Drama Class Has 20-Year Tradition

By Jeff Gulley

It’s less than a week until opening night and for Lori French, trying to get a few free minutes is almost impossible.

As practice is about to begin, the questions come at her rapidly but after 20 years, French has the answers.

When the Osawatomie Middle School drama class presents “Hound of the Clackervilles” Friday and Saturday night, it will mark the 20th year that French has directed the seventh- and eighth-grade production.

“I do it because I love it,” French said. “It’s my passion.”

As many of the area middle schools have stopped offering drama for students, Osawatomie Middle School’s drama class is thriving under the leadership of French.

Osawatomie High School is where she developed a love for theater. But it wasn’t until the middle school decided to start a drama class that she found her niche as a director.

French took over the drama class in 1991, just after it was first offered as a class option. She immediately launched into the first production, “Curse You Otis Crummy”.

“At that time Tim Ricketts was the band director and he did a middle school musical in the spring so it made sense to do our play in the fall,” French said. “We no longer do a middle school musical but we still have the play in the fall.”

The production became a dinner theater early on but a few years back it was scaled back to just the play.

French relies on the help of parents and high school students to produce the plays.

Lynda Maddox and Cara Chitwood, who French shared the stage with as a high school student, have long been co-directors with French. Both began helping out years ago when their kids were in middle school and are still helping out.

And the high school kids, those who have participated in the middle school plays do their part.

“It means a lot to me that the high school kids come back to help,” French said.

When French talks about her passion for the plays, what she is really talking about is her passion for the kids.

She has a special bond with the kids in her productions.

“I was just at the high school musical and seeing those kids up their brought tears to my eyes,” she said. “I still keep in touch with many of the kids, even some in their 30’s. I just really appreciate the administration allowing me to do this each year.”

To French, the production is not just about what happens on stage, it’s also about the lessons she can teach them through the process.

“It’s really cooperative learning,” She said. “It teaches teamwork, and self confidence. I realize not everyone is going on to a theatrical career but I love that look in their eyes when they come off stage for the first time and realize how much fun it is.”

The play is more than just a few weeks in the fall for French. Planning for the fall production begins in the spring with tryouts and the summer is spent planning the production. Then it’s weeks of evening practices, with 40 or so seventh- and eighth-grade kids.

The “Hound of the Clackervilles” will be presented on Friday and Saturday nights at the middle school. The play begins at 7 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the door.

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Posted by admin on Dec 1 2010. Filed under News and Updates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry