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 Cooper Middle School of McLean, Virgina, and their production of Elsewhere. The play by Don Zolidis centers on four students who enter an abandoned house on a dare, searching for ghosts. Instead, they stumble upon a door to another world: Elsewhere, a realm of pure imagination. At first, it appears the students have fallen into a utopia, but the longer they stay, it becomes clearer that there is something sinister afoot. Journeying through their darkest nightmares, the four friends must then try to make a daring escape. 

Theatre Arts Teacher Margaret Baber shared with Playbill why her students felt represented by this play and how the theatre program fosters connections between middle and high school students.

Tell us a little about yourself. How many years have you been teaching?
Margaret Baber: I have been teaching middle school for 21 years.

What is your proudest moment as an educator?
Every year, my proudest moments are watching kids shine in class, onstage, and backstage. Watching students step up and take on challenging roles, both as performers and running shows from backstage is always amazing and impressive to me.

Can you share a little bit about the value you see in having a performing arts program in schools?
The students involved in the performing arts program have helped create a culture of support, acceptance, and kindness. It is so wonderful to see students find their place and create their family in the program. Every show creates new friendships, groups, and a general sense of collaboration and belonging. Apart from the amazing work they do, having a support system and place to belong at this age is really important. On top of that, the sense of community and support between the middle school and high school students is fantastic. The kids go back and forth between our schools to see each others' shows and it is so wonderful to see the middle school students inspired by the high school students, and the high schoolers so supportive of the middle schoolers' work.

What are your dreams for how your department can grow?
I would love to see students in elementary be more included and start to be part of our theatre community as well.

Tell us a little bit about the production. What made you pick the show?
Elsewhere is sort of a modern Narnia. Don Zolidis, the playwright, has a very good tone for middle school students and I feel like he does a good job connecting to where they are and what they are feeling and going through. This show had some darker themes than we usually do such as identity, divorce, health issues—but they are issues that these students really deal with on a daily basis and it was really nice having them play characters that they saw all the time. It was a show from their point of view and I think that resonated with them.

What reactions do you expect to see in students when they see their name printed in this Playbill for the first time?
Kids are excited (and always a little embarrassed) to see their names and pictures in the program. They love seeing the ads that their parents put in for them and to have beautiful keepsakes at the end means a lot.

How has PLAYBILLDER impacted your performing arts program as a resource? Having the Playbills as keepsakes, not just for the actors and crew members but also for the theatre program is so wonderful. They are beautiful and professional looking. Kids who see them displayed are always inspired by them. I think they are representative of the quality of work we all put into our program—our students, staff, parents and community.

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