Teaching Theatre: "Is Anybody Out There?!"

Robert M. and Janet L. Archer Auditorium in Ashland, Ohio

Teaching theatre can be lonely.

Wait. What?! How can teaching be lonely? You’re literally surrounded by people all…day...long.

Yes. True. Surrounded by people. People in your classroom who hopefully love theatre and love you. Surrounded by your students. Hopefully surrounded by supportive teaching, admin, and school staff. Maybe supportive parents and guardians too.

But, teaching theatre is lonely.

Why, you ask?

Teaching theatre can be lonely because oftentimes you are the only you around. One theatre teacher per school. Usually at the high school. Sometimes the only one in an entire school district (this is me).

It definitely is not just us. Oftentimes, there are only one of certain subjects, while schools have hoards of ELA, Math, History, and Science (we need them all, of course, and thanks to you all for teaching what you teach too)!

It can be hard to find a place to fit in. What department am I? Who is my leader? Or department chair?

Some districts are very lucky. There will be multiple schools with a Theatre teacher and sometimes even a Lead Theatre Teacher or a Fine Arts Director at the district level. We are not all alone. But for those of us that are, it is hard.

I see my theatre teacher friends a couple times a year. We attend festivals and competitions together but not together. We are busy with our students and going from here to there. Of course, we are technically competing against each other, if you see it that way.

Theatre friends are also busy. I feel like I am almost constantly in production for something, whether my own show, a community show, another school’s show, shows all the time.

Lonely Scenario #1:

Theatre teacher goes to staff meetings for professional learning communities.

Leader of Meeting Speaks:

“Alright, good afternoon everybody. Take a seat with your department and we will get started.”

“Uh, theatre teacher, you can just sit with uh...just pick a group.”

“Hey, yea, let’s put theatre with English.”

“Oh wait, actually, just sit with music. That’ll work.”

“Now get started on those common lesson plans and assessments….”

Theatre Teacher:

 “um seriously?! I sit there and plan with what I do not even teach.”

Lonely Scenario #2:

Everyone Else:

“Let’s have a district wide choral, band, or orchestra festival.”

“Let’s do a career day, with all of us--students can explore our courses and certificate programs at one time!”

“Let’s have an art show! Each school can choose student work to feature. Let’s collaborate!”

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

This is my world. My lonely world. It is just me and the never ending stream of one woman musicals that you could witness during my planning period.

Sometimes for more reasons than this...being the only you can just stink.

Reader: “Lonely. Great. Now that I realize what lonely could be like...let’s fix it!”

Me: “Yes, let’s!”

(see what I did there?)

Okay! Let’s collaborate!

Ask yourself some questions, and give yourself some answers.

How can my class connect to the other subjects?

How can you utilize the other arts in your school?

Can you start a Booster Club? Or involve PTO?

Could I offer extra credit (yeah, just go with it hahaha) if students volunteer to usher or help with set builds?

How can my production be a collaborative effort? Can the band play? Or maybe that 9th grade math teacher minored in dance and misses it so much! Can she choreograph our show?

I wonder if the teacher at our trade school would have their students build something for us?

Would my principal be open to me having my own PLC through Skype with the theatre teacher who works 30 minutes away? Maybe I could do a class instead!

Maybe the answer is yes. Maybe it is no. Did you ask? Did you try to look for ways to combat the feeling of being alone? You can always read a blog and find others...just like you.