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 next spotlight is Amy Sando, drama teacher and troupe director at Douglas High School in Minden, Nevada, home to Thespian Troupe 990. Amy regularly attends the International Thespian Festival, is a bronze level contributor and always has expert advice and poses thoughtful questions to the members of Community.
Why do you believe theatre is important?
Theatre lets us connect to our humanity. Through peeking into the lives of others, we can laugh with them or at them, share their grief and pain, feel indignant or feel moved.
What is your greatest challenge?
My greatest challenge is to make the product secondary to the process, to place human relationships above entertainment.
Tell us about the best day of your career.
My best day was recently, right before and after our final show. The cast and crew created a circle and shared their thoughts and feelings about not just this show, but the entire school year, and their years in our drama program. I heard over and over again that this program and space had become a safe place, a family, a place where many came out of their shells and blossomed, a literal lifeline for some, and the first time in some of their lives where they felt truly accepted. To know that I helped model and facilitate that was pure joy, and reminded me why what I do is important.
What is the resource you most recommend to others in your profession?
I don't have any one resource, but I recommend that all of us, at whatever level or area of theatre we are involved in, to read plays, and more plays, and then some more plays.
Any tips for new theatre teachers?
Just breathe and believe. It took me so long to just relax and trust that no matter how bad tech week was looking, it would turn out all right, or truly great in the end. Believe in yourself and believe in those around you. Enjoy the process.
What is your favorite musical (or play)? What makes it so special?
I love A Midsummer Night's Dream because I love Shakespeare's plays, and I think this one is the most accessible for a contemporary audience. I love his history plays also. The part of Richard II is captivating in the hands of a skilled actor.
What playwright would you love to have lunch with? Tell us a question you’d ask them.
I would dine with William Shakespeare and ask if any of his comedies were written while sober.
Tell us about the moment that made you decide to get involved in theatre.
I started doing community theater after school, and just fell in love with being part of this bumbling ensemble that created something that brought so much joy to others.
What is unique about your program?
We do so much with so little. I do not have the luxury of a theater auditorium with all that stage space, a rigging system, backstage area, scene shop. I have a stage in a classroom with bleacher seats and a back hall. Yet, we produce an annual 1-Act student-directed Play Festival, 3-4 comedy improv shows, open mic nights, a short film festival, a ITS Thespian troupe that qualifies several students for ITF every year, our spring production, multiple fundraisers. And it is just my student officers and I, with a little help from our friends. We are pretty amazed that we are able to do so much with so little.
What was the most difficult element of a production you’ve ever had to manage?
Serving the roles of creative director and technical director is very exhausting, having to stay calm and sane with so many balls in the air.
Everyone has at least one good theatre story. Tell us yours!
During tech week, an actor exited on the wrong side of the stage during a blackout, decided to run across the stage to get to the right spot, and smacked right into a stage hand, taking out several of his teeth. She had to get several stitches above her eyebrow. My stage manager used all the blood as an object lesson on why actors need to listen to the stage manager.
Name something on your bucket list.
Teach improv on a cruise ship.
If you could have a different career, what would you choose?
Clandestine operative for the CIA. (I actually was offered that job.)
How do you relax after a busy day?
Dark chocolate and more dark chocolate while rockin’ out to the radio or streaming Netflix.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Making it through my kids' teen years still partially intact.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of theatre?
I love to go out dancing with my girlfriends until the wee hours of the morning.
What is your favorite part of the day?
Honestly, after 24 years of teaching, I still wake up most mornings feeling energized about going to work. But my favorite part is crawling into bed and wrapping myself up in a fuzzy blanket.
What toy do you most remember from your childhood?
My Baby Tender Love and her blanket that my big sister croqueted for me.
If you enjoyed Amy’s interview as much as we 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.