OF AGENCY HITS THE KEELER THEATER STAGE

By Nick Rose, Upper School theater director and speech teacher

One might argue that I give our theater students too much agency – we have a student production deputy position to provide me with real-time and honest feedback…the students regularly pepper me with programming suggestions…they call out my idiosyncratic phrases (“Okay, Cool! So!” is a big one, but I am working on it)… they feel confident to argue interpretation with me (sometimes vehemently).

On one hand, it is tough when the final call must be made, and I must remind them that I have that call. On the other, you get Tick, Tick…BOOM!

For our winter musical, we presented perhaps one of the strongest shows here at CCDS. More importantly, we had one of the smoothest processes I can remember since I was performing in theater. It was one of those experiences where you had to keep pinching yourself to make sure it was real, it was that smooth. And while we had a solid team of adult support this year (looking at you Greg Miller!) and we have become pretty good at planning out the process, it was the students who made it the success it truly was.

Let’s start with junior Ray Mitchell, our student choreographer. Ray choreographed, taught, and coached our full cast throughout the process. There were two large numbers and at least six smaller numbers for which Ray was responsible. It was a remarkable feat, yet Ray took that agency and made it look easy. And the cast responded in kind.

Then, let’s head over to the front-of-house operations. Emma Valentin ’23 and Nick Watts ’23 ran ticket and concession sales as if it were their own business. They procured the credit card machines, handled the receipts, coordinated with student and parent volunteers, and made sure every patron was greeted and treated with care. There was never a moment where I had to worry; those two made it a master class in how to run a business.

Now, let’s talk cast and crew.

This year, we offered walk-on cameo spots to faculty and staff, and we were blessed to have a few perform as walk-on cameos in our Sunday Brunch number. I received one of the best compliments from one of them after the experience; they told me they were so extremely impressed by how professionally the students ran the show backstage. They were also impressed by the positivity of the cast and crew. I beamed with pride.

When the show opens, the students have the agency to make it happen. So, for Annalyse Deming ’23, August Dickerhoof ’26, Ashley Odom ’25, and John Mullins ’26 in the booth, the lights and sound are fully at their control. For Gracie Dickerhoof ’26, Alex Hardesty ’23, Anderson Brandenburg ’25, and Vic Quintero ’25, the operations backstage are fully theirs to manage. For Josh Williamson ’23 and Yvannia Buten ’26, the quick changes, the character changes, the prop changes, the lines, the choreography, and the challenge of bringing a wide array of different characters to life each night are in their capable and brilliant hands. For Ethan Rezer ’23, Nicole McNeal ’25, and Louisa Joy ’25, their dedication to their character, to support the story and serve as antagonist, protagonist, and everything in between, is on them each night. And for Will Donovan ’23, to take thousands of words to speak and communicate them effortlessly to an audience is completely in his power.

They, along with so many others, worked together to make it all look easy and impressive at the same time. It would not have happened unless they had the agency to do it. So, I will be happy to field student feedback for as long as I am here. Because when they feel the ownership, CCDS Nighthawk Theater presents stellar productions!