We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Claire Hilton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Claire below.

Claire, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

In the fall of 2019, I had finally hit a groove as a freelance creative. I was getting acting gigs without having to audition, my choreography was earning me jobs at new theaters, and I was comfortably paying my bills without a secondary source of income. By January of 2020, I had two years of work lined up.

But, with the late winter of 2020 came the global pandemic. Like so many in the arts, I lost ALL of the contracts I had lined up. I sheepishly returned to my hometown to regroup….

Less than a week later, a colleague reached out to me regarding a job opportunity: Director of Theatre at a K-12 private school. On paper, I was NOT the right fit for this position. The title came with the responsibility of managing a team of 20+ contracted creatives a year, devising curriculum for middle and high school students, serving as the artistic point person on a season of main stage shows, and directing. I had been focusing the last 6 years of my professional life ACTING.

Even so, I took the risk to apply. I filled out an application and hit submit. Then I interviewed…. and interviewed AGAIN. Then, I taught a mock lesson over Zoom (before most of us even knew what Zoom WAS!), and was offered the position.

Fast forward. four years, and the department is thriving. Our classroom enrollment has quadrupled in theatre arts classes. We’ve added a third show to our main stage season. We have seniors getting called back for top performing arts programs. I’ve grown exponentially as a director, choreographer, and a performer (I DO still act from time to time). But, I’ve also grown as a person. I’m so glad I took the risk to apply for a “big reach” job.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Claire Hilton, and I’m an actress, teaching artist, choreographer, and director currently located in Charlotte, NC.

I grew up in Charlotte with my identical twin sister, parents, and younger brother. My twin sister and I began performing at the age of 6 when we were cast in a commercial. We continued to do commercial work through our adolescence, while also performing in local and professional theatre productions.

When we were 17, my sister and I booked an equity contract in NYC for a new musical. While the musical ultimately didn’t make it to Broadway, that solidified my love of theatre. I went on to study Musical Theatre at Emerson College. My time at Emerson allowed me to witness EXEMPLARY teachers empower budding artists.

Post graduation, I continued doing commercials and radio spots, and worked professionally in the theatre. Some favorite employers include: Mill Mountain Theatre, The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, the American Shakespeare Center, and Lexington Children’s Theatre.

I currently work at Charlotte Christian School as their Director of Theatre. It has been a thrill to sharpen my directing skills in the educational setting. It is also not lost on me that I get to follow in the footsteps of the great educators that shaped me. What an honor!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

When directing a show, I will spend months in “process mode”. I’ll immerse myself in the world of the story; noting which lines or lyrics jump out at me, or if a stylistic motif is present. I’ll ask endless questions. I research any references, and learn about past productions. I ask myself WHY the story needs to be told in this specific day and age.

Then, I come up with a concept that amplifies that “why”. I translate that to my scenic, lighting, costume, sound, and props designers, and the collaboration begins.

To me, the most rewarding part of directing is that moment when the world that has been living inside my head begins to materialize right in front of my eyes. All of that hard work, all of the team discussions tangibly pays off with every stitch and brush of paint. It never gets old.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I’m in a unique position, as my job is SEEPED in creativity….. while being employed by a school. I’ve learned the following:

1) The fight to prioritize/keep fine arts electives as a graduation requirement is a critical one. Not only do these classes provide a creative outlet, I’ve seen students perform BETTER thanks to their fine arts electives. Breaking up the routine with an acting class allows students to hone their focus when the time comes to sit back down at a desk. Also, fine arts classes foster creative thinking, collaboration, confidence, and empathy; all qualities that are essential in our society.

2) The American public NEEDS to support teachers. How are students going to LEARN to be thriving creatives if they don’t have knowledgeable mentors to guide them?

Contact Info:

• Instagram: firstclairelast01

Image Credits
Justin Bingham (Costume closet photo)