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 member every other week by conducting a simple interview.
Our latest
Spotlight Member is Virginia (Ginny) Schreiber, an EdTA professional member and
a middle school drama teacher at Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in
Bellevue, Washington. Ginny often poses thoughtful how-to questions in the
Community, ranging from dealing with make-up sensitivity to getting paint out
of theatre curtains.
Photo via
Denise Asbury
GB: What is the
resource you most recommend to others in your profession?
GS: I have been
forever grateful for the stage management course that I took in graduate
school. As a middle school drama director, I do everything: lighting
design, props, set design, costumes, stage manage, as well as direct the
student actors. I am a one woman show. I have learned over the years to
hire artists and delegate parents to help with this load, but I would drown in
all of the details if I didn’t know how to create all of the lists and organize
my prompt book for every show. If you aren’t able to squeeze in a class,
I would recommend using the text, “The Stage Manager’s Handbook” by Daniel
Ionazzi. It will change your organization for the better.
GB: What was the
first play you ever saw?
GS: The first play
that I remember seeing was Fiddler on The Roof when I was a small child
in International Falls, Minnesota. I believe I was about five or six
years old. My father, an amateur cellist, was playing in the pit
orchestra for the show. I remember watching him play while the actors
were singing and dancing. One funny story about this memory - the woman
cellist sitting next to my father had to keep elbowing him to remind him to play
during the show because he was watching it!
GB: What was the
first role you ever played?
GS: The first role
I played was “Little Girl Fezziwig” in A Christmas Carol. It was a
fun part because I got to be in the scene with “Mr. Fezziwig” and everyone who
was celebrating at his Christmas party. I loved singing the Christmas
Carols and doing the group dances.
GB: What was the
most difficult element of a production you’ve ever had to manage?
GS: I used a real
dog as “Toto” in The Wizard of Oz. We spent a lot of time
getting him used to riding in “Ms. Gulch’s” bicycle basket (and not jumping
out), going into “Dorothy’s” basket (and NOT jumping out until it was time to
come out) when the “Winkies” were going to throw him into the river, as well as
getting him to run onto the stage to “Dorothy” from the wings. I had
never worked with a live animal before as a director, and I didn’t realize the
difficulties involved using one during a live performance. I remember
thinking, “Oh goodness, what will the dog do on stage today?” I held my
breath every time he was on stage! Now, whenever possible, I cast actors in the
animal roles, such as “Sandy” in Annie.
GB: Everyone has
at least one good theatre story (a costume mishap, smoke alarms during
performances, malfunctioning set pieces, etc.). Tell us yours!
GS: When I was
performing in A Secret Garden in Northfield, Minnesota, there was a
terrible snow storm that caused a blackout in the area. I was right in
the middle of singing “Letter Song” with the actress who was playing the role
of “Martha” when the lights cut out and the emergency lights came on.
After waiting a few minutes to see if the lights would turn back on, the
audience begged us to continue with the show (somehow) in the limited
lighting. One of our orchestra members offered to cold sight read the
rehearsal piano score, so we pulled out the upright piano from backstage and we
finished singing through the show in the dark.
GB: If you could
have a different career, what would you choose?
GS: One of my
favorite things about being an English major in college was collecting research.
I think that I would really enjoy being a Dramaturg.
GB: Do you have
any hobbies or interests outside of theatre?
GS: I love to go
wine tasting when I have the time, because not only are you tasting wine, but
you are also interacting and socializing with the winery staff and other
customers. My husband and I also love to try different gourmet
hamburgers. Yum.
GB: Name
something on your bucket list.
GS: I would really
like to have the experience of directing adult actors in a production. I worked with college and high school aged
students when I was in graduate school, but I have only worked with Middle
School aged actors for the last twelve years.
Another bucket-list stretch: I really want to be connected to a fly
system so I can fly like “Peter Pan” and “Mary Poppins.”
GB: What toy do
you most remember from your childhood?
GS: I loved playing
with my “My Little Pony” castle.
Any time Ginny
posts a question, I learn something new from the responses. She seems to have a
way of bringing out the creativity of our members, I’m certain she does the
same for her students. If you enjoyed Ginny’s interview as much as I did, add her as a contact in the
Community!
Do you know someone who deserves a moment in the Spotlight? Tell me
their name and why at gbutsch@schooltheatre.org. Want to read more Community Spotlights? You can find them here.