As a senior drama student, Olivia Wreden went to English classes promoting the Drama program. Wreden hoped to present the many characteristics of drama and the skills that it has provided her.
Drama is set apart from visual, musical, and design arts because it caters to students who need to take one year of an art, but aren’t attracted to or able to draw, play an instrument or sing. Wreden, a drama student herself and a strong supporter of the arts, believes it should reach the same level of importance in required curriculum classes as math or science.
“I don’t think that people know what [Drama] actually is, so that is why we try to go around to tell people about it so they know what is to be expected and how much it has affected us and our lives,” Wreden said.
As an Assistant Student Director and Honor student for the Advanced Drama class, a day on the stage for Wreden consists of directing plays and practicing her lines.
Practice led to performing a play at a competition on February 3rd and 4th. The drama program competed in the Lenaea Drama Festival at Folsom Lake College against 69 other schools from across the country.
Wreden said that her role as a director puts her in a position to look at things from an outside perspective, and see how they work.
According to the Beginning Drama teacher, Denise Smith, Drama grows communication skills in students. Smith said that Drama can help students become better and more confident speakers, and would be a big help for students doing the sophomore speech.
Smith has been an English and Drama teacher for two years and said she truly enjoys teaching Drama and appreciates how hands-on it is. She has been impressed with the talent of many of the performances that Advanced Drama teacher Linda Kislingbury and her class have put on for the winter and spring plays.
Sophomore Kayden Wedge-Cantisano, a student of Smith’s since his freshman year, said that taking Drama has boosted his confidence. He described the class as a fun and welcoming place and that his favorite things to do are to perform scenes and get into his characters.
In addition, Wedge-Cantisano said there are different types of people who come together in Drama, which adds a sense of community to the classroom. From stereotyped nerds, to athletic jocks and even students who are ranked higher on the social hierarchy, everyone feels equal despite their differences, according to Wedge.
“In Drama, it’s such a good fit, and for kids who are different, it’s okay,” Smith said.
