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 Connie Sandoz, troupe director of Troupe 7879 at Lake Mead
Christian Academy in Henderson, Nevada. Connie is a frequent contributor, whose
helpful advice and optimism are always a welcome addition to our Daily
Digests.
Ginny: Why do
you believe theatre is important?
Connie: Theatre is so
important because it may be the only avenue of expression and outlet for some
students. Not every student is an athlete, not every student is a scholar. Last
year I had a new student who had experienced a personal tragedy and was very
withdrawn and did not interact much with other students. He planned to leave
our school in the fall. Someone convinced him to give theatre a try. This young
man began to blossom – I’d see him interacting with more students and being
silly and acting like a normal teen. Every now and then, I’d snap a picture of
him doing something and send it to our guidance counselor, who’d worked closely
with the family, and she’d text back, “Yes!” As layer after layer was peeled
off, a very talented young man emerged – a young man who voiced three different
characters in last fall’s play, It’s A
Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. As Paul Harvey would say, “Now you know
the rest of the story”. J
Ginny: What is
your greatest challenge? What is unique about your program?
Connie: We don’t have a
theatre!! This means our actors don’t have a stage to perform on until about a
week before opening night! Every spring our entire gym is turned into a
theatre, displacing many! I’m fortunate that my administration sees the value
of Fine Arts and is willing to do what’s necessary. This means a 24x48 stage is
constructed and then the set built on that. Without wings, our sets have to be
very creative because they stay on stage – turn, open, two story, etc. When we
did Annie, the orphanage was
two-story and opened up; when it turned and opened up, it was the mansion with
a professional backdrop on it.
To
complete the Theatre experience, black curtains are hung around the stage and
the entire gym, light trusses are hung and professional lighting brought in,
along with professional wireless headset mics. Classroom teachers cooperate by
having costumes, props, makeup, and hair in their classrooms!
When
I was first approached about putting on a full production in the gym, I can’t
say I was thrilled! However, after eight years, I see how it has not only
caused my team to be very creative, but my actors have been a part of the
process of building from the ground up. I think this is very beneficial for
them and also causes them to be very appreciative.
Ginny: Do you
have any tips for new theatre teachers?
Connie: Four things:
1)
Think outside the box! You are capable of doing so much more than you ever
imagined.
2)
Ask your students – they are very creative and often have fantastic ideas!
3)
Don’t try to be a one-man show. Build a team. It will take a while but once
administration and parents get to know you and trust you, they will be on
board!
4)
Don’t select a play or musical on the basis of what your students can do –
select it on the basis of what you WANT them to do. Raise the bar and they will
always meet it or go beyond. Expect the best – push them to do diverse roles
and they’ll grow as an actor.
Ginny: What will
you miss the most after retiring?
Connie: My students. We
have a lot of fun together in and out of school. Our cast is a family and I’m
Grandma to many – I will miss my kids!! It may sound crazy, but I’ll also miss
the experience of turning nothing into something. Due to not having a theatre,
we've always worked extra hard in other areas (dance, costumes, set, etc.) to
make sure our audience has a theatre experience. When we build a theatre
it'll be a director's dream, however, it'll be a bittersweet experience for
me. There's something so very raw and organic about turning nothing into
something. It really has been such a rewarding experience.
Ginny: What is
your proudest accomplishment?
Connie: When I look at
the wall of posters for the fall plays and spring musicals, it moves me to
tears to think of how God has blessed and grown our theatre department even
with obstacles that seemed insurmountable. The end of every musical is very
emotional for me when I see what the kids were able to pull off!!
Ginny: Everyone
has at least one good theatre story, tell us yours!
Connie: When we did Annie, a professional came in and did the
initial bald cap and showed my makeup team how to make it look real. The cap
ended up bubbling and we couldn’t use it again. We decided to cut the actor’s
hair real short, but that didn’t work – the black hair still showed through –
it just seemed like an impossible mess! I began to use smaller and smaller
attachments until finally, my Daddy Warbucks said, “shave it!” Through tears, I
finished shaving his head and then a dad volunteer took him and completed the
shave with a razor. Mind you, this was opening night and so I’d never seen his
shaved head and in costume. He came backstage before the show and I just burst
into tears! He asked what was wrong and all I could say was, “I’m so sorry, I’m
so sorry.” He took me in his arms and hugged me real tight and said, “It’s
okay. I wanted to do it for you because I love you.” Talk about being proud and
humble all at the same time! Shaving his head freed up his inner Daddy Warbucks
so much and he gave four outstanding performances!
Connie’s
ability to embrace the challenges of her unique theatre program and trust in
her students seems to have created a successful model for educational theatre. If
you enjoyed Connie’s interview, 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.