Gibbons expands Berlin theatre

Gibbons+expands+Berlin+theatre

Abigail Otte, Intro student

   The Berlin Theater Department puts on well-executed plays, but what is more important is the memories and close bonds made by the students and staff.      

   The Director of the Berlin Theater Department is Erin Gibbons. Gibbons teaches many classes at Berlin from Intro to Theater to Etymology. Gibbons attended an outdoor performance and met the director who helped her discover her love for theater. 

   “I had a friend that was in an outdoor theater program and I just went to see her because she was in it and it was a good time…the director was a woman named Helen Freeman who did a whole lot of camps and was just incredible encouraging and she was probably the one that really started all,” Gibbons said. 

   The strong bonds and collaboration within the department to make these performances spectacular don’t go unnoticed. Gibbon’s favorite part of being involved in the department is to watch the students get stronger together. 

   “I really like watching the students figure it out. There is so much passion and enthusiasm…watching everybody bond, connect, and the moments where they’re coming up with what if we try this…and kind of seeing all of these people be that excited and sort of working towards that common goal. It’s just the whole experience,” Gibbons said. 

   One of the most favorite memories from Berlin Theater for Gibbons was the first night of the dinner theater. 

   “Probably one of the favorites was the first night of the dinner theater. Cause it was a whole lot of, we have never done this before. What’s it going to be like in the commons? How are the people going to do it? Are we going to spill lasagna on the audience? It just ended up flowing really well and the audience was laughing. Watching how they were engaged was very cool. It was a very cool moment,” Gibbons said. 

   If students want to be involved in these fun experiences but don’t have enough time after school, theater classes are a great option. Classes are is a great way to be a part of Theater during the school day and especially try theater out without having to fully commit. Gibbons advises that students interested in theater need to try some of the many classes they offer. 

   “Sign up, especially the classes because unfortunately, we are growing. Which is really exciting, but the downside to that is that there are limitations to how many people we can have involved in the shows. So, signing up for the classes is a way to still get that experience, and still try it out without the pressure of an audition or getting cast…classes are the way that you can really build your skills and grow to increase your chances of making it on the cast or crew,” Gibbons said. 

   If students are interested in taking classes, there are a wide variety of classes that Gibbons teaches. Each class focuses on the different aspects of Theater. There is even a new option that Gibbons and the other four theater teachers had tried to get approved by the district. 

   “This year there is introduction to theater, stagecraft, acting, theater seminar…and film is literature…We’re trying to get the district to approve something called advance theater online. As sort of an online theater class, because what we are running into is a lot of students are taking AP or CCP and there is just no room in their schedule to take a theater class during the day…just really trying to find a way to get the students who are interested more experiences,” Gibbons said. 

   There are many opportunities outside of the normal school day for students to participate in or go watch Berlin Theater. This includes the two big performances in the fall and spring with many more performances throughout the year. 

   “So this year we’ve got ‘Pandemonium’ that opens October 6, 8, and 9. Then, ‘The Adam’s Family’ auditions are happening at the end of November, so we can put that up in March. Next semester, the last main stage show of the year is going to be a student-directed one-act festival. So, the students in the theater seminar class are going to work on picking shows and figuring out how to direct, cast, and audition…looking at bringing the dinner theater back, and trying to figure out if that’s going to be an every year thing or sort of an every other year thing…so that would be cool to bring back,” Gibbons said. 

      Even if Berlin Students have no experience in theater, they should attend one of Berlin Theater’s performances or try one of the fun classes to see the passion and hard work of the students and staff.