Support high school theatre programmes
Last night, I had the pleasure and the privilege of going to the theatre. You see, the school where I teach, Sotomayor Arts / Sciences Magnet in Los Angeles, has an amazing drama programme.
The kids in the programme are amazing. Their performance was fantastic. The production, even though there are two amazingly talented teachers guiding the work, was student-led.
What I really appreciated about the play was that it was so powerfully delivered that several times during the performance, the audience members were so caught up, so captivated by the story that they verbally reacted to the happenings on the stage. It was amazing to watch. I also loved that the production featured a local playwright, Evelina Fernandez, highlighting a story arc that is so incredibly relevant to the local community.
So many schools put on the same plays each year. Rodgers & Hammerstein have been done to death. With the Fernandez’ authentic story, connecting with students who have similar backgrounds to the author, the lines just flowed. Nothing seemed forced. The play was the perfect fit for students learning the craft as it seemed easy for them to lean into their characters and bring them to life.
Here, you might be thinking, why are you writing a review of your school’s play in this space? Fair point. When I was going through occupational and speech therapy, I did most of it outside of the clinical settings. I did most of it in the theatre. It was fun, supportive, structured, and allowed me to practice my emerging vocal abilities and have a bit of fun at the same time. Plus, I could use my artistic talents building and decorating the sets, as well as working in the sound / lighting booth. I feel so strongly about the value of local theatre programs, both community theatre and school drama programmes, that I give them my full support and do my best to attend their performances.
As part of that support, I want to ask for your help. You see, my school’s programme is so good that they’ve won a competition and the opportunity to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival , the world's largest and most prestigious arts festival, as part of the American High School Theatre Festival (AHSTF). But, Sotomayor is a Title 1 school. That means, among other things, that the local area is impoverished. There’s no way the kids and their families can afford the cost to travel to Scotland to perform at the festival. This is where I hope you can help. The programme is soliciting donations to help fund the trip. You can click here to read more and donate.
This trip represents an amazing opportunity for these kids. Please join me in helping them achieve their goal to perform in Scotland. Thank you for your support.