Friday, October 9, 2009

I'm not an actor. Anyone who has seen me try to act can tell why.

However, there is still a place for me at the John Marshall High School theater. I can help out with the technological side of theater: lights, sound, etc.

This year, the John Marshall theater program is taking a hit due to budget problems. The situation is neither isolated nor unexpected.

High schools across the country need to have spending cut, and producing a play isn't cheap. To start, two directors are needed: one stage director and one technical director. Then, any props that aren't donated by participants or on hand have to be acquired.

The set costs money, and so do any new lights or microphones. Money is generated by ticket sales, but three showings of the play may not even get the attendance of one football game.

This certainly isn't the first year the budget has gone down, too. During the 2007-2008 school year -- my freshman year -- there were three plays spread throughout the school year. The 2008-2009 year had one less show. This year, there can be only one. Hopefully, the pattern doesn't continue.

Theater has great benefits, though. Actors take away more than just the ability to jump around in costumes, or make their voices have an accent. Besides the obvious fact that acting develops skills to one day become a movie star, acting on stage also develops public speaking skills and shows the actor how to perform well under pressure.

Actors gain life skills, also. I know I learned a lot about technology when I was taught about the aspects of lighting and sound.

Relationships also prosper through theater. When you bring people together for a play, you always get some of those excellent, energetic and talkative people who make friends with everyone. Theater is worth every penny.

Eric Decker, who teaches AP Literature and speech, and is also one of the teachers who takes time out of his schedule to direct the plays, informed me that it was looking to be a winter show this year. Having only one show this year is a regrettable loss, but when funds aren't so sparse, I hope our theater program can be revitalized to its full status.

Despite the cuts, I have faith that we will still have a great program this year, and that we will have a great program for years to come.

Sam May is a junior at John Marshall High School. To respond to an opinion column, send an e-mail to life@postbulletin.com.