Long Reach High School’s production of In the Heights
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 Marla Blasko, the Director of Theatre Arts at Long Reach High School in Columbia, Maryland, home to Troupe 7481. Marla has earned a bronze level contributor ribbon for her three years of advice and ideas contributing to our forum on a wide array of topics, ranging from building lesson plans to play selection to managing a Thespian troupe.
Ginny: Why do you believe theatre is important?
Marla: From an educational point of view, as I tell my parents on Back to School Night, “Theatre is the most important class that your child will ever take, except for Driver’s Ed. I will teach your child how to speak with confidence so that they sound impressive during a job interview.” When students interpret and perform a scene, they learn new vocabulary and are able to try out many different professions and social situations. They learn empathy, something that is lacking in today’s classroom and can’t really be evaluated on a standardized test. Most importantly, my students have told me that they are able to ‘be themselves’ after performing in a show or taking my class – which is so ironic when you think about it. Theatre is important because of a note that a student gave me on her graduation day. “Performing on stage gave me confidence; I know if I can do that, then I can do anything.” That’s why theatre education is important. Theatre in general is important because it is (in my opinion) the best way to preserve our history, culture and heritage. Those who don’t learn from their history are doomed to repeat it, so the show must go on.
Ginny: Do you have any tips for new theatre teachers?
Marla: That first year - don’t let the seniors get you down. They will test you and pout because things change from teacher to teacher. Grit your teeth and get through it and the juniors will appreciate you the next year when they are seniors. Also make the custodian your BFF.
Ginny: What is the weirdest stage food you’ve ever made or eaten?
Marla: Working properties and as an ASM for The Judas Kiss, I cut white bread into cubes and then stuffed it into a plastic lobster so that ‘Oscar Wilde’ could eat like a king in the first scene. The lobster had to be cleaned after every performance. One performance I got really into it, stuffed it too much and the actor complained that he couldn’t get the “meat” out of the shell.
Ginny: What was the first play you ever saw?
Marla: The Nutcracker with Ballet West – not a play but my first live theatre experience at 6 years old. First play was Our Town, broadcast on television.
Ginny: What was the first role you ever played?
Marla: I was a pioneer in some patriotic play in the 4th grade in 1976 for the Bicentennial and memorized one line, “Illinois, where’s that?” I remember the teacher correcting me not to say the “s” at the end of the state. The year before that, I was also in a mime chorus (complete with clown white makeup!) for a Christmas pageant for my church. As a member of this group of mime children, we made a sad face for the sad part of the story (ex. when Herod killed all the boy children), and then a happy face when the baby Jesus was born– but I’m not sure if that counts as a role.
Ginny: What inspired you to become a teacher?
Marla: I wanted to run my own theatre company and have a family. Running a high school theatre program is very close to running a professional company without having to worry about paying rent or actors. Teaching allowed me to take my kids to the pool on my summer break.
Ginny: What playwright would you love to have lunch with? Tell us a question you’d ask them.
Marla: I would like to have lunch with Neil Simon and ask him why he won’t allow cuts (especially the language!) to his plays.
Ginny: What is unique about your program?
Marla: I have a really supportive administration. I am not sure that everyone has that.
Ginny: What is your proudest accomplishment?
Marla: There are many things that I have accomplished throughout my career. I started after school programs for elementary school and middle school. I developed and ran a theatre class for preschool age students called Stories on Stage. Many times I have seen shy students enter these programs unskilled, scared to talk in front of a group of people (let alone act!), and then blossom into confident actors. Watching an actor grow and do something that they thought they couldn’t do before is my proudest accomplishment.
Long Reach High School’s production of High School Musical
Ginny: Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of theatre?
Marla: On my summer breaks I grow things: berries, vegetables, flowers, etc. I read biographies because I like true stories and am interested in other people’s journeys.
Ginny: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Marla: New York City is my favorite place to visit. My husband and I have dreamed about living there for a year and seeing all of the shows that season. Also I want to try all of the restaurants on Ninth Avenue and end the year by going to the Tony Awards.
Ginny: What toy do you most remember from your childhood?
Marla: The toy that I played with the most was an avocado green portable record player where I spent hours listening to songs and books. My favorite album was Winnie-the-Pooh, and I remember organizing the neighborhood friends to play the characters and act out the song lyrics in order to put on a show for our parents. I still have the record player, and it was used as a prop when I directed Grease.
Marla’s class at University of Northern Colorado (Masters of Theatre Education 2014) after a scenic painting class. (Marla is in the red shorts on the far left).
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.