About Taylor Korb (Windle)
I am a director, choreographer, drama therapist, performer, teacher, therapeutic theater practitioner, writer, LPCC candidate. Above all, I am a storyteller, just like humans have been since the beginning of mankind, using the arts to build connections and transform lives!
I have been performing since I was 6 years old and began directing, choreographing and teaching professionally in 2016. In 2024, I graduated from Lesley University with an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Drama Therapy. Currently, I direct and choreograph around Southern California at places like Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Orange County Children’s Theater, The Chance and Broadway Divas. I studied at CAP 21 Conservatory in NYC and graduated with a BA from CSULB in 2018. After graduation, I took on the role of Artistic Director for CMR and am enjoying being a part of their vibrant community. CMR is a non-profit that supports emerging artists with and without disAbilities and forges community connections through pop-up events and the arts. In the summer of 2022, I trained under the founders of a new form of drama therapy on its way to becoming the first evidence based practice of its kind: The CoActive Therapeutic Theater (CoATT) model. I am now a certified CoATT practitioner and I started teaching for Golden West College’s Theater Arts Department in 2023. Recently, I took to the stage again as a featured dance and choreographer for Broadway Divas at Segerstrom Center for the Arts!
In 2024, I published my graduate thesis where I detailed the creation of my therapeutic model: Tailored Therapeutic Musical Theater. The creative process is healing in itself (Rogers, 1999, p. 131) therefore combing the creative process of a musical with therapeutic practices is likely to have therapeutic potential for participants. All therapeutic theater research shares a common goal of the processes restoring hope, joy, and wellbeing to the participants. Therapeutic musical theater provides an outlet for children and adolescents to experience this while building resilience and trying on different roles in a creative and person centered setting. It provides a supportive stage for their development and a safe space to work through mental health struggles like social anxiety. Rooted in collaboration, a trauma-informed community care offering of therapeutic musical theater provides a necessary resource for youth. In addition, the method provides a roadmap for teachers, directors and theater education professionals to hold space for the importance of both product AND process, become the safe adult in the theater space and center the theatrical experience around the casts’ needs.
In my undergraduate studies, I was passionate about the transformative qualities of the arts and began working at and creating cutting-edge arts programs for diverse populations including recovering addicts, veterans, women survivors of intimate partner violence, and young adults with disAbilities. After graduating with my degree in theater arts, I started working with local non profits to bring the transformative and positive benefits of the arts to members of my community. My work with non profit organizations has allowed me to oversee a number of multidisciplinary teams in both in person and virtual settings. Being an artist during the pandemic taught me to remain open to new creative possibilities. I’ve mounted productions on zoom, in parking lots and small, local churches. The resilience gained during that challenging time carried me all the way through to our new normal. It led to the mounting of six bolder, brighter and bigger than ever productions I couldn’t be more proud of. During those productions, I worked on a model of therapeutic musical theater I am currently writing my graduate thesis on (stay tuned for the publication in the Spring)!
Over the years, my time working at the Academy for the Performing Arts and Orange County Children’s Theater led me to develop a method of providing social, emotional and behavioral support to adolescents and young adults through therapeutic artistic interventions. By using a person centered approach to my work, I created learning environments where participants gained self confidence, developed intra/interpersonal skills, and felt seen as their authentic selves; all while putting on INCREDIBLE shows! The most powerful force for adolescent mental health is a strong relationship with caring, safe adults. Providing a space where children and teens can learn, grow and excel within the context of a working relationship is my calling. Combining musical theater with mental health and wellness is my specialty.
I enjoy balancing life as a professional, an academic and a human. My passion for the arts is burning brighter than ever. I am committed to a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, social justice, and utilizing the arts to heal, connect, transform and inspire others.
Measuring my life in love. 525600
