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Western program seeks to involve kids in theater
By Derek Hodges
A year-old program at Western Carolina University is helping connect kids and college students with live theater.
WCU’s Theater in Education involves Western students performing plays for area school children. The program requires WCU participants to attend a three-hour class twice each week for two semesters. During that time, and in some extra meetings, the group creates (or recreates) a script, props, a set, costumes and rehearses the play.
The production for the first year of TIE is called “Young Cherokee” and was written by Ohio playwright Kathryn Miller.
“We were looking for a good story, and we thought this was just perfect for you guys and we could have a lot of fun doing it,” TIE creative director Claire Eye told a group of Cullowhee Valley School fourth-graders after they watched the play.
Participants in Western Carolina University’s Theater in Education program act out a scene from “Young Cherokee,” the first play used in the program that seeks to involve children in theater. The year-old program will be recognized by a national acting educators’ group later this year. Western students, from left, Kendris Myers, Tommy Rawe and Rachel All presented the story, which is based on the Cherokee creation story. – Herald photo by Derek Hodges
The script has local ties, since it tells an ancient Cherokee story. However, the tale was tailored more for the Oklahoma Cherokee than the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, TIE program director Glenda Hensley said.
“When we first got the script it involved a crawfish saving the dry land instead of a water beetle,” Hensley said. The traditional Eastern Band story features a water beetle stealing dry land from beneath the claw of an underwater panther to create the Cherokees’ home. “There were a few other inconsistencies like that.”
Cullowhee Valley School fourth-graders mingle with the cast and crew of “Young Cherokee,” a play produced by students in Western Carolina University’s Theater in Education program. The program includes a three-hour class for WCU students. Members of the year-old program will participate in the American Alliance for Theater and Education’s national conference July 26-30 in Washington, D.C. – Herald photo by Derek Hodges
To find and correct such discrepancies, TIE participants turned to Cherokee tribal leaders.
“We asked tribal elders, including Tom Belt, Western’s elder-in-residence, and folks like Myrtle Driver, Eddie Swimmer and Davy Arch to look over the script,” Hensley said. “We also asked them to approve the costumes, props and every aspect of the story.”
In addition to providing historical perspective, members of the Cherokee community worked with cast members and WCU art students in creating characters’ masks.
While not all those in the production donned masks, there were several pieces of impressive headwear. CVS students, who watched the show Thursday (March 16) asked cast members about their masks. Most of those queries were answered with, “We made that out of a gourd.”
Traditional Cherokee masks, including those representing the seven clans are made of gourds. The masks of the seven clans were present on the set.
“Do you guys really like gourds or something?” one student asked, drawing laughter from the cast and crew.
It’s that dedication to accuracy that helps settle the nerves of some TIE participants about an upcoming performance in the pavilion at the Cherokee Fairgrounds on April 20. The show for Cherokee students and community members, will include presentations by Swimmer and Arch.
“On April 20 we will present the show to students from the schools on the reservation and members of the Cherokee community,” Hensley said. “It doesn’t make me nervous because we worked with members of the Cherokee community and they know we’re doing this with honor.”
Despite the play’s historical accuracy, some cast members still expressed concern about the idea of presenting Cherokee legends to tribal members.
“They’re more expert than we are on these stories,” said TIE student Rachel All, who plays the sun in “Young Cherokee.” “We try to be as authentic as we can, but here’s a bunch of non-Indians trying to come in and tell their stories to the Cherokee.”
While All and other cast members may still be nervous about the group that could be their toughest audience, they’ve done their homework. In addition to allowing tribal members to review the show, program participants researched Cherokee history themselves, attending seminars and inviting lecturers to speak to the group. The research allowed WCU students to learn about the Cherokee just as they later taught school children, Hensley said.
“The core of this program’s mission is to promote cultural and environmental literacy,” Hensley said.
The opportunity for exposure to other cultures is one of the best parts of the program, said Sara Dodson, who directed “Young Cherokee” and had to play one of the parts after an actor got sick.
“I think it’s really cool that the school kids can get a glimpse of what their neighbors’ culture is like,” Dodson said.
With only 12 people taking part in the program, some characters referenced by narrators aren’t represented on stage. The children could visualize the missing parts, Dodson said.
“I think it’s a chance for them to use their imaginations, and that’s so important,” she said.
With so few people taking part in the program’s first year, each played a part in producing the show, whether they were behind the scenes or a main character, Dodson said.
“Producing the show has been very simple in that we don’t have a lot of problems among cast members to work out,” Dodson said.
While the show is aimed at school children, perhaps the greatest learning opportunity is provided to the Western students, All said.
“I’ve learned a lot about Cherokee culture,” All said. “It’s not just that, though. I’ve been able to connect with the field I really want to pursue.”
All, a Spanish education major, said she hopes to use teaching Spanish as a means of finding a job. After she has her foot in the door, she hopes to work with the school’s theater program or even start one, if there isn’t one.
“I want to help provide something for the kids who just feel out of place,” she said. “I think theater really stimulates kids’ imaginations. It gives them something different than their everyday routine.”
Western’s program has become a model to other schools around the nation looking to provide educational opportunities to their students and local school children.
With the help of Western’s movie production team, the group is producing a video that will include 30 minutes of footage documenting the production process that led to the show. A performance of the play will also be part of the hour-long DVD.
TIE participants will present the DVD and their research to those attending the American Alliance for Theater and Education’s national conference to be held July 26-30 in Washington, D.C.
“I really think this is going to help establish the academic credibility of the program,” Hensley said.
While academic recognition may be forthcoming, the program’s entertainment value is already recognized.
“I think this show’s really a sight,” said Norma Shuler, who chaperoned the CVS students on an invitation from her grandson, Brent Varnadore. “I think this is a really nice opportunity for these kids. It teaches them a lot and I really enjoyed it.”
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