Dear Friends:
I am asking for your input and resources to tackle a lengthy battle to improve the theatre department at my school/district.
In the interest of brevity, I'll spare you the minute details and provide a brief-ish overview.
I teach in a rural district's only high school with a student population of just over 350. After a windfall of financial resources entered the county, an embarrassment of wealth befell our schools. Resources for students, 1-to-1 technology, and facilities upgrades, including a $9 million-dollar athletic complex, have been a constant over the past four years.
The school's consolidation in 1993 supplied a robust instrumental music and choral music departments, both which are continuously successful on the state and national levels. They serve as a powerful artistic and creative education for our students. However, the last thirty years have allowed no room for a theatre program, no ITS, no festivals or conferences. It led to inconsistent performance schedules, general lack of production framework, and little support for a theatre program.
Since joining the faculty in the 2015-2016 school year, I have been the theatre educator (one period of Theatre I-IV), director, and ITS Advisor. Trying to build a successful program, I did four academic years of the following general production season: fall play, spring children's theatre, spring theatre trip.
And, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic shattered much of that structure. Since the 2021-2022 school year, I have been on rocky footing trying to build the program back. However, this year we are back touring to the district's two elementary schools with the Silver Knight Players' Children's Theatre!
My years as theatre director have been wrought with frustrations. I have no dedicated space for theatre equipment, costumes, make-up, properties, etc. I have had set pieces moved and destroyed by other adults in the building. Although there is (was) a shared auditorium space, the thrust-stage was consistently covered with marching band uniforms, risers, and instruments. Currently, the auditorium renovations are nearing completion. Last year, I was invited by our new principal to join in the planning meetings. I requested a room for theatre storage. One storage room. I was offered the janitor's closet.
As a former actor, dramaturg, and stage manager in regional professional theatre, along with my BA in Theatre and MA in Theatre History & Criticism, I have built a curriculum that accelerated students to an undergraduate-level theatre appreciation course. However, my main duties at the school are teaching required senior-level civics and AP U.S. Government & Politics, along with facilitating the online dual-credit early entrance psychology and sociology for juniors and seniors. Again, the theatre arts education for my students suffers due to my workload. However, the district has agreed and has hired a third music teacher for the building. Yet, still ONE theatre class for 9-12 students.
After yesterday's tense impromptu meeting in the main office with the director of facilities and my principal, I know that I needed to reach out in my professional community for help.
I am humbly requesting pictures, descriptions, and/ or schematics of your performance spaces. Proscenium, thrusts, and any other stage configuration are all welcomed. Most desirable would be your studio spaces and black box theatres. Any resource would be appreciated. Please feel free to contact me at rschupbach@k12.wv.us.
Sincerely,
Rob
P.S. Sorry. I tried to keep it brief-ish.
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Robert L. Schupbach, MA, MA.Ed
TCHS Social Studies Teacher/Theatre Director
Educator/Theatre Artist & Scholar
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