“You learn even though you’re playing, which is why I love theatre so much. Have you heard the expression, ‘If you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life’?” junior Jordan Pollard said.
Pollard is referring to Acting Ensemble, one of Northwood’s lesser-known classes. Students say that because of its lack of publicity, the class currently has only eight students.
“I think a lot of people are interested in theatre, but they don’t know about it,” sophomore Austin Korynta said.
In order to take Acting Ensemble, students must audition and complete the prerequisite Theatre Arts I, also known as Introduction to Theatre. According to the students who take the class, it’s worth it.
“It’s very fun and rewarding because we do a variety of cool activities that build our skills,” junior Cameron Underwood said.
The group can be found having dance-offs to all genres of music, acting out scenes based on paintings, creating their own raps or making sock puppet plays based on Greek myths. According to students, skills learned from these games and activities can be beneficial later in life.
“You kind of get what you put into it,” said Chelsea Korynta, a Northwood graduate and former ensemble member. “That’s with a lot of the arts classes, especially at Northwood. The teachers aren’t there to hold your hand; they’re there to show it to you, and you really have to take what you want from it. It really prepares you for being in front of people, which is something you’re going to have to do for the rest of your life, and kind of eliminates some of that awkwardness.”
Structurally, the class lets the students have more freedom to explore their skills and talents.
“In ensemble, it’s very much, ‘Here’s the concept; let’s do the concept together,’” Acting Ensemble teacher Kayla Sharp said. “It’s much more organic than the structured class of Introduction to Theatre.”
Some of the students had their doubts before auditioning for the class, but now feel comfortable in the classroom and on stage.
“It’s not as intimidating or difficult as you might imagine it to be,” senior Ethan Taylor said. “Once you’re in there you have a ton of support from the other people because they’re in the exact same boat as you.”
The ensemble encourages more students to take the leap and participate.
“They need to come with a really open spirit; open and accepting and willing,” Sharp said. “It only goes bad when someone’s being combative or negative.”
According to students, the program has shown to be beneficial to the overall high school experiences of the members.
“I felt more accepted because the program was something that was cool to be in,” Chelsea Korynta said. “It was really good for my confidence. After I did Acting Ensemble, I thought that was what I wanted to do with my life. It didn’t really work out, but it really gave me new perspective on what [acting] was all about, whereas before I didn’t think I could really do anything with it.”
Students say that Acting Ensemble provides them with a safe place to express themselves.
“It’s also just fun to be someone else for a little bit; it’s fun to practice that,” Chelsea Korynta said. “If you’re not happy with the life you have now or if something’s going wrong, it’s kind of an escape from that.”
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv9hyDS-jmc]
– By Sara Heilman