Drama resurrected at high school

Drama is returning to Sisters High School, although theater arts teacher Gary Bowne allows, "it's not going to happen overnight."

Bowne feels strongly that any student who has the desire and demonstrates the necessary level of responsibility should have the opportunity to participate in the school's theater arts productions.

Providing the opportunity to perform is exactly what Bowne has done in choosing Arthur Miller's classic American play "The Crucible" as the inaugural production in the high school's resurrected theater arts program.

Choosing this big cast play has been somewhat of a struggle for Bowne. Since the school has been without a theater arts program for so long, students are basically naive about the commitment required when acting in a play.

"Unlike team sports, I don't run understudies with my cast. If a cast member doesn't show up for rehearsal, then that's inhibiting our progress toward performance," Bowne said.

Eighteen students are in "The Crucible" cast and five more are working backstage on sets, sound and lights. Originally Bowne had 30 sign up to participate in the play. The play was cast before the holidays, and the students were given their scripts to memorize over Christmas break. Since the first of the year, Bowne has replaced seven roles. Some students were replaced because they could not attend rehearsals.

"I've only had two rehearsals with an entire cast. ... It's not fair to the rest of the cast if somebody doesn't show up," Bowne said.

Bowne has 14 core students who have been with him on this project since its beginnings. None has missed a rehearsal, and all are giving a full commitment.

"We will see some brilliant acting on stage as a result of their hard work, and I'm excited for that," Bowne said.

Bowne is certain that as the community and students at both the high school and middle school realize that live stage plays are once again a reality at Sisters High School, students will be drawn to the theater arts program.

"It's just getting this first play up that has been a challenge. Once the community and the students and the staff see what we can do on the stage, that's going to generate a lot of interest," Bowne said.

Bowne has also had to deal with logistics. Other events have been scheduled for the auditorium that have kept him from having access to the stage for rehearsals.

The high school does not have a storehouse of costumes and sets.

"We're pretty much starting from scratch, but because I've been doing theater forever here in Central Oregon, I'm well connected, and I have the support of all of the theaters in Central Oregon," Bowne said.

Bowne has been able to borrow sets and costumes from the Obsidian Opera Company, Cascade Theatrical Company and the Bend Theatre for Young People (BTYP). Scenery from Central Oregon Community College's discontinued theater arts program has been donated to the high school, and Bowne has brought to the program some costumes he acquired from BTYP.

"We have access to everything technically that we need to really mount a good, viable theater arts program here at the high school," said Bowne.

"It's all about fundamentals, kids learning to use diaphragmatic breathing, projecting their voices, projecting those characters and doing it with proper stage movement, and all that is still the core of a good theater program," Bowne explained.

Having the opportunity to create a character and perform on the main stage can be magical to students. Self-confidence is bolstered. Communication skills are enhanced, and creativity is stimulated. Bowne is seeing these qualities develop in the students who are performing in "The Crucible."

The play is scheduled for Wednesday through Friday, February 21-23 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, February 24 at 2 p.m. at the high school auditorium.