Bowne teaches music and drama

For the past four years, Gary Bowne has commuted to Sisters to teach after-school drama classes for Bend Theatre for Young People (BTYP) at Sisters Community Church. Now he's bringing his passion for theater and music to Sisters High School.

Bowne is the high school's new theater arts and Americana Project instructor. He is resuscitating the school's drama program and helping the Americana Project grow.

Calling himself an old timer, Bowne told The Nugget that he has performed in and produced plays in Central Oregon since he came to the area as a 19-year-old student at Central Oregon Community College (COCC) in 1972.

"I've been working in theater ever since," he said.

In addition to teaching at the high school, Bowne is the artistic director for BTYP, an organization he assisted Rachael and Wayne Mitchell to birth in 1997. The trio's concept for providing a venue for children's theater has withstood the test of time.

"We've been producing plays in educational theater and after-school programs in Bend for 10 years," Bowne said.

Four years ago a group of Sisters parents who were commuting to Bend so their children could participate in BTYP's after-school program asked Bowne to bring some programs to Sisters.

"We were able to make that happen by the good graces of the people of the Sisters Community Church," Bowne said.

In December, Bowne produced BTYP's third annual Christmas play in Sisters; students from the elementary and middle schools participated.

Bowne was a co-founder of the Community Theater of the Cascades (now Cascade Theatrical Company). Although Bowne still networks with the company, he does not have the luxury to be an actor any more. Since 1997, he has only been on stage three or four times.

"The commitment for me in educational theater precludes my own involvement in the craft. ... I'm living my craft, and joyfully so, through my commitment to my students," Bowne said.

A web of circumstances led Bowne to the job at Sisters High School. Last year, he worked for COCC as a theater arts instructor in a partnership program between the Sisters School District and COCC at Sisters High School.

While working for COCC at the high school, Bowne met Brad Tisdel, Americana Project executive director. The Sisters Folk Festival was looking for an Americana Project teacher.

Bowne's passion for roots music, his ability to play the guitar and his experience working as a musician in acoustic music, especially country, folk and bluegrass, were a perfect fit for the Americana Project.

"Gary has been a fantastic asset in bringing an integrated curriculum approach to the Americana Project," Tisdel said. "He is bringing the historical, cultural implications of American folk music to the students in compelling ways. He has an excellent sense of combining the history and culture to create a huge impact on the students where they can see things in context."

At the same time, there had been a void in theater arts at the high school and both principal Bob Macauley and the district wanted to bring drama back to the school.

Serving as the Americana Project's instructor and the school's theater arts teacher was a natural blend for Bowne.

"It was a really great fit for me to come out here and teach theater arts, my passion," Bowne said. "And the Americana Project and interfacing with the people at the folk festival was a huge bonus for me. To have that opportunity - that was just a dream for me."