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  • 1.  How many of you bring up professional theatre in your programs?

    Posted 03-15-2024 13:51
    Edited by George Ledo 03-15-2024 13:53

    I was chatting with a high school drama teacher a few years back, and she mentioned that professional theatre never came up in her training, i.e., her training was totally geared towards high school theatre. To say I was surprised would be putting it very mildly.

    Some of the recent threads brought this up again, so I'm curious as to how many of you bring up professional theatre in your programs. Another way to put the question would be: how many of you treat theatre in your school as a possible path to a professional career?

    This is interesting to me for a couple of reasons. Some of you have mentioned that "other kids" bully or otherwise show no respect for the kids in drama programs. Many many professional actors started out in high school theatre (among them, Darren Criss from Glee graduated from my high school, and Joe Spano from NCIS graduated from our "rival" school), just like most NFL, NBA, MLB, and others, played in high school. Yet, many people can't seem to see the connection.

    Also, in my own case, my first job after grad school wasn't even in theatre. I was hired by the architectural department of a huge computer company mostly because I knew how to create space and to draft, both skills I learned in my set design education. This led to a fifteen-year career in architecture before I came back to entertainment design. 

    So I'm curious as to how many of you treat high school theatre as a path to a career.

     



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    George F. Ledo
    Set designer
    www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
    www.georgefledo.net
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  • 2.  RE: How many of you bring up professional theatre in your programs?

    Posted 03-16-2024 09:47

    Hi George,

    As a professional teaching artist, I was already a working actor long before I became a full-time classroom teacher.  Therefore, I spend a great deal of time teaching my kids about professional career options.  When possible, I even have my agent, manager, and other friends in the business give master-classes to my students regarding the industry (my students LOOVE to hear these "war stories" from my salad days).

    In their senior year, advanced drama students can sign up for the section of Drama IV we call "Arts and Entertainment Careers."  In that class, students work on the same standards outlined in the Drama IV "Advanced Acting" curriculum, but there is a practical focus on post-secondary theatre programs and potential career paths.

    I've had several students earn scholarships, graduate college programs, and then build careers in film, TV, and theatre.  The majority of them have gone the Stage Management/Production/Business route, even though we spend the bulk of our time in high school on performance and cross-curricular applications.

    Like you, I am concerned at how many of my former students have gone into Theatre Education right out of college, with little or no practical experience in the industry.  While this does not necessarily weaken them as teachers or school theatre directors, it can limit their scope as educators.

    I have found the same backlash you describe, especially given our rural locale.  Therefore, I make certain that the students and their parents understand that I do not advocate for anyone to pursue a career in theatre or the arts unless they are fundamentally driven to do so.  Instead, I focus on the practical and universal applications offered by a theatre arts education.

    Thank you so much for bringing this up!



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    Josh Ruben, M. Ed.
    Fine Arts Head
    Northwest Whitfield HS (dba, The Northwest Theatre Co.)
    Tunnel Hill, GA
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  • 3.  RE: How many of you bring up professional theatre in your programs?

    Posted 03-16-2024 15:49

    Thank you, Josh.

    Your comment that "even though we spend the bulk of our time in high school on performance and cross-curricular applications" hit a note with me. The teacher I referenced in my post mentioned that just about all her training as a drama teacher focused on acting and directing, with barely anything on design, tech, stage management, front-of-house, or similar topics. Yet, when she hit the ground running as a drama teacher, she was expected to teach all these subjects. Our conversation, and many posts I've read here over the past 8-9 years, really make me wonder about the programs offered in theatre education.

    The programs I attended, in theatre itself (not theatre education), were comprehensive. Besides the design and tech stuff I wanted to specialize in (including set, costume, and lighting, plus a history of styles course), we had to take acting, directing, theater management, stage management, theatre history, mime, drawing, and other related subjects. This was all in addition to college English, science, poli sci, and other "general ed" classes. We came out with a good overview of theatre and a lot of solid skills in four years, and many of us went on to careers in the field.



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    George F. Ledo
    Set designer
    www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
    www.georgefledo.net
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: How many of you bring up professional theatre in your programs?

    Posted 03-18-2024 09:38
    This is an important topic!  
     
    In most states tech theatre is a CTE course – meaning it's a vocational subject, and should only be taught by teachers with a CTE endorsement.  Sadly, most school districts don't recognize this, and think that the Drama teacher should teach tech theatre.  Would they let their Social Studies teacher teach Wood Shop without a CTE endorsement?  I think not.
     
    In fact, so passionate am I about vocational tech theatre (I was one such student myself!), I have created several free resources for teachers.  In my free Resource Library I have several editorials about the subject, that you can use to further your cause.  You can get them for free at: https://www.presett.org/resource-library.html  I also have a blog and a free newsletter for teachers who have vocational tech theatre students who might be interested in working in the cruise industry, which can be found at: https://www.cruisetechies.com/ .  Also, in my book, and in my online TMT course, I have a whole chapter/lesson dedicated to the subject of Vocational Students.
     
    As George says, many professionals started out in high school theatre.  Have you ever seen the list of credits after a movie?  There are more professionals in the entertainment industry involved making a movie happen than there are professionals in the sport industry involved in making a game happen.  And like George, when I first graduated, I went into architectural lighting (in my case) for several years.  I was initially hired because I had an understanding of what light "does", and also because, like George, I could draft and communicate how to light spaces.
     
    Like Josh, I don't advocate for anyone to pursue a career in theatre or the arts unless they are vocationally inclined, but it's important for schools to realize that just as a teacher may have a budding mathematician in a math class, so may we have budding entertainment industry employees in our tech theatre classes. And, just like in a math class, the skills all students learn in tech theatre stay with them for a lifetime, whatever industry they go into.
     
    We're probably preaching to the choir in this forum, but if you are having a hard time trying to educate your admin about vocational tech theatre, I encourage you to check out my free resources – they are there to help you do just that. 
     
    Great conversation starter George! 


    ------------------------------
    Beth Rand, EBMS

    NEW! CruiseTechies blog - learn all about career opportunities for your vocational students in theatres aboard cruise ships
    https://www.cruisetechies.com/cruisetechies-blog

    8 FREE Action Steps: Level Up Support and Funding for your school theatre
    https://www.presett.org/8actionsteps.html

    www.PRESETT.org
    beth@PRESETT.org
    Westminster, CO
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  • 5.  RE: How many of you bring up professional theatre in your programs?

    Posted 03-26-2024 09:04

    Hey George,

    Our program does its best to prepare those who are interested in the next level. But the school is only one part. Many of our students who want to prepare for college and the professional world take dance and vocal classes outside the confines of the rehearsal at the school.

    Our production is completely student run. We also offer opportunities for students to design and direct.

    Thant said, we still keep the fact that we are a high school educational theatre program is very important. 



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    Crit Fisher
    Lighting/Sound Designer
    New Albany High School
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