One of the main goals for our Theatre Education Community is to help theatre students and professionals from all over connect and identify with each other in order to build resources and support the theatre education field. We shine a spotlight on a different memb
er every other week by conducting a simple interview.
Our latest Spotlight Member is Alan Strait, Theatre and Film Studies teacher at Silverado High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also serves as troupe director of Troupe 6489 and as the Treasurer for Nevada Thespians. Alan’s a frequent contributor to the Community (as demonstrated by the Platinum MVP ribbon on his profile) and is always willing to share sound ideas and opinions to help others. I asked Alan to answer a few questions for us so we could learn a little more about him.
Photo via Mermaids of the Lake
Ginny: Why do you believe theatre is important?
Alan: Theatre has the potential to make anything possible, to take the challenges we face and make them strengths. Theatre is like the force, we may not always see it, but we can always feel it.
Ginny: Do you have any tips for new theatre teachers?
Alan: Whether you've been teaching one year or teaching twenty years, you're going to have good days and bad days. How you deal with those bad days impacts what you can accomplish on your good days. Mistakes will be made. Learn from them and continually strive to improve yourself and your students. Don't forget to make some time for you, if you're not happy, your students won't be either.
Ginny: What is the weirdest stage food you’ve ever made or eaten?
Alan: I made several sugar glass windows for a production of Postmortem by Ken Ludwig. One night when we were cleaning it up, I saw some of my techs licking the windows.
Ginny: You’ve made sugar glass windows? Where did you learn to do this and how did they work out?
Alan: I looked up the recipe on Google and there were some good YouTube videos. I've been doing workshops at the state level the last four years. I'm good at windows, plates and anything flat, I just haven’t found a way to make the molds work for bottles.
The windowed door was easy to make. I cut out the window frames from the door and painted the door the color I wanted it. I laid out tinfoil on the ground and placed the door on the tinfoil, weighing it down to keep it flat. I made the sugar glass and poured it right into the door. I let it dry overnight and put it right onto the set the day before the show. It worked well, although the theatre got hot on closing night and they semi-melted, but it was good for three nights. I added food coloring to make them blue and green and they looked like stained glass windows that we shot out with a hammer.
Ginny: What is your favorite musical or play?
Alan: Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim
Ginny: Name something on your bucket list.
Alan: I'd love to make it to New York to see a Broadway show.
Ginny: What are you most looking forward to after retiring?
Alan: I don't see retirement in my future, too far off and still too much to look forward to here and now.
Ginny: Smart phones-do you love them or hate them? Why?
Alan: It's a love/hate relationship. They are extremely beneficial to get information out, but they also become a big distraction from what needs to get done.
Ginny: What is your proudest accomplishment?
Alan: I have been writing for years and have had work performed on the radio and in workshops, but this past winter, I finally got to see a play of mine performed when a couple of my kids chose to do Scra_ble as a part of our one act festival. I also received word that it might be published soon.
It always amazes me when I discover the many hidden talents of our theatre teachers. I have yet to meet one that plays only one role and, as a writer and sugar glassmaker, Alan is no exception. If you enjoyed Alan’s interview, add him as a contact in the Community!
Do you know someone who deserves a moment in the Spotlight? Tell me their name and why at members@schooltheatre.org!