Drama Department at Hillgrove
Nijah Coleman
Nijah Coleman
The drama department has two teachers; Mr.Adam Sechelski who teaches acting and musical theatre, and their new teacher , Mr.Christopher Dills, who is in the technical part of theatre. The department has changed throughout the years. With different teachers coming in and out, and changing how things have been run with different directors. Now, the department has been improving each year, based on the students who have participated in the department.
In past years, the department has done shows like, Hairspray , Romeo + Juliet, The Addams Family, Charlie Brown, James and the Giant Peach, Freaky Friday , and The Odyssey. Since Mr.S has been at Hillgrove teaching the drama department, he feels that it has grown. He has helped the department tremendously . By either helping his students expand on their acting skills, musical theatre skills, or in dancing or singing. He helps prepare his students for the professional world in theatre. This semester he is doing four shows. Lost Girls 1 Act play is about Wendy long after returning from Neverland, When Wendy decides that she must find Peter in order to reclaim her kiss and move on with her life. His musical theatre class is doing Working the musical . It is based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with American workers. Working paints a vivid portrait of men and women that the world so often take for granted. For example, a school teacher, the phone operator, the waitress, the millworker, the manson, and the housewife. It was nominated for six tony awards and the Musical theatre class is doing the updated modern version. It features new songs by Tony Award winning Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as favorites by Stephen Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, and James Taylor.
His other classes are doing, The Boy Who fell into a Book By Alan Ayckbourn. Which is about enemies that have plunged Rockfist Slim’s. He is in another desperate situation when kevin has to close his detective book and go to sleep. But his own adventure is only just beginning. And the last show is Suite Surrender. All the dates and times about these shows are on hillgrovedrama.com
Caleb Patterson, a HIllgrove Sophomore joined the theatre department last year; “ I was already interested in drama, so I just auditioned for the first show I could and I actually got a part.” The first show was Black Comedy which is about Brindsley Miller, a young sculptor, and his debutante fiance, Carol Melkett, have borrowed some expensive,antique furniture, from his neighbor Harold’s flat without his permission in order to impress an elderly millionaire art collector coming to view Brindsley’s work, and Carol’s father Colonel Melkett. When the power fails, Harold returns early, and Brindsley’s ex-mistress Clea shows up unexpectedly. Things slide into disaster for him, and Patterson played Harold the gay neighor. He got a really good part just as a freshman. Also he expressed that , “ I felt very welcomed even though I didn’t know anyone. I felt like I belonged.” Patterson felt really welcomed when he came into the department. He is not sure about pursuing it professionally, but he will definitely do community theater. Caleb has some words for future drama kids who will be in the department after he leaves: “Just be yourself. The drama department is one of the few places where you can really be your true self and not be judged.”
Hillgrove senior, Braxton Lee, says, “ I think being in the classes definitely helped me with my confidence in myself. And confidence is a big part of acting.” Lee has been in the department since he was a freshman, and he has grown so much since then: “ First I had to get over my stage fright which was pretty easy because you learn to get over that by simply putting yourself out there and there were a lot of opportunities for that.” Since then, he has become more confident with his acting and is a positive leader to his fellow theater classmates. He still is not perfect and is improving every day. Braxton says, “ I most likely won't major or minor in theater in college, but I will definitely try and go to any open auditions that they would have.” He has decided to not do theater after high school because he is really into film making, and he wants to get an internship doing film things, while in college. After he graduates he would definitely consider to come back. “ I would love to come back . I’d love to talk to younger kids who are going through the same experience I had, and telling them anything they need to know. Or what happens next. I wish there was someone who came back to tell me what happens next.” Throughout his four years , there were good times , bad times , and challenges:“ There were definitely good times and there were definitely bad times. We’ve had times where the cast just sat around a campfire and talked under the night sky.” Lee feels that the department is a very welcoming group where you can be yourself:“ We really got to know each other on a more personal level. I really enjoyed that.” Sometimes there were challenges. “ Then there are times where you overthink how well you did at auditions or maybe you don't get the part you wanted ( side note: no one always gets the part they want), or maybe your relationship with a friend is tested. You’re around them a lot so something bad is bound to happen eventually. You just gotta learn to focus on the good. Finally getting the part you worked so hard on . Remembering that everyone accepts you for you.”
The drama department has a lot of great opportunities for people to join. It helps people improve their acting skills, gets them out of their comfort zone, and allows them to be themselves. They are super welcoming and kind. They will lift each other up. They Drama department is something everyone can do. To be a part of something great.
In past years, the department has done shows like, Hairspray , Romeo + Juliet, The Addams Family, Charlie Brown, James and the Giant Peach, Freaky Friday , and The Odyssey. Since Mr.S has been at Hillgrove teaching the drama department, he feels that it has grown. He has helped the department tremendously . By either helping his students expand on their acting skills, musical theatre skills, or in dancing or singing. He helps prepare his students for the professional world in theatre. This semester he is doing four shows. Lost Girls 1 Act play is about Wendy long after returning from Neverland, When Wendy decides that she must find Peter in order to reclaim her kiss and move on with her life. His musical theatre class is doing Working the musical . It is based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with American workers. Working paints a vivid portrait of men and women that the world so often take for granted. For example, a school teacher, the phone operator, the waitress, the millworker, the manson, and the housewife. It was nominated for six tony awards and the Musical theatre class is doing the updated modern version. It features new songs by Tony Award winning Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as favorites by Stephen Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, and James Taylor.
His other classes are doing, The Boy Who fell into a Book By Alan Ayckbourn. Which is about enemies that have plunged Rockfist Slim’s. He is in another desperate situation when kevin has to close his detective book and go to sleep. But his own adventure is only just beginning. And the last show is Suite Surrender. All the dates and times about these shows are on hillgrovedrama.com
Caleb Patterson, a HIllgrove Sophomore joined the theatre department last year; “ I was already interested in drama, so I just auditioned for the first show I could and I actually got a part.” The first show was Black Comedy which is about Brindsley Miller, a young sculptor, and his debutante fiance, Carol Melkett, have borrowed some expensive,antique furniture, from his neighbor Harold’s flat without his permission in order to impress an elderly millionaire art collector coming to view Brindsley’s work, and Carol’s father Colonel Melkett. When the power fails, Harold returns early, and Brindsley’s ex-mistress Clea shows up unexpectedly. Things slide into disaster for him, and Patterson played Harold the gay neighor. He got a really good part just as a freshman. Also he expressed that , “ I felt very welcomed even though I didn’t know anyone. I felt like I belonged.” Patterson felt really welcomed when he came into the department. He is not sure about pursuing it professionally, but he will definitely do community theater. Caleb has some words for future drama kids who will be in the department after he leaves: “Just be yourself. The drama department is one of the few places where you can really be your true self and not be judged.”
Hillgrove senior, Braxton Lee, says, “ I think being in the classes definitely helped me with my confidence in myself. And confidence is a big part of acting.” Lee has been in the department since he was a freshman, and he has grown so much since then: “ First I had to get over my stage fright which was pretty easy because you learn to get over that by simply putting yourself out there and there were a lot of opportunities for that.” Since then, he has become more confident with his acting and is a positive leader to his fellow theater classmates. He still is not perfect and is improving every day. Braxton says, “ I most likely won't major or minor in theater in college, but I will definitely try and go to any open auditions that they would have.” He has decided to not do theater after high school because he is really into film making, and he wants to get an internship doing film things, while in college. After he graduates he would definitely consider to come back. “ I would love to come back . I’d love to talk to younger kids who are going through the same experience I had, and telling them anything they need to know. Or what happens next. I wish there was someone who came back to tell me what happens next.” Throughout his four years , there were good times , bad times , and challenges:“ There were definitely good times and there were definitely bad times. We’ve had times where the cast just sat around a campfire and talked under the night sky.” Lee feels that the department is a very welcoming group where you can be yourself:“ We really got to know each other on a more personal level. I really enjoyed that.” Sometimes there were challenges. “ Then there are times where you overthink how well you did at auditions or maybe you don't get the part you wanted ( side note: no one always gets the part they want), or maybe your relationship with a friend is tested. You’re around them a lot so something bad is bound to happen eventually. You just gotta learn to focus on the good. Finally getting the part you worked so hard on . Remembering that everyone accepts you for you.”
The drama department has a lot of great opportunities for people to join. It helps people improve their acting skills, gets them out of their comfort zone, and allows them to be themselves. They are super welcoming and kind. They will lift each other up. They Drama department is something everyone can do. To be a part of something great.
