Tomorrow ends my 14th year of teaching- all at Riverton High. It doesn't feel like it's over until our trip of 90(!) all arrive back home from NYC on June 23rd... but here's a look back a highlights from this school year:
- Our awesome Shakespeare Dance Ensemble (choreographed by RHS talented alumni, Fiona Nelson), Shakespeare Acting Ensemble, Dance Duo (choreographed by Kori Wakamatsu), and 3 1st places in the Tech Olympics (Yay Mitch, Spencer and Jeremiah). Also, a highlight of the entire year for many, many students: Peter and the Starcatchers at Utah Shakespeare. It was like a rock concert.
- It wasn't school related... but seeing Audra McDonald live and in concert for my birthday at BYU... front row...
- All of the PTC shows we saw this year: Something's Afoot, Other Desert Cities, Elf, A Few Good Men, Much Ado about Nothing (the unicorn headpiece!), Deathtrap, and Sweet Charity. A great mix of shows and saved many a students patootie by giving them a show to critique.
- Our awesome Improv Team and their show for 200 people-- emceed by the always talented Eric Jensen.
- The fantastic cast, crew (Daniel Whiting!! Mary and Melanie-- Doug Carter for the posters and photos!), orchestra, faculty (Camille Hicks and her mad sewing skills!) and staff that helped with our production of Hello Dolly. Thank you Michael Milkanin for giving me the idea of putting our Uncle Sam's on huge stilts. Thank you bubble machines for popping all over the seats in the auditorium and making them super sticky.
- Thank you guest choreographers for MDT: Melanie Cartwright, Jim Christian, Michael Milkanin, Fiona Nelson, Brock Dalgleish, Kori Wakamatsu, and Elizabeth Hansen for all of your awesome work. My students have no idea how lucky they are to work with all of you.
- A HUGE thank you to Kelly DeHaan. He's played for all 10 of my MDT revues. He even performed his solo without any fun, last minute transpositions-- again, so happy to have my students work with you. See you in NYC...
- Seeing fun Broadway tours at the Capitol and Kingsbury like: Bring it On, Blue Man Group, Warhorse and the upcoming Wicked.
- Going to UTA and seeing great shows at Weber like Bonneville's Oklahoma and The Plain Princess (with RHS Alumni Bailee DeYoung!) at Weber State. (Plus, my tech student Spencer Bauman getting a $500 check for his tech display).
- Our beautiful set and technical design for The Diary of Anne Frank. Awesome work everyone.
- Our 10 year MDT Anniversary
Revue. So many great songs (Gershwin Trio, Daryll is a Boy, Kelly's One Last Prayer with Kori's dancers, Like Breathing and Seasons of Love with 10 years of alumni).
- Getting to direct one of my favorite plays of all time for a 2nd time-- Wanda's Visit with a superb cast (2nd region, 2nd in state with 2 acting awards!!)-- Hosting State Plays and being Region Rep for the best Region (no joke) in the state. Watching Jim Smith drop food in his library at Lone Peak (where we weren't supposed to have food...) Jim, Neal, Erin, Mindy, Stewart, Amy, Kaycee-- I love all of you.
- Getting to direct one of my favorite musicals, My Favorite Year with MDT- such a great show- such a great cast. Such a tired piano player.
- Finally, I guess this is the year of awards: One of Stage Directions magazines Top 5 Theatre programs in the United States, my Theatre Teacher of the Year (State) which then turned in to Theatre Teacher (National), National Thespian Society Top School of 2014, and UACTT Teacher of the Year.
- Finally-- Jackie being the perpetual chaperone and Millie and Ellis learning about Anne Frank at ages 6 and 8. Thank you for running concessions, tickets, chaperoning (90 people in NYC Jackie! 90 people getting on and off the subway at the same time! Is your heart racing yet?) Here's to 2014-2015!
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