Another School Year

So graduation is one week from today.  Every year it's sad to see the seniors go-- but amazingly, new students always appear and life continues on.  Here is a summary of my 13th year teaching high school theatre:
June 2012-  NYC with 60 fun people.  My blog is filled with stuff on this trip.  It was a lot of fun.  On a side note, an anonymous woman called the high school last week to complain to our principal that our trip is too expensive and that I must be siphoning money off for myself.  She left a crazy message that made my principal laugh.  To be clear, the cost of our trip is set by Thomas Travel based on what I want us to do.  We also get really good seat for sold out shows.  If you think you can do it cheaper, do it.  Don't complain to my principal.
Fall 2012-  Auditions for Shakespeare (I really liked my Richard III ghost piece.  The judges, not so much --although it got an overall Superior-) great work Dance Ensemble (2nd), Dance Trio (3rd) and above all else, 1st Place Technical Olympics (out of 30 schools).  This was the 2 year in a row we took 1st!
Shows:  In the Heights- PTC-  Students loved it- but nothing can compare to the original Broadway with Lin Manuel.  Stones in his Pockets- Shakespeare-  great show, great cast (2 people playing everyone)- students still quote lines from it.  Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde- Echo Theatre- great to see Bradley Moss on stage- great cast, creepy script.  Of Mice and Men-  PTC- one of the strongest shows I've seen in 14 years of going.  Beautiful.  The Addams Family Musical-  Capitol-  Nice improvements over Broadway version.  New songs were great and the cast was having a great time.  Students really liked it.
School Musical-  Grease.  Hard show because you need at least 4 crazy high tenors-  dance was good and challenged the cast... costumes and lighting were great-- I wish I could have been more creative with my set.
Winter 2012-2013-  MDT Revue with Kelly DeHaan was a hit.  Some great songs performed by 22 students.  Also, the Utah Theatre Conference at Westminster was a lot of fun.  We saw Legally Blonde by Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts and Noises Off from Westminster College.
Shows:  A Christmas Carol- PTC-  I really like this version of the show (Ahrens and Menken).  It was fun to see Cecily Bills, David Holmes and Ashley Gardner (friends from Chitty and Ragtime) in it.  The Philadelphia Story- PTC-  students didn't care for it, but I thought they nailed it.  Great leading lady-  hard to fill Hepburn's shoes.  Shrek-  got to take Millie and Ellis (and Grandma Summers!) to this one-- it was really fun.  Great adaptation.  I thought Farquaad stole the show.
School Play-  in a moment of utter insanity, I auditioned for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang- got cast, and went from tech week (long...) of Chitty into tech week with our school play Scapino!.  I have to say the kids did great and it was fun doing a completely different style of school comedy.  Great cast!
Spring 2013-  Region and State Competition.  We are in a very competitive region (all of Alpine School district high schools) are with us.  I was surprised that our classical scenes didn't qualify for state- so that was a little sad.  The other drama teacher did a great job directing Almost Maine that luckily qualified for state (which we hosted- and did a great job).  Rags-  done by my MDT class was AWESOME!!  One of the best MDT shows we've done.  Center Stage Showcase- student directed one-act plays- also went well (although for a bit, a Theatre 4 divised theatre piece was a little sketchy...).
Shows: The Odd Couple- PTC-  I thought there was some miscasting, but overall, it was fun to see a classic play that I had NEVER seen on stage.  Chitty Chitty-  Hale-  was really fun to be in.  Great cast.
Urinetown-  It was so fun to see my former student Alex King be the lead in such a fun show.  Great job Hale Orem.  Les Miserables- PTC-  it was sad, but ultimately this was disappointing.  Jean ValJean and Fantine were miscast.  My students were really disappointed in it.  (Although, the set was awesome and Enjorlas stole the show).
So, theatre students of Riverton High class of 2013, go forth and spread your talent all across the land!  Break a leg.  Juniors and sophomores, see you next year.  We'll have a great season with Comedy of Errors, Hello Dolly!, Diary of Anne Frank and Wanda's Visit.