Welcome to PLAYBILLDER Spotlight, where Playbill highlights shows from educational institutions or regional theatres and special events around the country (who have used Playbill's program-building service). By welcoming these PLAYBILLDERs center stage, we hope to give our readers a more in-depth look at theatre programs that are fostering the love of the performing arts in the next generation and the way theatre lovers are bringing Playbill along for life's big moments.
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This week's Spotlight is Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall of Waltham, Massachusetts, and their production of Queens by Kristen Doherty. In the play, King Henry VIII is trapped in purgatory, bound to his throne by a sinister Fool and the ghostly Women in White. Here in his gilded cage, he is forced to relive the sins he committed against his queens, mistresses and people of the court, over and over again, for an eternity.
Director Bekah LaCoste shared with Playbill explains why she finds teaching fulfilling and how the students really let loose while putting this production together.
How many years have you been teaching?
Bekah LaCoste: I have been teaching for 15 years.
What is your proudest moment as an educator?
There are many rewarding experiences as an educator, when a student finds that "a-ha" moment after stepping out of their comfort zone, when the team works together to solve a problem, when I see them lifting each other up. These moments define why I do what I do.
Can you share a little bit about the value you see in having a performing arts program in schools?
I grew up as a performer and had some of my most life-changing experiences through theatre making. I learned lessons that might feel harder to learn in the classroom. Performing arts allow students to step into another person's shoes, to feel in a way that is outside of themselves. They learn how to think outside the box and create worlds that expand their minds from the realistic to the abstract. They learn how to work as a team carrying each other, relying on each other, trusting each other. From basic speaking skills to advanced costume design and set-building, students are learning so many different facets of life skills that are imperative to their progress as people growing in an ever-changing world.
What are your dreams for how your drama department can grow?
I feel very lucky to be in a small, independent school that cares deeply for its theatre program. We have incredibly supportive faculty, staff, and parents who are really looking for ways to help these young people. I am hopeful that in the coming years, we can continue to broaden our audience to our larger community so they can appreciate the hard work and skill that these students put into their productions.
What made you pick the show? How do you choose shows for your students?
I'm forever thankful for the community of theatre teachers, directors, and professionals on social media that make suggestions, share their work, and provide discussion forums. I find most plays that way. This production of Queens was directly linked to a friend of mine who shared her school's production of it. This term, we knew we had so many students to challenge (both in performance and tech) and it just felt right. And we were right.
What are the kids loving about the show?
Queens is dark, quirky, and richly worded. Much of the dialogue comes from documents from the Tudor era (ie. Anne Boleyn's final letter before her execution) that Kristen Doherty included in her writing. I often tell them to "chew on the words." They love that. And the costumes. We were really able to let some of our tech students loose with their ideas. Performing this production in the round has been so much fun!
What message do you have for your students as they take the stage?
All I ever want for my students is to engage, to be fully invested, and to listen to each other on stage. That is where the magic happens. When they can live in the moment (in a world that is zipping by) and experience every feeling and every word they are saying on stage, they have succeeded.
How did the students participate in the design or production of this Playbill?
The front cover is always designed by a student. This one was by Comet L. of the class of '25. We brainstorm ideas together, they sketch, and then they make the final copy. We have student photographers that take their headshots for the program. The students write their own bios.
What reactions do you expect to see in students when they see their name printed in this Playbill for the first time?
It's always cool to be seen.
How has PLAYBILLDER impacted your performing arts program as a resource?
PLAYBILLDER has helped us streamline the program process so that we can focus on the production! We also love that it lets us highlight our tech students as much as our cast. That is really important to us!
To design Broadway-quality programs for your next show or special event, head to PLAYBILLDER.com. Who knows, you might just be featured in our next PLAYBILLDER Spotlight! And if you are looking for a beautiful way to display your Playbills, click here to purchase Playbill frames.
