Complete Article for Highland Junior High Community Newsletter: Theatre Arts Program at Highland High School

The cast of 15 REASONS NOT TO BE IN A PLAY

There have been many positive "firsts" at Highland Junior High School!  One was the formation of a dynamic theatre program through the Theatre Arts 1 classes, the drama club, and a charter International Junior Thespians Troupe!

v  Theatre Arts I is a fine arts elective for freshmen. This class takes the students through dramatic arts projects from warm-ups through technical theatre. The classes also write their own original one-act plays, a few of which are produced. 

v  The Drama Club's mission is to foster an appreciation for theatre arts and to develop character through drama. The club, open to 7th, 8th, and 9th graders, has 150 members.

v  The mission of the Thespian organization is to recognize and honor student excellence. Those who are especially dedicated and talented are invited to join the Thespian organization, an honor society that recognizes excellence and dedication in the theatre arts. Membership in the Thespian troupe is earned.

                

Emily Hull (left) and Paola Roman (right) prepare the cast board

The first production of the season was a cooperative effort between the theatre arts students and the Drama Club: 15 REASONS NOT TO BE IN A PLAY: A Short Comedy, by Alan Haehnel.  Student involvement was fun and rewarding

v  "It was amazing!  We did much better than I thought we would.  We'll do even better tomorrow night!" -- Alyssa Jean Riffle          

v  "Miss Griswald! Amazing!" -- Nicky Montalvo

v  "Everyone has put sooo much effort into this play that I am so amazed!  Congrats to everyone on a wonderful job!  Thank you for making Highland Junior High's first production ever!" -- Hoover "Dakota" Jones, Freshman Drama Club President

Logan Skillman-Young poses with the prop that she and her father made for her character

Over 275 people attended the self-funded play which generated enough profit from ticket sales to pay for the royalties and scripts for 15 Reasons and for the spring production of Disney's Aladdin, Jr.  Forty-one students pulled together to learn the script, and to design, build and paint the set. Many parents and other teachers also made vital contributions to the success of the play.  Among those are Mr. Jeff Bates and Mr. Ben Gale who handled lighting and sound; Mr. Gothert and his student teacher, who built the fifteen wooden cubes symbolic of each reason not to be in a play; Mrs. Tammy Wiley, HJHS resident IT; Mrs. Rebecca Lucian, who oversaw ticket sales;

Mrs. Karen Sipes, director,  and Mr. Jon McCullough, assistant director, after the show.

Mr. Jon McCullough, who was assistant director for the winter production; and Mrs. Melissa Hull ("Drama Mama") who helped behind the scenes, Stephen Grabek, BSU Theatre Arts major, and  Rick Vale, who offered notes during production week. Scott Miley, Anderson Herald-Bulletin, for coming to rehearsal and plugging the show in the paper. The custodians for helping us get the backstage ready for the production.   The indefatigable drama club members brought tireless energy and enthusiasm to the production all the way through striking the set.

                Auditions for the spring musical, open to all HJHS students,  were held on March 17. The cast list, as well as other news, can be found on Highland Junior High School Theatre Arts blog:  www.hjhtheatrearts.blogspot.com.  Production dates for Disney's Aladdin, Jr. are May 20 & 21, at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium. Tickets are $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for students.   Admission is free for children ages five and under.  

                

Karen Sipes - director

Mrs. Sipes, Director of Theatre Arts Program, sees all kinds of possibilities for theater.  She "hopes the productions will help to bring the school and community together to celebrate the talent among our student population. " Mrs. Sipes has been teaching since 1975.   After winning a Lilly Endowment Distinguished Teacher Creativity Fellowship in 2006, she studied Shakespeare performance at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London under the direction of Geoffe Bullen.  She is an officer on the board of Anderson Mainstage Theatre, and she is also a member of the Education Advisory Board of Indiana Repertory Theatre in Indianapolis.