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 Summer Rickman, an EdTA professional member and the Director of Theatre Arts at Hobbs High School in Hobbs, New Mexico. Summer has been participating in the Community for years, earning Bronze Level contributor status, but she has also taught workshops at our National Conference. Her positive and practical advice is always a welcome addition to any discussion topic.
Why do you believe theatre is important?
Oh man, I’m afraid once I start, I won’t be able to stop.
I tell my kids, “It won’t hurt my feelings if after this year you decide theatre isn’t for you and never take another class or audition for another show, but I want you to give it a year. Hopefully, you will find that theatre is about so much more than acting.”
In my classes over the years, I’ve seen students come alive both on and off stage. I’ve seen students discover passions and talents and go on to pursue them after high school. I’ve watched lonely students find friends and “popular” students open their arms to the underdog. I’ve watched students step effortlessly into leadership roles with great success. I’ve watched students struggle at home in their personal lives and use the theatre as their safe place. I’ve been there for ah-ha moments when an actor finds that connection to their character and comes alive. I’ve spoken to dumbfounded parents who “never knew they could do that”- but they did, and they did it well. The acting parts, the performing parts, the technical parts of theatre are amazing, but I truly believe, the arts, all fine arts, ultimately make us better humans.
Tell us about the best day of your career.
I was asked to take over a dying theatre program in 2009 and I honestly wasn’t really sure what I was doing. I had a choir background and had never directed before. I decided to start with what I knew and took on a musical (!). When I found out that I only had a $300 budget, I had my principal help me write a grant for some startup money. We were granted $5,000 and I was told that wouldn’t be enough to produce a musical, so I approached the community and got a lot of time, energy, and talent donated to our cause. We cast the show and kids kept dropping out left and right. We whittled down to a small, but passionate cast and crew and produced Bye, Bye Birdie in April of 2010. On opening night, after a very long and trying road, the curtains went down and I stood backstage and watched my cast erupt into cheers and laughter, hugging each other, lifting each other up. They drowned out the applause of the audience with their cheers. They had done it. And they had done it well. The confidence that gave them and the pride on their faces told me that I was exactly where I was supposed to be, giving opportunities for those kinds of moments to kids.
Bye Bye Birdie, Hobbs High School, 2010
What inspired you to be a teacher?
When I was in high school, I was very much involved with the choir program. My high school choir director earned the nickname “Patton” from my grandfather because she expected a LOT out of us - many times rehearsals were long and weekends were full, but I adored her. She ran a tight ship, but I learned to be disciplined with my craft, I had an appreciation for the beauty of music and learned to connect emotionally to each piece. I remember getting goosebumps every time we sang as a group. It was obvious she loved what she did for a living, and she loved passing on that passion to her students. When I started teaching fine arts myself, it became my goal to instill the same discipline, love and passion for theatre that my high school music teacher had instilled in me.
If you could have a different career, what would you choose?
One day, I aspire to be a dean of a fine arts program at a small college. I’d like to work on outreach to surrounding high schools and funding for scholarships for fine arts students.
What is your best advice for new theatre teachers?
Don’t reinvent the wheel. Someone has already done it, find them and ask how. Most of us are one-man shows, but I have found the theatre teacher community to be incredibly generous in their knowledge and support. Forums like the ones on the EdTA website are fantastic resources for new teachers, and veteran teachers too! Reach out to your local community theatres and colleges, I have found them to be very helpful and supportive. I’ve emailed theatre teachers in other districts and had great response. I’ve gone to shows at other high schools and met with directors and gotten great advice. Ask. Reach out, don’t try to do everything on your own or you can quickly burn out.
The Curious Savage, Hobbs High School, 2019
What is unique about your program?
The year after I was hired on to teach theatre, my high school went through a renovation. I was asked to sit down with the architects and tell them what we wanted for the theatre space/theatre classroom. I had only been in the position a year and didn’t have much prior theatre experience, so it was kind of a shot in the dark, but I did my best. We have a beautiful space that we are so blessed to have. Would I change some things after 10 years? Sure. But, really, you can’t beat it. We are very fortunate to have the space we do to allow students to learn and grow.
What was the most difficult element of a production you’ve ever had to manage?
For every production I do I dread the costuming and always leave it until the last possible minute. It stresses me out, but somehow it always comes together. I’m always looking for that one kiddo who loves costuming and when I find them, I give them the responsibility and they typically do a pretty good job.
Other than that constant battle, a few years ago, I tackled a dinner theatre. And while it went really well, it was ridiculously difficult to pull off. A production is difficult enough but adding a full three-course meal to the evening presented challenges I hadn’t quite anticipated when I made the plans. For example, the night before we opened, I realized I hadn’t considered utensils or napkins (key components, I know) so early that morning, I was at Walmart buying nice plasticware and napkins - oh, and salt and pepper shakers for the tables. It was a touch overwhelming. I had students as actors, students as technicians, and students as waiters. The community loved it and keep asking us to do another one, but after four years, I don’t feel like I’ve quite fully recovered.
Classroom Dinner Theatre Setup, Hobbs High School
If you enjoyed Summer’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.