{COMMUNITY} St. Stephen High School Theatre

There is a this magic that happens when the lights turn dim, the audience quiets and performers ready themselves to take their places... This magic is like an energy that pulls you into another a reality that is unfolding on the stage. I felt this energy as Sarah, Lisa and Casey took place their places on stage and began to live "Strawberry Fields", a play written by Kevin Brofsky and adapted and directed by SSHS's own Esther Soucoup.

Esther's adaption tells the story of two mother's whose son's were killed simply for who they were, and the judgement that lingered and oppressed the families' memories of their loved ones long after their deaths. It's a compelling story that touches on current social and cultural issue (specifically on the relationship between the gay community and the Church), and these young ladies did an amazing job bringing the story to life.

This is a super heavy topic for a high school drama team to tackle however it represents the issues that these young people think about and live. I love that Esther chose to bring this story to SSHS; it shows the community that our next generation are thoughtful and feeling, and the issues they think about and work through far exceeds the typical drama that is depicted in popular television shows or teen magazines. Though the play was a performance and the characters ages are at least double those of the actors, the story represents well the voice of sixteen and seventeen year olds today.

These young ladies, and those in their class that are like-minded, give me hope that we are moving towards a society that celebrates diversity. I am looking forward to a world where our uniqueness is what unites us rather than dividing us.

Esther and her small cast are headed to Prince Edward Island this weekend for a drama fest and camp of sorts after receiving a personal invitation from organizers who saw SSHS's performance during New Brunswick's drama fest last month. Join with me in praying for Esther, Lisa, Sarah and Casey. I pray they will have a enriching time, make great new friends, learn heaps more about theatre and the performance arts, and will continue to use their talents and passions to bring life to story!

  

 

Esther, the director!!

Love & Sunshine,
Shannon-May

st. stephen theatre youth camp

for two weeks in july, ten girls from all over charlotte county participated in a little theatre camp operated by the extraordinary ang. through team building exercises and workshops in characterization and theatrical skills these girls were knitted together as a young theatre troop, and new friendships were formed.

i was delighted to be invited to sit in on the last day of the theatre camp when the girls performed a little informal showcase for their parents. the showcase consisted of popular scenes from "peter pan," "fiddler on the roof," and "newsies," as well as a couple of monologues. the costumes and props were make-do and the set was very raw, but the performance was stellar!

i am inspired by the talent of these young women. they had less then two weeks to memorize lines, blocking and, choreography... and the pulled it all off with style, enthusiasm and grace!

[this was the first year ang moore conducted her theatre camp but her experience with theatre goes back decades. and she is bringing her passion and experience to the st. croix theatre company with this fall's production of oscar wilde's "the importance of being ernest".] 

here are a few pictures from the showcase!

i took a few shots of the girls individually in their favourite costume from the showcase so they could remember how fantastically unqiue they are!!

love & sunshine,

shannon-may