Page 9 - Priorities #16 2001-February

Tom, you had plenty of acting experience but didn’t pursue that career. What do you love about teaching and directing?
I use more of my creative and analytical self in directing. Performing is a totally different kind of experience—almost a physical rush of aliveness in the moment, but then it’s over. The passions in directing are much wider and longer lasting. There is nothing that compares with the satisfaction of knowing your intense efforts paid off—when the audience is transported by the actors’ work.
I love the opportunity to bring in history, design, psychology, philosophy, and intellectual themes when I start working on a play. Being in charge of “the big picture” means I can help the students grow asartistsandashumanbeings. Asanactor,the experience is more directly about you, or the show.
We require a semester of theater arts in middle school—one quarter in seventh and one quarter in eighth grade. The elective high school courses and the after school play productions are very popular. What do you think students get from this?
Drama is a very personal experience. Students gain in self-confidence, self-knowledge, self- discipline, empathy, and the ability to understand human behavior. Each one of these things is a big, personal experience for each kid—they don’t just get a little bit.
Students learn different things at different ages. Seventh graders are really able to tap into their creativity and imagination, and help themselves grow in self-confidence. Eighth graders learn the importance of self-discipline and cooperation. The classes are very supportive. People start from a safe space and go ahead at a reasonable comfort level. At the same time, students are challenged to push past discomfort and engage themselves unselfconsciously.
Personal growth happens when you confront fears—if you don’t take a chance, you won’t grow. Drama gives students the chance to get past these natural fears and shows them the value of supporting others. I am absolutely convinced these skills are transferable to all other areas of life.
You have written three of the plays produced by your drama classes. Do you have to write things yourself to get suitable material?
I wrote them for a specific group of students and the Priory audience. It is hard to find good material for young actors, because much of it is boring and trite, withstiltedconversation. Attheotherextreme,there are plays that aren’t boring and trite but may use language and themes that aren’t right for us either. There isn’t a lot in the middle.
Priory students are getting much more instruction and experience in performing arts now than they were five yearsago,whenyoucame. Havewereachedthe school’s goal, do you think?
I hope not! The current offerings are good but they do not give students the opportunity to achieve beyond a certain level. We are limited by time to practice and facilities to practice in, especially in music. Time and good tools are basic to achieving in performing arts.
The Priory’s choirs and orchestras joined forces to belt out the beloved “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah at their winter concert. The grand acoustics and adequate seating at Valley Presbyterian Church enhancedtheaudience enjoyment and the quality of the school’s second professionally recorded CD.
We are limited by time to practice and facilities to practice in, especially in music.
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