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 Juliette
Beck, currently the troupe director for Troupe 6667 at Public Academy for the
Performing Arts in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Juliette works with students in
grades 6-12, so she has a broad range of experience that allows her share
advice and ideas with middle and high school teachers alike.
Ginny:
Why do you believe theatre is important?
Juliette: I
believe theatre is important because not only is it one of the oldest art
forms, it has the ability to help change the way people look at and treat one
another. I love this quote by Arthur Miller, one of my all-time favorite
playwrights: "Great drama is great questions or it is nothing but
technique. I could not imagine a theater worth my time that did not want to change
the world." Theatre is a beautiful and powerful way to help build
confidence, grow as an individual and help our communities. I know that theatre
is a skill that all students can benefit from, even if they don't stay in the
performing arts as a profession. The skills gained in theatre are useful in
every career. Theatre also makes us better communicators!
Ginny: What was the first play you ever
saw?
Juliette: I
had fun talking to my parents about this over the weekend. I was really lucky
to have parents that exposed both my brother and me to the performing arts
(ballet, theatre, music). We decided that my first play was either a
professional production of The Nutcracker in Chicago or Pippi
Longstocking at The Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis in the early
1980s.
Ginny: What was the first role you ever
played?
Juliette: I
started studying ballet when I was really little (age 3 or 4), so I was either
a mouse or a sugar plum in The Nutcracker. My first role in a play was
in elementary school. I was cast as an angel in The Best Christmas Pageant
Ever. I was hooked after that! It was my dream to play Beth in that play
and I was lucky enough to be cast as Beth in high school. I remember talking to
the angels in that production and telling them about my first role.
Ginny: What is the resource you most recommend to others in your profession?
Juliette: I
always share the same three resources with new theatre teachers:
- www.theatrefolk.com
for all the awesome free lesson plans and materials, as well as the Drama
Teacher Academy for professional development and their great selection of
scripts.
- Gai
Jones' book Raising the Curtain.
Ginny: What is unique about your program?
Juliette: I teach theatre to grades 6-12 at The Public Academy for Performing
Arts. The Public Academy for Performing Arts is a public charter school that
integrates a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with the performing arts
and prepares students to pursue their passions and talents. My administration
is very supportive of community partnerships. I write grants to bring the
community into my classroom and to bring my students and their talents out to
the community. I've developed partnerships between my theatre program and The
New Mexico Department of Health's Office of School and Adolescent Health to create
Positive Youth Development and YouthCHAT. We also work with Blackout Theatre
Company's Wrinkle Writing Program, where students write an original play using
Theatre of the Oppressed techniques to raise awareness about social justice
issues.
Ginny: If you could have a different
career, what would you choose?
Juliette: If
I had a different career, it would definitely be as a professional mermaid.
Ginny: Do you have any hobbies or
interests outside of theatre?
Juliette: I
spend a lot of my time outside of school supporting live theatre, music, dance
and art. I also love reading memoirs and non-fiction, especially about Old
Hollywood, actors/celebrities, rock n' roll, art, perfume and cults. I am a big
fan of soaking in natural hot springs around the Southwest, and like to visit
Pagosa Springs, Colorado and Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.
Ginny: If you could live anywhere in the
world, where would you go and why?
Juliette: I
really love living in beautiful New Mexico, but I have always dreamed about
living on the beach.
Juliette provides so many exciting and unique opportunities
for her students. Her efforts to create connections between her community and
school give them real life examples of how theatre can change the world. You
can learn more about Juliette and her theatre program at www.paparts.org, or
on their Facebook page. If
you enjoyed Juliette’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.
Photo above provided by Juliette.