From James Lipton's book: INSIDE INSIDE
(2007,
New York: Dutton)
page 262
"In the course of the Paul Newman session, a student named Jason Powell asked Paul about a scene in The Verdict in which he knocked down Charlotte Rampling with a vicious punch. 'As soon as you walked in there' Jason said, 'you seemed to have something on your mind, an objective or intention or an active verb. It was something clearly on your face, and she read it. It was almost as if you guys had a dialogue -- but no words. What was going on?'
Paul said, 'I was concerned about the comedic element of that thing. You walk up to a girl and you go...' He stepped forward and stopped in front of Celeste Walker, a young woman who, it should be remembered, had arrived at our doorstep six weeks before this moment, and gestured her to rise. When she shrank back in her chair her classmates raised an uproar, chanting 'Improvise!' to her.
Paul took her trembling hand and brought her to her feet, suiting the action to his words. 'I mean, if you really walk up to a girl who has betrayed you, if you walk up to her like this, and look at her, and launch off and belt her'-- he mimed a punch, and she fell back in perfect sync, to an ovation from her classmates -- 'there's a great chance for comedy,' Paul said, intent on the lesson. Repositioning himself and Celeste, he continued, 'There is no chance for comedy if you walk in the door, and you see her, and you start from back there. I had forty feet to move before I got to her, and if your intention was very clear, she had to know what was coming. It was a choice, and I think it was right.'
Later that night, over supper, I speculated to my staff. 'What do you suppose will happen when Celeste's mother calls and asks how school is going, and Celeste says, 'Well Monday afternoon I saw Paul Newman's new movie in the Paramount screening room, and Monday night Paul and I improvised a scene from The Verdict.' "
Actor, director, and educator Celeste Walker holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Acting from The Actor’s Studio Drama School at the New School University in New York.
She is a lifetime member of The Actors Studio, a member of Actors Equity, the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, the Voice Foundation, CoachVille, Inc., and the National Association of Women Business Owners, Greater Philadelphia Chapter.
Ms. Walker is the Philadelphia Chapter Chair Person of the New School Alumni Association
From 2003 through 2005 she was a nominator and site visitor for the Barrymore Awards of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia.
Teaching
Ms. Walker is on the adjunct teaching faculty at LaSalle University, Eastern University Campolo College of Graduate and Professional Studies, and Arcadia University.
At Arcadia University she developed and taught the Honors course "Mimics and Impressionists: Vocal Exploration," and the freshman seminar course "Flying Solo: The History, Art and Practice of Solo Acting."
At Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center she developed an online course "A Brief History of American Musical Theatre," in association with PA Cyberschool.
Ms. Walker spent the 2003 - 2004 school year as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre at Saint Joseph’s University where she served as Artistic Director of the theatre program. She was named Faculty Advisor of the Year.
Ms. Walker has been listed as a Roster Teaching Artist of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Directory of Residency Artists, and has been a Teaching Artist of the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnerships.
She has taught acting at The Wilma Theater in Philadelphia, and has been a member of the adjunct teaching faculty at Penn State Abington, Muhlenberg College, and The University of Scranton.
She taught and directed summer musicals at Stage Door Workshop in Allentown for 14 years, and was a teaching artist for New York’s Theatre for a New Audience from 1998-2000.
In July 2006, Ms. Walker was selected for membership as a resident artist with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
Professional Development
Ms Walker developed " Courtroom Drama: Acting Techniques for Attorneys©" and conducted workshops in acting and performance techniques for attorneys as part of their continuing legal education. "Courtroom Drama" is approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Association.
In January 2005, she was interviewed about "Courtroom Drama" and her work with attorneys by Marty Moss-Coane on WHYY's Radio Times.
In May, 2006 she was a presenter at the New York State Bar Association Commercial and Federal Litigation Section Spring Meeting at Lincoln Center.
She appeared on the panel presentation "Attorneys, Actors and the Art of Oral Advocacy," with Honorable Roger J. Miner, United States Court of Appeals, Albany and Peter C. Harvey, Esquire, past Attorney General of New Jersey and Council with Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler, LLP in New York City.
Ms. Walker also teaches acting techniques, vocal production and presentation skills to business professionals, psychologists and others who frequently speak before demanding audiences.
Acting and Directing
Ms. Walker's acting credits are numerous.
Most recently, she appeared in a revival of Neil Simon's "The Prisoner of Seond Avenue" staged by ISIS Productions in Philadelphia.
Ms. Walker wrote, produced, directed, and performed in the 2003 Philadelphia Fringe Festival production of "Colette, My Evil Twin."
Ms Walker originated the role of Rachel in "The Calling" with the Kaleidoscope Theatre Company in New York in 1999, and brought the production to the Philadelphia Fringe Festival in 2001.
Other New York credits include "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds," "The Lover," "Madness," and "Enough Rope" at Circle in the Square, Downtown, and Jeff Weiss’s "And That’s How the Rent Gets Paid" at the Performing Garage.
Ms. Walker has directed more than two-dozen plays and musicals including, most recently, "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" at the Lincoln Park Summer Residencies.
She produced, directed and performed in benefit performances of Eve Ensler’s "The Vagina Monologues" as part of the annual V-Day celebration for the three years from 2002 through 2004.
Ms. Walker has also appeared in film and television and has been featured in numerous commercials, print advertisements, industry related videos, as well as in student films.
Her favorite theatre roles include Maria Callas in Terrence McNally’s "Master Class," Rachel in "Reckless" and Frankie in "Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune."