy did I experience a lot of rejection. I can’t tell you how many auditions I’ve been to and haven’t gotten the part. The feeling of seeing someone you went to college with in a movie or a TV show when I’m still not at that level yet…it’s tough. Of course I am happy and so proud of their accomplishments, but I’d be lying if I said I’m also not incredibly jealous of them at the same time. However, as an actor, it is important to have some level of delusion. This sounds weird, but it’s true! With delusion comes the drive to keep going.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Someone asked me a great question once. They asked “What is your job AND what do you do?” I thought this was a brilliant way to ask about one’s career because so many of us creative types are not defined by just our day jobs. So what is my job? I am a high school teacher at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, TN. I teach theatre, dance, and film…the fun classes! I also direct and produce two plays during the school year, a straight play in the fall and a musical in the spring.
What do I do? I am an actor who specializes voiceover, and I am an intimacy director, as well as an assistant stage combat choreographer. I am certainly most proud of my skills as a voiceover artist and an my intimacy direction. With voiceover, I love being able to change my voice to perform as a silly cartoon character, or use my normal speaking voice for a commercial read or an audiobook. As an intimacy director, I love working with actors to not only set boundaries and promote consent in the rehearsal room, but also pin-pointing specific moments to enhance the intimate scene and bring the characters to life.
I feel like what sets me apart from others is my ability to use my real life theatre artist skills into the classroom. We often see theatre educators go straight from college into a classroom, which doesn’t leave them with many experiences outside of a school environment. I am so grateful I got to spend fifteen plus years working in professional theatre before I even set foot in a classroom. And I continue to work professionally to this day. My students have even gotten to see me perform on stage before, and that’s so special.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I am a cancer survivor! When I was six years old, I was diagnosed with a Whelms tumor in my left kidney. They were able to catch it fast enough, and removed my kidney right away. I then did chemotherapy for one year. I lost all my hair, so I’m completely bald in my first grade school photo. At age seven, I was considered cured. I am now 38 years old, so I often don’t think much about those days in the hospital (although, my parents certainly do!) However, when I do think back to those days, I can’t help but to be eternally grateful for the doctors, nurses, and medical staff who saved my life. I may not be here now if it wasn’t for them, and I can’t believe how lucky I am to be where I am today. It just goes to show you how precious and delicate life is.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rachelkatherinecraig.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerhellkat/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachel.craig.750/
- Twitter: https://x.com/rachelkcraig
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelcraigvoiceover
