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This week's spotlight is The Theatre Collective at Richardson High School of Richardson, Texas and their production of SIX: Teen Edition. The youth-friendly adaptation of Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’ Broadway musical celebrates the six wives of King Henry VIII, while showcasing the talent and individuality of women and non-binary people onstage. The teen edition contains all the original songs from the standard version with an optional chorus. The expandable casting for backup singers and dancers is meant to be inclusive of performers of all gender identities giving more students the opportunity to shine.
Theatre Performance Magnet Director, and director of SIX, Emily Whitman shared with Playbill why her department prides itself on producing "student-driven theatre," how she's utilizing "superfans" of the show to generate hype, and how Richardson High manages to produce 15 shows a year.
Tell us a little about yourself. How many years have you been teaching?
Emily Whitman: This is my eighth year teaching, and my fourth at Richardson High School (RHS). I actually graduated from the RHS Theatre program, myself, and was thrilled to return to my roots when my former director retired!
What is your proudest moment as an educator?
My proudest moment actually came in my first year at RHS. I was directing our UIL One-Act Competition Play, The Love for Three Oranges. I was able to use my cast's special skills to add personal flair to our show, including original music compositions played live on stage by the students who composed them! We also had some stunting, tap dancing, and even a character en pointe in each scene in which she appeared. This production advanced through four levels of competition to the regional contest, and it was the first time our school had progressed that far in 25 years! I fully believe that it was due to our students' unique talents (and my own ability to recognize and encourage those talents) that our group got that far.
How does your school’s performing arts programs impact your community?
When students engage in the performing arts, they are able to express themselves creatively, learn and practice empathy, and perform better academically than their non-performing peers. Our Theatre Performance and Technical Theatre Magnets (referred to together as "The Theatre Collective") allow students from all over the school district to dive deeply into their love of theatre, without having to sacrifice a normal high school experience. By having such an active Theatre Department (we have upwards of 15 theatrical productions per year), we are able to engage students and families who are not in the Collective, and give them the opportunity to find their own love of the craft. We also work very closely with the Choir and Dance Departments, as well as the Band and Orchestra Departments, especially when it comes to our Fine Arts Musical each year.
What are your dreams for how your drama department can grow?
While we do have theatre professionals lead workshops with our Student Theatre Artists, we do not employ production companies for our productions. All of our productions are entirely designed, run, and performed by students. Our students own their art, and we wouldn't want it any other way. My hope for the growth of our department is that people will see the amazing work our students do, and say, "I want to be a part of that!"
Tell us a little bit about the production. What made you pick the show? How do you choose shows for your students?
Our department prides itself on the concept of "Student-Driven Theatre." When we begin to choose shows for each season, we take into account the material our students are naturally drawn to, the things they will be challenged by, and their tremendous skills. Choosing to produce SIX: Teen Edition was as simple as listening to what our students wanted, believing in their ability to pull it off, and then trusting the process from there.
What are the kids loving about the show?
A better question would be "What are the kids not loving about the show?" The cast have had so much fun rehearsing their roles, and making discoveries about their characters; the designers have had a blast creating the costumes, lighting effects, set, and props; the run crew is loving the fact that they're able to keep the show running smoothly; we even have a group of dedicated "Superfans" whose whole job is to hype up the crowd! The students have been looking forward to this weekend for months, and I know they're going to have some serious show withdrawals when it's all over.
What message do you have for your students as they take the stage?
The message I have for my students as they take the stage is the same one I always have: It's your show now. Enjoy the time—don't hold back. Give the best performance you can, and the audience will love it. You're going to be great!
How has PLAYBILLDER impacted your performing arts program as a resource? We love that we can make professional quality Playbills easily and efficiently. The PLAYBILLDER site is so easy to use, and the end product looks awesome. The ability to have a digital program rather than a printed one, and make live updates if needed, is also great!
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