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 Tonya Bowyer, the troupe director of Troupe 7921 at Radford
High School in Radford, Virginia. Tonya provides advice on play selection,
community theatre, and solving tricky prop, set and costume dilemmas.
Ginny: Why do you believe theatre is
important?
Tonya: The theatre experience truly
touches the lives of everyone onstage, backstage and in the audience! No
experience is like it!
Ginny: What is your greatest challenge?
Tonya: Administrative support and
funding!
Ginny: What does a typical day look like
for you?
Tonya: I teach six periods a day,
without a planning period, and then have rehearsals after school three days a
week.
Ginny: Do you have any tips for new theatre
teachers?
Tonya: Hang in there. The first few
years you'll feel like you are drowning, but it WILL get better!
Ginny: What is your favorite musical (or
play)? What makes it so special?
Tonya: So many. Phantom moves me every time I see it but I love Wizard of Oz because it has so many
wonderful memories from the times I've done it.
Ginny: What was the first play you ever
saw?
Tonya: Harvey
Ginny: What was the first role you ever
played?
Tonya: A slave trader in a second
grade production. The "scenery" (a piece of bulletin board paper with
a magic marker drawn cabin that was taped to the wall) fell on my head as I was
"sleeping."
Ginny: Tell us about the moment that made
you decide to get involved in theatre.
Tonya: I helped backstage during a
high school show and the feeling of community and family was incredible. I
never wanted it to end.
Ginny: What is unique about your program?
Tonya: We really try to involve the
entire school. The year that we did Wizard
of Oz, our basketball team was state champion so we had them play our
Winkies. They wore their warm up suits as uniforms and so that was what the
Scarecrow, Lion and Tinman changed into. They also did some fancy basketball
tricks during the chase scene. The entire community LOVED it!
Ginny: What was the most difficult element
of a production you’ve ever had to manage?
Tonya: Casting is so hard. Broken
hearts. Angry parents...sigh...
Ginny: Everyone has at least one good
theatre story (a costume mishap, smoke alarms during performances,
malfunctioning set pieces, etc). Tell us yours!
Tonya: While performing Romeo and Juliet for a group of high
school students, they started throwing Skittles onto the stage during Juliet's
death scene.
Ginny: Name something on your bucket list.
Tonya: An Alaskan cruise!
Ginny: If you could have a different
career, what would you choose?
Tonya: Professional
actor/director/stage manager.
Ginny: What will you miss the most after
retiring?
Tonya: Retire? What's that???
:)
Ginny: What is your proudest
accomplishment?
Tonya: Watching the smiles on the
faces at every curtain call!
Ginny: Do you have any hobbies or interests
outside of theatre?
Tonya: Who has time for that? :) I
have three daughters, so they get any free time I can manage to find.
Ginny: What toy do you most remember from
your childhood?
Tonya: Fischer Price Play
Village
I love that one
of Tonya’s goals is to get her entire school involved in the drama program, her
creative ideas sound like a great way to get her local community excited about
theatre. If you enjoyed Tonya’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.