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 Carol Knarr Gebert, Troupe Director of Troupe 574 at Jay
County High School in Portland, Indiana. Carol provides helpful advice on
everything from play selection to securing the trickiest props and set pieces.
Ginny: What was the
first role you ever played?
Carol: I started acting at the age of
five when I was cast in the school play Rip Van Winkle. My only
line was “There’s a hole in the bucket!” I forgot it every night and
froze then cried. My father, the principal (and the reason I was cast),
was humiliated. That was nearly 50 years ago.
Ginny: Why do you believe theatre is
important?
Carol: People talk about getting the
“bug” called theatre, and it is true. Theatre is a passion, an addition,
and a joy. Theatre has given me a “home” and a “family” of friends.
My theatre friends are a different kind of close…they know all sides of my
personality and have watched me succeed and fail in the process of character
creation or the process of design and direction.
My
students are new to the “bug” and oftentimes struggle with the roller coaster of
vulnerability and self-exposure. The craft of character development
hasn’t changed over the years. I can completely relate with them and
their struggles and joys. What I love most about mentoring young actors,
designers, techies, and directors is how idealistic they are in the beginning,
how completely crushed they become with the weight of it all, and how
completely overjoyed they are with the outcome! That is the roller coaster
of facing a challenging task and seeing your way through to the applause.
Ginny: What inspired you to become a
teacher?
Carol: Mary Yarnell was my first
instructor. She taught improvisation and drama games on Saturday mornings
in the community building of our small town in South Whitley, IN. I paid
25¢ a lesson! The other older students were so free about sharing their
imaginations. Mary was gentle, but coached me past my fears. I
imitated her style of directing as I started my summer and after-school
programs. Always ask, “What was really good or what totally surprised you
in a good way?” Then hit them with the notes! Mary always giggled
at us and seemed to have as much fun as we were having. I try to give my
complete attention and truly enjoy what is enjoyable. If it isn’t up to
snuff, we all shout, “Suck less!” when asked for tomorrow’s goal.
Ginny: What is something we would be
surprised to learn about you?
Carol: I am a professional
storyteller. Taking the full-time position at Jay County High School has
put a crimp in my performance schedule. The process has been slow, but in
six years the position has grown from an English/Speech/Theatre blend to a
solid Speech/Theatre blend. My credentials allow me to teach Speech and
Theatre Appreciation for dual credit for Ivy Tech. The dual credit
classes have eliminated my need to teach English classes and, unfortunately, a
few of the theatre courses I added over the years (Children’s Production,
Storytelling, and Shakespeare). I still teach classes in special effects
make-up, theatre history, advanced acting, and scenic design where we design
and build the sets on school time!
Ginny: What is your proudest
accomplishment?
Carol: We were able to add Technical
Theatre CANADA five years ago which is a class devoted to the study of the
Stratford Shakespeare Festival (Stratford, Canada). The class studies the
nine productions in that season then goes for a weekend to see four of
them. We have developed a wonderful relationship with families in
Stratford who allow us to stay in their homes giving the students an exchange
student experience. We keep our costs low by taking an activity bus
(which is allowed to travel out of the country) and I drive. We are able
to see four productions, take two tours, meet actors, enjoy a stage combat
workshop, bowl, eat, and sleep for under $500 plus the cost of a border pass or
passport. Students work with me at the Indianapolis Speedway to earn
money for the trip. JCHS is a poor rural school. We can’t afford
the trip otherwise and raising out-of-county money is important to us.
Adding this annual international trip and class has been one of my greatest
achievements at this rural high school.
Ginny: What is unique about your theatre
program?
Carol: To keep costs down for the
schools where I have directed, I oftentimes write the script. I have
written a version of Peter Pan, Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
Much Ado about Nothing, The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and The
Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Typically my focus is on
children’s theatre to develop an audience of young viewers who then join my
program when they reach the high school. I keep ticket prices to only
$5/ticket at the door and offer 2-for-1 coupons to every student in the school
corporation. My budget is tight and oftentimes part of it comes out of my
pocket. We struggle like most rural schools to garner an audience, tackle
the homophobic nature of the religious community, and find financial
support. There are strengths with our program, but there are also great
challenges we face annually. Our Thespian program is strong and we have a
number of graduates studying theatre at the college and graduate levels.
Jay County continues to attract theatre education majors from Ball State for
student teaching and for that I am tremendously grateful.
Ginny: Do you have any tips for new theatre
teachers?
Carol: For new theatre instructors in
small school districts, I offer this advice. Find a mentor from another
school, join the Thespian State Director Board, and reach out to other
instructors nationwide to find the answers and comradeship you need. I am
the only theatre teacher in my district. I have taught in six districts
and have found it necessary (in most) to raise my own funds, demand
compensation for my after school time from my teacher’s union, and do all of
this while teaching full time in an area outside of the arts. The
isolation can be overwhelming. I am fortunate at this particular high
school to have come with nearly 30 years experience behind me. I can
handle four different classes each quarter, stay after school 10-20 hours a
week, grade papers an additional 5-10 hours a week, and juggle more than 500
students in a year while managing the discipline of hard-core behavior students
as well as modify for high-end special needs without aides who are “dumped” in
a theatre elective to “raise their GPA” and give the aides a prep. I can
write my own curriculum whether or not textbooks are provided. I have
written the theatre standards based upon state and national standards for our
district. When I was a neophyte, these responsibilities were daunting.
With state mandated evaluation processes, it is important new teachers find the
support they need to tackle the incredible challenges arts teachers are
expected for face daily without concern.
Through unique
class offerings, original scripts and successful fundraising opportunities,
it’s obvious that Carol has built a program that will provide her students with
lifelong memories and exciting life experiences. Fun fact: Carol has a CD
available on Amazon, Stories
for My Mama. If you enjoyed Carol’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.