When students walked in for the first time, there were tears.
Royal Bay secondary school drama instructor and artistic director Melissa Young remembers the awe on the young actorsB次元官网网址� faces when they saw the new schoolB次元官网网址檚 347-seat Teechamitsa Theatre. Many students, who had previously attended Belmont, knew well the challenges of running a theatre program without a proper facility.
B次元官网网址淚 cannot begin to express how happy I am, how grateful I am to be working in this space. ItB次元官网网址檚 truly amazing,B次元官网网址� Young said between rehearsals for Royal BayB次元官网网址檚 production of Our Town, which will be the first school production staged at the new facility when it premieres next Wednesday (Jan. 20).
B次元官网网址淚 rented theatres for many years B次元官网网址� I have to pinch myself on stage.B次元官网网址�
Young, who transferred over to Royal Bay last fall, has overseen Belmont productions at other schools with theatres, such as Spectrum, to accommodate the drama program. Not only did that mean large set pieces had to be transported back and forth before and after a showB次元官网网址檚 run, theatre students didnB次元官网网址檛 have a proper theatre in which to rehearse day in and day out, or learn the production side. With the opening of the new school, all that has changed.
B次元官网网址淭he students appreciate it and they take care of the space. TheyB次元官网网址檙e very helpful reminding people not to put feet on seats and not to eat there; they have really embraced it,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淭hey know how lucky they are and are very excited to be performing on stage and be backstage.B次元官网网址�
Since September, more than 60 students in the various aspects of the theatre program have been working towards the inaugural production.
Katharine Lazar is one of them, having taken on the role of Emily Webb in the stage version of Thornton WilderB次元官网网址檚 1930s classic, Our Town. The play follows two families and their children, doing so by exploring the human life cycle of childhood, adolescence, first love, adulthood and finally death.
B次元官网网址淚 do think there is a strong message in the play and hopefully weB次元官网网址檒l portray it to the audience,B次元官网网址� Lazar said. B次元官网网址淚 hope they walk away (having) enjoyed themselves, but (also) learned something from it as well.B次元官网网址�
Lazar had planned to attend the new Belmont this school year. Instead, she followed her teacher to Royal Bay to continue her studies under the tutelage of Young, an actor-turned-teacher who holds a masters degree in theatre.
Lazar said the amount of growth and learning sheB次元官网网址檚 experienced this year has been a great opportunity. She looks forward to showing what the students have worked so hard to bring to Royal BayB次元官网网址檚 stage as its first performance.
B次元官网网址淕ive it a chance, youB次元官网网址檒l be amazed at what students will do,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e have put so much time and dedication and work to this to put on a good show; I hope people enjoy it.B次元官网网址�
Our Town runs Jan. 20, 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. at the Teechamitsa Theatre at Royal Bay secondary. Tickets are $12.50 for adults, $10.50 for students and seniors and can be purchased in advance or at the door.
alim@goldstreamgazette.com
