CSM Students Return to the Stage in Romeo and Juliet
Extracurricular activities at Collegiate allow scholars to explore new interests, express themselves, and develop their creativity. This is especially true for our Theatre Club and the thirty students from all grade levels who found their inner performer and took the stage in November. In 2019, at our last public Theatre Club production, scholars performed their own version of the Broadway musical “In The Heights,” naming it “In the Highland Heights.” This school year, the Theatre Club has returned with renewed energy and plans to establish itself as a consistent club at CSM.
When choosing a theater production for the fall 2022 semester, cost, accessibility, and relevance were all factors to consider. Romeo and Juliet seemed like the perfect play to ring in a new era of theater at Collegiate.
Mr. Hoyle, CSM’s theater sponsor and director, shared about his decision-making process. “I think Romeo and Juliet is still relevant, especially for high schoolers. It’s a great way to introduce Shakespeare to those who haven’t been exposed to it, like our middle school students. It’s a great literary piece, and there are roughly twenty characters, which provides more opportunity for scholars to be involved as actors.”
Students embraced the challenge of staging a production. They memorized hundreds of lines, stretched their comfort zones, and put in the disciplined work to make the performance of Romeo and Juliet a memorable experience for the Collegiate community. Although preparing for a play takes long, grueling hours of rehearsal, it benefits students in ways that will last long after the curtain closes.
CSM freshman Brady reflected, “I saw this as a good opportunity to do some theater in a nurturing and supportive environment. I could be around kids I knew and trusted to support me and my performance…Theatre club is fun because you get to meet people of like-minded interests, and even if you aren’t like-minded, you’re always around these people [at rehearsals] and you build relationships that truly make you a community. It’s really fun to see others who have never done theater before open up, and it’s cool to see people transform from being really shy to being on stage and having fun and forming relationships with others.”
For some students, participating in the Theatre Club was a growing experience. Cassy, a CSM senior, shared, “The people in the Theatre Club are great, they always encourage you to get out of your comfort zone…The club made me realize that there are things I can do and never thought I could do…It definitely teaches you to be confident in yourself.”
For CSM’s young actors, their shared hope for the future of Theatre Club is to continue growing, raising awareness, and increasing funding to be able to put on larger, more well-known productions. If you’re interested in helping take theater at Collegiate to the next level, now is the time to help them produce their spring 2023 show! Give by checking out our giving page here.