This school year has definitely been a different one!  We have added a musical theatre teacher, Ruth Griffin, and were able to finally stage one play, 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse by Don Zolidis!  Mrs. Griffin helped out backstage and the students did an AMAZING job on our first real show since 2019.  I was so proud of all of the Theatre 2/3/4 students who were actors, the Stagecraft students who helped with lighting, sound and building the set, and the newest members of Thespians who sold tickets and worked house!  The Thespian Troupe this year is so hard working and is has made all of our projects this year so much easier!
     In December, we were set to stage our second show of the year, but the week of the show I came down with Covid and unfortunately we were unable to perform.  It was such a bummer for all of the students, but watching all of their hard work and them growing together as a group made that rehearsal process completely worth it!
   As we look forward to another semester of making good theatre, I am excited for what is to come for our department.  We have been working hard in Theatre 2/3/4 to establish relationships and improve on our acting, directing, and stage management skills.  Our next play, Every Novel You Read in High School (in 25 Minutes or Less) by Ian McWethy will be March 12th and we have split our class into 3 casts, giving opportunities for larger roles and growth.
     Stagecraft 2/3/4 is ready to have another project to build!  Our set for the next play is fairly extensive and it will be the second play as a troupe that we will stage outside, giving other challenges. 
     The auditorium is busy with many different activities.  Misster EHS has been pushed back to February 25th and the Football Awards banquet will now be in March. Also in March will be the Choir's Spring concert, The Orchestra's Music in Our Schools Month Concert, Josten's will hand out caps & gowns, and the Orchestra Recruitment Concert.  We love hosting these events and I love having opportunities like these for students to learn more of the ins-and-outs of events. 

We are currently looking for some fundraising ideas and opportunities.  If you have any suggestions, please head to the contact page and submit a request or email Mrs. Freeman at: Jessica.freeman@esd-15.org.

I have been receiving calls, emails, texts and remind messages non-stop about what next school year (2020-2021) will look like and, to be honest, I really have no idea.  I have been a part of several professional developments, several creative collaborations, and have read every release from our school district & state, but we are still in "wait and see" mode.  I do have a few answers about how theatre will work for our advanced theatre classroom if we do open schools according to CDC guidelines:

1. We will be 6 feet apart onstage, 12 feet if we are un-masked.
2. Masks- yes, they will be a part of our new normal for some time.
3. You will need a way to record yourself (phone, tablet, computer, camera, camcorder) as part of our assignments.  We will have to move many of the things I had planned to online only.
4. Sanitizing- We should get in the habit of sanitizing our hands, washing our hands, and touching items as little as possible daily.  We also need to recognize the importance of safety for our audience (if we are allowed to have one) and make sanitizing a number one priority.

As a creative collective, we are hurting.  We are losing jobs, we are having a hard time making ends meet.  Theatre is hurting, y'all.  Until we can reopen properly, theatre as an art will continue to fall apart unless we come up with creative, informed ideas to create!  Please comment below any ideas you have to keep our theatre afloat! 

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