Lights up!
Arts programs are a great way for students to express their creativity through an activity that they enjoy and are passionate about. Among these many opportunities at West Ranch is the award-winning theatre program.
There are two main components to theatre at West Ranch: stagecraft and performance. “If you want to be on stage in the lights, performing in front of people, I would start with performing in the theatre classes,” theatre director Mr. Spradling remarked. On the other hand, those who love the art of theatre but are more comfortable backstage may join one of the stagecraft classes, where they can be a part of the technical theatre crew.
With an authentic professional environment offering real-life and career-oriented experiences, the theatre program hopes to prepare students for potential careers in the industry or post-secondary education, such as a performing arts college. There are ample opportunities for students who want experience as lighting designers, set designers and sound designers.
The theatre program is built on the foundation of giving students the opportunity to walk through the steps of a professional play as if they were going to pursue it professionally. “It’s not just acting on stage, it is the whole medium in its complexity,” Mr. Spradling emphasized.
Any interested students are encouraged to take some time to dabble their feet in the art of theatre. As freshman sound technician Kolton Krolak remarked, “give it a shot, because who knows, you might be missing out on an amazing activity.”
Addressing the common misconception that acting is a prerequisite for theatre, senior Assistant Director Mareia Farag explained, “It’s not true at all. There are so many different realms of theatre beyond acting and […] it’s a wonderful program that is inclusive and provides a lot of growth for each person.”
Preparing for the play
West Ranch Theatre students start preparing about 12 weeks before opening night and most of that time is spent on building. Whether it be building character or set pieces, the cast and crew are day in and day out in the theatre room working to make sure the audience gets the best quality performance possible.
After two to three hour after-school rehearsals and 90 minute class periods, the team has now transformed the bare stage into a full 30-foot by 8-foot platform with multiple levels. In their effort to make their performances as accurate as possible, the crew dedicated a considerable amount of time to finding authentic costumes and learning accents that are accurate to the story. Mr. Spradling reflected, saying, “it’s like running a small business and trying to get it done in 12-weeks time.”
Our Town
At its core, “Our Town” – theatre’s upcoming production by Thorton Wilder – is an emotional production detailing life, death and the importance of not taking important relationships for granted. “I think Wilder’s strongest message in this piece is to really experience and live the moments in your life,” Mr. Spradling described.
“It teaches people that you have to be a little bit more appreciative of life,” Farag remarked. The play is so touching that the crew members have resorted to keeping a box of tissues backstage, because many, including Farag, cry “every single time after they rehearse it.”
“We are enough, together”
When asked what he hoped students get from participating in the program, Mr. Spradling did not hesitate before saying, “Community: that’s the biggest thing. Community in the understanding that they’re already enough — just by being who they are and bringing their own experiences and perspectives into the room.”
To Krolak this meant “having a loving and supportive community” while working on the shows.
To Farag, this was shown on the closing night of “Chicago,” the final musical they performed last year, and her personal favorite. “One person started crying, and then it was just this whole domino effect: we all just started crying [too],” she smiled. “It was a whole experience in itself and it has taught me so much; afterward, we all went to BJs and got pizookies, it was a lot of fun.”
Evidently, theatre is much more than just a class or getting ready for a play. As a tight-knit community, one of its goals is that students can look back at every show and say that they enjoyed the process. “Not the final event, but the process. Because that’s really what it is about,” Mr. Spradling concluded. “And, you know, just have fun. I mean, there’s a reason they call it a play, right?”
