Dragons, princesses, and quirky characters are brought to life during the Starlight Theatre Company’s (STC) production of Children Shows.
Every year a select group of seniors get the opportunity to direct their own play to perform for children and students on campus.
“They are an opportunity for the STC to reach out to our elementary school theatres and students around the city who don’t get much exposure to theatre,” director Betsy Cornwell said.
The senior directors get to make all of the choices for their show.
“We get to have a say in all the decisions instead of normally being directed,” senior director Halen Wilson said. “You get to call your own shots.”
There are 11 senior directors, which is the most they have ever had according to Cornwell.
“It’s kind of nerve wrecking when you have this many, but the more directors you have, the more kids get the opportunity,” Cornwell said.
All of the senior directors participated in Children Shows in the past.
“I remember my freshman year whenever I was in my first children show,” Wilson said, “My first senior director was one of my favorite people and one of my biggest role models.”
The senior directors can be inspiring to others.
“Some of the best people I knew were senior directors, they were all so talented,” senior director Ariel Abudu said.
These seniors do more than just direct the productions.
“As a senior director we help direct a class, and we teach them the basics of theatre.” Abudu said. “We also direct two shows; Children show’s which we do in the fall, and senior one acts which we do in the spring.”
They have been working on their duties since before the school year started.
“I teach a theatre two class,” Wilson said, “Throughout summer we had to get monologues, pick out a play to direct for our children show, and for later in the year for senior one acts.”
There were certain tasks they had to accomplish before they could be considered for senior director.
“They have to write an essay, they have to direct a scene in the advanced class, and they have to get recommendations from their academic teachers.” Cornwell said, “Of course they get recommendations, or evaluations from all of the theatre teachers.”
Becoming a stronger person can come from being a senior director according to Abudu.
“I’ve learned the skill of being a better leader and getting a better backbone,” Abudu said. “I can’t let people push me around and that’s helped me a lot.”
The theatre arts are a passion for these students.
“Anyone who is scared of joining theatre, I encourage them to,” Abudu said. “Theatre is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.”