At Lafayette High School, there are six different theatre-based classes offered, all of which count as an art credit. There are two theatre teachers at Lafayette, Mrs. Kisling and Ms. Gorrell. Four of these classes are performance and two are technical. On the performance side of theatre, there is Intro to Theatre, Theatre Two, Advanced Theatre Three, and Advanced Theatre Four. On the technical side of theatre, there is Intro to Technical Theatre and Advanced Technical Theatre. There are also some independent studies for theatre as well, depending on what you are interested in.
To get a good description of these classes, The Times spoke with Mrs. Kisling about what theatre classes consist of. “The performance classes start with a base level of using your body, your voice and your imagination to create a character,” said Kisling. For students, this would be learning basic skills on how to convey an emotion of a character and practice displaying a convincing role on stage.
Kisling said,“Every year after Intro [to Theatre] is growing those areas more and more for folks who are really interested in that. Intro is a great class for everyone, anyone who is going to be working in a customer facing business where you are thinking on your feet and you are reading people and figuring out how to speak and project, those are just life skills.” If you have not had past experience in theatre then Intro to Theatre would be a great place to start. “In Theatre Two, Three, and Four, we get more into theatre specific skills,” added Kisling.
Outside of performance classes there are two technical classes. Intro to Technical Theatre and Advanced Technical Theatre. In her interview Mrs. K says, “Intro to Technical Theatre, you’re learning about tools, safety design, hand sewing, machine sewing, costume design, and props design.” If you enjoy hands-on work like building structures or sewing, this class teaches you the basic skills of that and how it is involved in theatre performances.
Kisling stated, “Just trying to give the students an opportunity of what’s out there and then when you go into Advanced Tech you get to start specializing in anything you want because advanced tech is project based, so you get to decide what projects you’re interested in.” Kisling also said that some skills you learn in a theatre class are collaboration, communication and resilience.
Abigaile Stokes, a senior who is very involved with Lafayette Theatre and played Belle in the Beauty and The Beast Lafayette Theater winter production last year, has some words for those considering taking a theatre class. “You have to be willing to have a lot of fun and be willing to participate. I think that people often take classes to sit there and learn but if you’re going to do a theatre class you have to make sure you’re flexible, constantly be on your feet, and willing to try new experiences. It’s just a really really fun time.”
To conclude, Lafayette’s theatre classes are fun, welcoming, energetic, and an experience full of trying new things. If you are interested in the construction and design of sets and costumes, then a technical theatre class could be great for you. Or, if you are interested in developing your acting and performance skills, you should consider taking a performance theatre class. Make
sure to sign up for a theatre class for next year because, in theatre, there is a place for everyone.
