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 Kimberly Wibbenmeyer, the Speech/Theatre teacher and director at Sullivan High School in Sullivan, Missouri, home to Thespian Troupe 8335. Kimberly is fairly new to the Community, but as a Thespian Alum, she is certainly no stranger to the stage. She’s also an experienced costume designer, so keep her in mind if you have a tricky wardrobe conundrum.
Why do you believe theatre is important?
With the high amount of technology in our lives today, it is very hard to learn empathy and how to communicate face-to-face. Theatre is such a wonderful tool because, right away, whether on or off the stage, you must communicate, not just with your team, but also with your patrons. In regards to empathy, there are so many in-class activities and techniques in rehearsal to help the kids learn empathy, as well as how to put it into practice in real life. Obviously, there are many lessons and culture built around this wonderful art, but I feel that as a high school teacher, teaching in today’s world, empathy and the art of communication are most important.
The cast and crew of Wit, touring to the MO Conference in 2017
What is your greatest challenge?
I think the common challenge we all encounter is raising funds for our programs and how to get the students and patrons to understand why the funds are needed. I’ve developed an “I Want to Be a Producer” lesson where students pull a budget and scenario out of a hat, then plan a season with a few wildcard situations thrown in. This helps the students understand where money goes and how much it actually does cost to create a production. However, I’ve found myself in lower economic areas and trying to convince an audience to spend money on arts when it is hard to keep food on the table, has without a doubt, been extremely hard! We’ve started doing community drives, and I have plans for getting out in the community more this coming year, so hopefully being visible and doing good will send some good vibes back our way!
What does a typical day look like for you?
I have a 45 minute (one way) commute, which creates a very early morning. However, I do my best brainstorming and designing while driving, so having that alone time without distractions can be priceless. I teach full-time, then as most of us do, go straight into rehearsal at my school. We end after two hours, and then I have tech rehearsal with another high school until 9:00pm. Finally, I head home to lots of slobbery dog kisses from my 8-year-old rescue!
Tell us about the best day of your career.
I’m not sure if it was the best, but it definitely made its mark. I had been with the program for three years, it was our last show. I barely had to fix or give notes, the kids were picking it all up on their own. The older students were guiding the younger ones and the performers were just rocking it, as was the band! It was amazing to just sit back, relax, not have to worry about anything and simply just be an audience member.
What is the resource you most recommend to others in your profession?
Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit. Such a good read, makes you think outside the box as well as has some very strange but fun activities throughout. I’ve used many in class and workshops!
Do you have any tips for new theatre teachers?
Do not feel like you need to change the world in your first year. Take your time, think it through, ask for help, and make sure to build a team. A team of fellow teachers at your school and within your district. A team of go-to students that can become the leaders to train the newbies. A team of community members and parents that can support you in your endeavors.
The changes you make, no matter how small, will mean the world to someone. Never feel like you aren’t doing enough. You need to find time for you so that way, when you are with the kids, you can give them everything! And never, ever, ever, in your career feel that you are “too good” to go observe your fellow teachers. Even if they are a COMPLETELY different type of class than you are, you never know what tips you can learn - or if that obnoxious kid in your homeroom is even more obnoxious for someone else!
What is the weirdest stage food you’ve ever made or eaten?
In college, we did A Christmas Carol every year. The “turkey” for the Cratchitt’s table finally “died” and we needed to rebuild a prop that was probably 20+ years old. It was a full turkey dinner look on top, and then flipped over to just show the bones. It was fun and interesting trying to recreate this piece that we knew would be with the program for another 20+ years.
What is your favorite musical (or play)? What makes it so special?
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It was the first CD I got as a kid and I had the VHS of Donnie Osmond doing the show. I was often left to entertain myself and that VHS and CD filled those hours and allowed me to learn and dream. It taught me that it was okay to make mistakes and that second chances do happen. Any time I get a little down, or just need a pump up, I can pull any song from that soundtrack and an instant smile appears!
What was the first play you ever saw?
The first performance that I remember was a Halloween show at the theme park my family worked for. I have always loved the old Universal Monsters and the show was filled to the brim with them. I was so excited when I was able to perform in that same show years later, it was very special!
Kimberly as the Bride of Frankenstein
What was the first role you ever played?
I remember I was an angel in our Christmas show in grade school and I was mortified and thought the world was ending when my halo broke during the closing number. Obviously, the show went on and no one noticed, but I did, and I was in tears as I was singing.
What inspired you to become a teacher?
When I was growing up, we moved six hours away from our family due to my dad’s work. I didn’t have the typical extended family unit present all the time as I would have if we not moved. It was because of this, however, that the constant in my life became my teachers. I knew I could turn to them whenever I needed guidance or support. Yes, obviously, I ran into a few bumps along the road (those “bad” teachers we have all had), but this strengthened my desire to become that strong constant in another student’s life.
What theatrical artist would you love to have lunch with? Tell us a question you’d ask them.
Julie Taymor. She has been such an inspiration to me as a director and designer. Her way of thinking outside the box and her ability to be an independent and strong female in a very male-driven field is absolutely astounding! I’d love to ask her what the biggest mistake was in her career and if she would have changed anything about it if given the chance.
Tell us about the moment that made you decide to get involved in theatre.
I had always done performance-related activities in my childhood, like we all do, but never put a real thought to it. I had always dreamt of playing college volleyball. That was my thing. However, in 8th grade, I blew out my knee and had surgery, which pretty much destroyed my volleyball dream. Now what was I supposed to do? Well, my first week of high school, I heard an announcement about crew applications for the fall play and the rest is history!
What is unique about your program?
I do not have actors and technicians. I have theatre artists. Each student is expected to pick up a power tool, hop on the stage when needed, sell tickets, think about design options, etc. One thing I learned from my days in school was the more experience the better. Granted, each student will not become the best tech or best actor ever, but the ability to learn flexibility and empathy is the best lesson to take further on as they enter adulthood.
Kimberly posing with students after a professional stage managing gig
What was the most difficult element of a production you’ve ever had to manage?
We decided to add another full length production to our winter lineup. However, we wanted to put it in the wing and sit the audience on the stage (it was a BIG space). At the time, we planned to move the sound and light boards to the stage and run from the opposite wing. However, things didn’t work out, so we still had to run them from the traditional booth in the back of the house. This meant that light and sound board ops could NOT see or hear anything from the stage in any way, shape or form. The sound board op dropped at the last minute so I had to step in and run it. The stage manager had to be on top of her game more so than ever before. However, the cast didn’t necessarily have ther lines totally down and continued to skip and jump through the script, which meant all of us were on our toes. It was very interesting, to say the least.
Everyone has at least one good theatre story. Tell us yours!
This is where building that perfect support team comes in handy! It was the Sunday before a show, we were doing the final touches after a cue-to-cue, and all cast and crew were in. We were performing Cinderella (the new Broadway edition) and the cast and crew size was 103. I was a team of one, but luckily, we had a few parents and my own mother there for that last stretch of getting everything finished. As I was hanging some donated lights (which it was my fault for not checking completely), I leaned down to grab one and my metal medic alert bracelet slid down my wrist and hit the cable, which had exposed wires, and BOOM! I was on the ground (saying some bad words). Then, my arm quickly started turning purple, and before I knew it, I was in the ER with a high voltage electric shock. Here’s where that team comes in. I was not mentally ready to go back to teach, let alone run a dress rehearsal. My student, who had stage managed every show for the past two years, decided to try her had at directing. Thank goodness! She took everything over and I was a vegetable until the night of the show. We also had another teacher on costumes helping us in overtime to get all of the dresses finished, while one of our moms did the guys’ vests and coats! I couldn’t have done it without them! And thank goodness I wasn’t touching a music stand because that would have completed the circuit and I wouldn’t be here to tell the tale. Lesson learned: have an amazing team and triple check all lighting equipment!
Name something on your bucket list.
Seeing Donnie Osmond in Vegas, I’m a dork, I know!
If you could have a different career, what would you choose?
I would love to work full-time on costumes, it’s always a love of mine and so relaxing. I could spend days at my sewing machine and never be mad!
How do you relax after a busy day?
I typically color for a bit or work on a jigsaw puzzle (it’s actually part of my PT from my electric shock in my hand - helps strengthen it), of course with my doggy by my side. Or we watch the Harry Potter movies - I am an addict!
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Completing my Masters. There was a lot going on with my family and my job at that time but I never quit and did it all by myself. It was one of the hardest times but I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
Saying goodbye to Cape High School before moving on to Sullivan
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of theatre?
I’m a huge jigsaw puzzle fan but I also love traveling and touring the different Civil War battlefields and historical locations - I’m a huge history nerd!
What is something we would be surprised to learn about you?
I appear on the original cast recording of the world premiere opera Anna Karenina.
What is your favorite part of the day?
I am very much a morning person - doesn’t align with theatre life at all! However, I have always loved the time before school starts when the students just meander into my room. I love that they have always felt safe in my classroom. It’s a nice relaxing moment before “business” starts.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I grew up in Wisconsin and my goal is to move back, I love the snow and the cold weather. Also, I’d love to see Ireland!
What toy do you most remember from your childhood?
My Lite Brite! I actually found it a month ago and it worked! I spent many an hour that night being a kid again!
If you enjoyed Kimberly’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.