My Philosophy of Drama

        There is more to theatre and the dramatic arts than memorizing lines and reciting them on a stage. Theatre is a team sport, a collaboration of a community of people and the arts. When I first started acting in theatre productions 30 years ago, my only concern was memorizing my lines, songs, dance steps and finding out what my costume would be. For the past 9 years I’ve been involved in directing          the spring musicals at NHS and have gained a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the teamwork that takes place not just on the stage, but behind the scenes. A successful musical theatre production employs a team of dedicated volunteers and merges many of the creative arts fields. Musicians are needed for the orchestration, dancers perform the choreography, visual artists create the stage design,  fashion designers costume the actors, Hair and Make-up artists help with visual characterization, lighting technicians set the mood,            builders put the set together, sound engineers let the actors be heard, stage actors bring the characters to life, the backstage crew controls     scene changes and props, and of course writers create the story and script. That’s not to mention the essential volunteers who run the concession booths, sell tickets, help with publicity, supervise, usher, plan cast parties, videotape the performances, etc.    It is the             combination of all of these teams working together that lets the show go on!

      The final product in theatre is all about teamwork, however there is a part of drama that affects a performer on an individual basis.  To  create an interesting character an actor has to use their imagination, intellect and their body. They must learn to thoroughly observe the world around them. If a part requires an actor to play someone different than themselves, they’ve got to imagine what it’s like to be that person. How do they walk, talk, stand, and sit? What habits do they have? What emotions do they feel and how do they show them? Etc. Acting also requires problem solving skills and the ability to think on your feet. What do you do if someone you’re in a scene with forgets their lines or doesn’t bring in the right props, or a set piece falls? It’s not film, you just can’t yell “cut” and do another take. This is why        improv games and exercises help actors onstage.

     Drama helps students to build friendships, overcome self-consciousness, feel a sense of belonging, build self-confidence, become      aware of their environment, work as a team, think on their feet, learn empathy, concentrate, imagine and perform.

      Theatre is one of my passions. I get great enjoyment and satisfaction from performing with others on stage. There’s something about hearing an audience react to your character that just feels good, and the sense of camaraderie that happens on stage between groups of      very distinctive cast members is always amazing to me. As a director, my goal is to share my love of theatre with  my cast members and to create a positive drama experience for them and their audience.         

-Marsha A. Zavez

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts…"
-William Shakespeare, “ As You Like It”