Welcome to PLAYBILLDER Spotlight, where Playbill highlights shows from educational institutions or regional theatres and special events around the country (who have used Playbill's program-building service). By welcoming these PLAYBILLDERs center stage, we hope to give our readers a more in-depth look at theatre programs that are fostering the love of the performing arts in the next generation and the way theatre lovers are bringing Playbill along for life's big moments.
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This week's spotlight is Ursuline Academy of Saint Louis, Missouri and their production of Little Women. Based on the Louisa May Alcott novel of the same name, the show follows sisters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they come of age in Civil War-era America.
Theatre Director Sarah Matthews shared with Playbill about her aim to empower young women, and why theatre is "the ultimate cross-curricular learning experience."
Tell us a little about yourself. How many years have you been teaching?
Sarah Matthews: I have been teaching theatre since 2006. This is my second year at Ursuline Academy.
What is your proudest moment as an educator?
The best moments are when students reach out to me after they’ve graduated and let me know how they are doing and that something I did or said to them made an impact. I may not always remember the instance they are referring to, but it reminds me that a single act of kindness or kind word can make a memorable difference in someone's life.
Can you share a little bit about the value you see in having a performing arts program in schools?
My goal as an educator is to assist and coach my students to discover who they were created to be, to be secure in that person, and then to pass that same confidence on to those they encounter. I believe the performing arts create an awesome opportunity for that to happen. I think the arts can provide an incentive for kids to get up and come to school every day. Academically, I think that the performing arts offer an opportunity for students to process and learn holistically. Theatre, in particular, is the ultimate cross-curricular learning experience.
What are the most challenging and most rewarding aspects of teaching the performing arts to today’s students?
The two most challenging parts are modeling a healthy work/life balance to my students, and navigating teenage drama while trying to create a “drama-free” environment within our rehearsal time and space. The most rewarding part is seeing the growth and confidence our students gain from creating theatre and the moment they “nail it” in a performance is just magical.
What shows are your kids obsessed with right now?
I am constantly hearing about High School Musical and Heathers. I think the obsession with High School Musical is kind of funny because the movie came out on Disney Channel the year I first started teaching. My students also got to meet one of the stage managers for Back to the Future and loved the production when they saw it at our local roadhouse.
How does your school’s performing arts programs impact your community?
Our troupe is committed to living our motto of Serviam, “I will serve.” We hosted a Trunk or Treat event to collect canned goods for a local food pantry. Before our production, we will be having a dress-down day to raise funds for a theatre organization that supports differently-abled kids. Our cast will also sing Christmas carols in costume at a nearby retirement home, inviting residents, including the Ursuline sisters who live there, to the show.
What are your dreams for how your drama department can grow?
My ultimate goal for our theatre department is that it evolves into a student-run theatre company, and I am just there to assist and bask in the glow of students who have worked hard and are proud of the work that they have done. I look forward to collaborating with colleagues to create a department focused on excellence and student leadership. I also aim to empower young women and promote STEM within the performing arts by expanding our technical theatre program.
Tell us a little bit about the production. What made you pick the show? How do you choose shows for your students?
We are an all-girls school and I am always looking for shows that showcase strong female roles. I also want to make sure that whatever show I pick, I have the students carry it, while remaining open to how my students, both returning and new, may surprise me.
I knew I had a handful of strong singers this coming year and I love that Little Women allows us to feature a handful of these young women. I have a running list of shows I think would be great for our student population. While I try to create a season that thematically relates, I also want to make sure that I am teaching certain skills throughout each production. Little Women is a great production to hone in on acting while singing, and a great opportunity for character work since it is a more intimate show.
What are the kids loving about the show?
Hoop skirts! They are having a lot of fun. Because of the character work, the sentimentality of the show, and the bringing in of new students, the cast has grown closer throughout rehearsals. There is a really great energy within the cast and crew. The cast has loved rehearsing story songs and the crew has been having fun building the set. We are playing a lot with shadows in the “Weekly Volcano Press” and “Operatic Tragedy.” There has been a lot of problem-solving taking place and it is going to be so cool to see it all come together!
What message do you have for your students as they take the stage?
Have fun! Live truthfully. Do your best! Let God do the rest! I am so proud of you!
How did the students participate in the design or production of this Playbill?
The students take pictures throughout the rehearsal process which get incorporated into the digital version of the Playbill. They are also responsible for acquiring advertisements to help offset the costs of each of our productions. Nora, our student development/marketing and outreach officer, is very good at making sure that everyone has their bios in on time (she is a lot nicer about it than I am) and even catches some of my typos before the Playbill goes to print.
What reactions do you expect to see in students when they see their name printed in this Playbill for the first time?
I love it when the kids see their program for the first time. They find their pictures and the shoutouts from their parents. And once the production is over they make sure that each member of the cast and crew has autographed their Playbill. It’s a great souvenir and keepsake.
How has PLAYBILLDER impacted your performing arts program as a resource?
PLAYBILLDER saves us so much time and energy. We don’t have to worry about formatting, and being able to use PLAYBILLDER Express saves me from having to double-check whether or not my students followed all the licensing requirements of a particular licensing service.
