It’s that time of the year. Students once again sit down with their counselors thinking of credit requirements, advanced placement (AP) classes, desired electives and how their requested schedule will take shape. Many of these classes are familiar sounding, such as choir, band, art and others. However, one class is often disregarded: Theater Arts.
Theater Arts is a class teaching overlooked skills in creative ways. The class’s main goals are to build communication, performance, and production skills. Nancy Hoffman has been instructing Theater Arts students for 40 years, 33 of which at Northview. This semester-long class also allows students to earn their state mandated visual, performing and applied arts credit (VPA).
Taking Theater Arts was one of the best decisions I could’ve made. I have taken away multiple life skills, such as the confidence to speak publicly. One of the best takeaways from Theater Arts is the confidence it bolsters.
When you take the class you learn how to improvise and you have to perform memorized monologues in front of all your fellow classmates. This class pushes students to improve their ability to public speak, memorize and improvise.
On top of learning valuable skills, I found a supportive community and friendships to last a lifetime. The class was free of judgment and I felt like I could be my true self. When we broke off into little groups at the beginning of the school year everyone was willing to be in a group together.
As a new student, I hadn’t known any other students. The fact that anyone was willing to be in a group with me made me feel accepted. If a student made a mistake, it wasn’t a big problem, everyone was encouraging. These are only some of the reasons why I think Theater Arts should be more advertised.
Teacher Nancy Hoffman appreciates the life skills Theater Arts class introduces to students.
“[Theater Arts] teaches you about the responsibility of showing up on time, being prepared because the more prepared you are, the more comfortable you’re in a field and the more comfortable you feel, the more confident you feel,” Hoffman said.
Responsibility is very important not only in Theater Arts but in all other classes as well. Being responsible is an essential part of life, and Theater Arts helps practice that in a fun and carefree way. Hoffman has witnessed firsthand the accountability that Theater Arts takes.
Theater Arts is a unique class where you have to make sure your partner has done their part of the assignment, while in other classes it’s critical for you to finish your work independently.
“You have to be responsible for your part, your partners and other people that you’re in scenes with,” Hoffman said.
The transition from middle to high school in addition to building friendships is exceedingly difficult. For freshman Jada Smith, the transition was made easier by the contacts made through the theater class.
“We all have bonds now because we all do these fun things together,” Smith said. “It’s like little field trips to the PAC [Performing Arts Center]. I have friends all the way from seniors to freshmen.”
Oftentimes, classes have the pressure of failure and the consequences of judgment, that’s far from the truth for Theater Arts. In classes like math and science there are correct and incorrect answers but in Theater Arts there’s freedom to make mistakes.
“It’s not only acting, but just being on stage is fun. You can mess up in that class. You’re allowed to make mistakes,” Smith said.
The family aspect to theater students is most likely familiar but to freshman Logan Will it’s a new experience that is very meaningful.
“[Theater Arts] showed me that people at school can really make a family that people from all different walks of life [can] come together for one class period and just be happy [and] just express themselves,” Will said.
Theater Arts is an exceptional class, it teaches many different aspects of theater that would help exceptionally if you want to pursue a career in theater.
“It’s just a great class if you’re interested in acting, it’s just really fun,” Will said.
Theater Arts is an incredible curriculum. Sadly it’s not advertised and signed up for as much as it should be. It teaches life lessons important to know in order to be able to succeed. All students would greatly benefit from this class.
