AMERICAN THEATRE: Driving north from Chicago on I-94, you’ll pass Touhy Avenue, Dempster Avenue, and then just off the freeway on your right will appear a high school campus. From the outside, it doesn’t appear strikingly different from any of the other suburban high schools littered around the Chicagoland area: just a collection of beige, square buildings abutting one another, with decent athletic facilities, all set against the backdrop of the large Westfield shopping mall. This is Niles North High School in Skokie, Ill. One half of Niles Township High School District 219, a traditionally middle-class community, the high school serves approximately 2,200 students from a wide variety of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. More than 40 first languages are spoken in students’ homes, and only 38 percent of students identify as white.
3 comments:
This article is inspiring in many ways - to read about a high school program that offers events such as summer training programs and classes that are specifically for students with disabilities is incredible, not to mention the fact that this program is producing repertory mainstage shows. In recent years, I feel as though I have heard of high school fine arts programs becoming more and more competitive, and offering students essential prep to start their collegiate or professional career in the arts. As undergraduate BFA and BA programs become more competitive - it is students like these that have the best chance to get into said programs.
I would absolutely love to see more high school programs take the arts this seriously but there is also the reality that many schools are underfunded in the arts, or that there is only one teacher responsible for teaching both the technical and acting sides of theatre. I believe that the program in this article is a prime example that if students, teachers, and mentors, are provided with proper funding and resources, those involved will be able to successfully pursue and enjoy their passion for the arts and be set up to continue their career after high school, should they choose to.
This article is inspiring in many ways - to read about a high school program that offers events such as summer training programs and classes that are specifically for students with disabilities is incredible, not to mention the fact that this program is producing repertory mainstage shows. In recent years, I feel as though I have heard of high school fine arts programs becoming more and more competitive, and offering students essential prep to start their collegiate or professional career in the arts. As undergraduate BFA and BA programs become more competitive - it is students like these that have the best chance to get into said programs.
I would absolutely love to see more high school programs take the arts this seriously but there is also the reality that many schools are underfunded in the arts, or that there is only one teacher responsible for teaching both the technical and acting sides of theatre. I believe that the program in this article is a prime example that if students, teachers, and mentors, are provided with proper funding and resources, those involved will be able to successfully pursue and enjoy their passion for the arts and be set up to continue their career after high school, should they choose to.
*Reposted as first comment did not display my name!
As I read more into this piece of work, I have realized that my background, coming from a rigorous and prestigious all-women high school, presented a limited point of view to me. Starting with the data that only 38% of student’s identity as white has made me realize how my experience have only told one side of the story and the society. At my high school, 75% of the student identify as white. When compared to the data in this work, the astonishing difference in diversity has inspired me in reflecting about how my experience in my high school have shaped my belief and ideas in the theatrical industry. Another part that has stunned me is the support that this theater had access to. Back to my experience in my high school theater, we survived on show donations and neighborhood donations due to the limited resource and financial support that we could use. Even though that this theater belongs to my high school, they did not fund us. Through this piece of work, I did not only realize how I have been exceedingly well trained and taught in this condition but also how my point of view is extremely limited. -Sukie Wang
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