Last year, there were only seven students in drama, but 25 more chose to take on the class. The quantity has risen due to high schoolers needing their performing arts credit. To meet their graduation requirements, they must have at least a year of performing arts like drama, choir and band.
Despite her surprised reaction due to the increase in class size, drama advisor Susan Ainley expects a lot out of the students.
“Having these 30 kids means that we can put on a musical at Fresno Christian,” Ainley said. “Now I have enough people to fill out an entire cast that will be necessary for such a big production, so I am very excited.”
Last year, Ainley said the amount of drama students had increased by the second semester.
“We made it up to 12 students last year by the end of the second semester, and it really limits what kind of play you can do,” Ainley said. “In fact, the play that I chose {Meet Me in St. Louis}, actually had 16 characters and I had to ask four former students to come and participate, which they did, plus a couple of teachers to do some walk-on roles.”
Ainley attended Fresno Pacific University from 1983 to 1988 to earn her teaching credential. She eventually became an elementary drama teacher, then junior high, and now this is her third year as a high school drama teacher.
This year, Ainley recommends her students to attend other theatrical performances. She wants the students to get an idea of how they should act properly.
“I think it’s a good idea for my students to attend other drama performances because it helps them get an idea of how much work goes into a production,” Ainley said. “They also get to have the joy of watching other people do what they love to do. I also would like to encourage them to catch a show at Roger Rockas, Second Space or CMT.”
As a first time student in drama, Elizabeth Baker, ’17, expects a lot during the year.
“I think drama is cool, yet scary because we have to perform on stage in front of an audience,” Baker said. “I’m excited to perform with my friends because it’s a lot of fun to work with someone else.”
Some people have never experienced drama such as Caleb Calderon, ’16. He looks forward to the basics of acting.
“As being a new student in drama, it’s really nothing that I’ve ever done before,” Calderon said. “It does take time to get used to because I’ve never acted before, I expect new experiences in the drama class and I want to be a better actor.”
Being an experienced drama student, Caitlin Gaines, ’15, has been enjoying it ever since sixth grade. Despite her reaction to the class size, Gaines expects a bigger production. Gaines is interested in taking drama classes in college. As her interest in dramatical performances, she has also seen big production plays in such theaters.
“I was surprised to see 30 classmates in the drama class,” Gaines said. “It was not normal to have this many students. I expect larger plays due to this many students.”
Robbie Hill, ’14, has been in drama since third grade. Ever since he was a child, he has been interested in performing in front of an audience. Even though Hill has been offered strange roles, he worked on perfecting each one every time.
“In the past, when we only had very few students, we had to do double casts, do a bunch of costume changes, and exchange roles,” Hill said. “So, when I walked into the classroom seeing these 30 kids, I was shocked. It’s also my first year with junior high students so I’m expecting good things on how they react and what roles they will be doing.”
For the Christmas performance, the drama class will put on The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
This writer can be reached via Twitter @mattgarza2017. Follow The Feather via Twitter: @thefeather.
For more features, read the Sept. 17 article, Senior helps foreign exchange students assimilate into culture.
