Feature: BETTY BUCKLEY to Perform at Lone Tree Arts Center 6/10

This year marks the sixth summer Buckley has offered her workshop in Denver. A teacher for over 45 years, Buckley says she's been blessed to work with some of the greatest teachers in the business.

Buckley is perhaps best known for her Broadway roles in Cats, Sunset Boulevard and 1776, but she's no stranger to the screen. Making her film debut as gym teacher Miss Collins in the cult classic Carrie in 1976, she then spent several seasons playing stepmother Abby Bradford on TV's Eight is Enough. Most recently, Buckley co-starred with James McAvoy in M. Night Shyamalan's Split.

"All the things I do well, I've learned from brilliant teachers, so I feel it's my responsibility to pass on their fail-proof tools that really work," Buckley explains.

She says a majority of the students taking her workshop tend to get into the school of their choice, and most on a full ride.

During the workshop, Buckley assists her students in song performance, using material they've brought along. Focusing on performance as storytelling, she also teaches meditation as a means to focus their minds.

"[I teach] a universal spiritual philosophy for making choices as storytellers, so they're communicating to the essence that resides in all our hearts."

Buckley says, as an actor, you need to be prepared to work in theatre as well as film, television and concert work.

"The more prepared you are, the more job opportunities are available."

When it comes to acting approach in various platforms, Buckley says it's the same approach in every case, just a different frame. Quoting one of her favorite teachers, Buckley says, "You never reach out to the audience, you bring the audience to you."

The culminating concert will feature her latest album, "Story Songs," which was released this past April. The two-disc live album is a collection of two concerts-one at the at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Costa Mesa, California, and the other at Joe's Pub in Manhattan. This is Buckley's 16th solo album. Accompanying Buckley at her concert will be pianist Christian Jacob, who also acts as her music director and arranger.

"Story Songs" features a collection of tunes ranging from Radiohead ("High and Dry") to Rodgers and Hammerstein ("You've Got to be Carefully Taught"). While you might recognize music from Joni Mitchell, Peter Gabriel, Leonard Cohen and Sting, there are also several songs from musical theatre composers like Jason Robert Brown and Steven Schwartz, including a song written specifically for her by Joe Iconis.

Following her concert, Buckley will be attending the Actors Fund Tony Awards Viewing Party Gala in Los Angeles, where she will be receiving the Julie Harris Award.

For tickets to Buckley's concert at Lone Tree Arts Center at at 8pm on Saturday, June 10, visit LoneTreeArtsCenter.org.