Transitioning from middle school to high school with extracurriculars can be difficult. The SHS Theatre Department, however, has introduced a new program that will help incoming theater students come out of their shells.
To wrap up the school year, SHS theater students have been visiting SMS students to give them a glimpse of theater life in high school while also assisting and directing their rehearsals for their upcoming play performances on April 30 and May 1.
“I found the high schoolers really helpful because they give some advice that I hadn’t really thought of before,” seventh grader Emma Cheek said. “They provide a lot more help because there are so many of them.”
This activity introduced middle school students to what theater in high school has to offer, while giving high schoolers an opportunity to see what it’s like in a director’s shoes.
Theater director Caleb Francis experimented with this at a school he previously taught at. So he felt that if the two schools joined and did this, it would establish connections and familiarity between students and himself.
“(Once) they come to us for high school, they already know some people who might potentially already be here as well,” Francis said. “It’s an introduction to me since I will be here. (It’s) a face they know to get more kids involved.”
SHS theatre students attend three middle school rehearsals per week. During these days, high schoolers split into two groups and direct the rehearsal of two different plays.
Francis proposed this plan to SMS theatre director Jennifer Edwards over the spring of last year. This excited her because she knew it would benefit theater students and teachers from both schools.
Since she is the only one working in the middle school theater department, she figured it would also be a great way to get a different point of view while lifting some of the directing weight off her shoulders.
“A part of the fun of doing theater is the collaborative process, and then another is to really promote the growth of the theater department at the high school by getting students involved at the middle school,” Edwards said.
Overall, both teachers said that they have seen a significant amount of growth between the middle school and high school students because of the new program.
Senior Nienna Wittlief, one of the student directors for “The Boy Who Cried Werewolf,” has noticed personal development from being a part of this.
She believes that even though it’s a theater-related organization, she can still use the directing and relationship building skills outside of it.
“It’s a good way to get experience on how to problem solve or help people get along with each other,” Wittlief said. “It helps with organizing as well because you’ve got to think about a ton of tiny things at the same time.”
Eighth grader Shawn Guthrie is a part of the cast Wittlief and her group direct, and he believes that the program has been helpful.
At first, he viewed high school and its students as intimidating. Over time, however, he realized that it was all in his head.
“When I found out the high schoolers were going to help, I felt nervous about messing up in front of them but also glad they could help,” Guthrie said.
Through rehearsals, he’s learned to find his voice and express himself through the character he’s playing. He hopes to improve even more for the musical next year.
Because of this partnership, he believes he will be confident in auditioning for a lead role in the musical as a freshman.
Both sides so far have already seen improvement and are excited for next year’s season.
