Biography

Debra Watson, a former Teacher of the Year Finalist, taught art in public schools for 16 years. She developed and wrote curriculum for elementary education and worked as a consultant to teacher training programs both in Texas and California for K-12. While she was a full time teacher in Austin, Texas, she burnt the candle at both ends by joining Esther’s Follies, Austin’s premiere comedy sketch troupe. Later, she co-founded her own comedy troupe, THE BETTER THAN TV PLAYERS, where she wrote, directed, and produced over 100 shows in three years.

As an actress with BETTER THAN TV PLAYERS, Debra was featured numerous times in The Austin American Statesman as well as the Austin Chronicle. While in Austin, Debra also wrote and sold a couple of jingles and recorded numerous voice-overs. After appearing in a number of independent films, commercials, industrials, and local productions she was asked by a respected casting director in Austin to start an acting program. Eventually, she took her program another step forward by moving to Los Angeles, where she started teaching at the TRACY ROBERTS ACTORS STUDIO. Debra mentored under Tracy Roberts, a passionate, gifted acting teacher who studied with Michael Chekhov. She also became an assistant in the Cold Reading Classes to Allen Bergman, who directed such shows as: Family Ties, Barney Miller, and Night Court. Over the next six years, Debra wrote, directed, and produced seven plays. Debra teaches adults, teenagers and children from the working professional to those just starting their acting career.

As a teacher, Debra has been featured in the June 1996 issue of BACKSTAGE WEST, LA TIMES - Valley News(Feb.20, 1999) and CREATIVE CHILD March/April 1999.

She wrote, directed, and co-produced CHECKING IT OUT, a 30 minute children’s television pilot which was nominated for an INDY CRYSTAL GLOBE award. She is currently shooting two documentaries.

When Debra is not teaching or writing, she can be found as a guest singer with several local blues or swing bands around town.

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