Theater
From William Yusah
Upper Grades Theater Teacher/Director, Middle Grades Musical Director and Technical Theater Director
The NEST+m theater program brings a unique characteristic to the student experience that helps set it apart from its public school peers. As a STEM-branded high school, NEST+m risks having a reputation for being one-dimensional and hard-science focused. But programs like our mandatory "Introductory to Theater" course, our city-champion comedy improv troupe, our vocational student tech crew, and our annual Spring theater festival help to elevate NEST's brand as a holistic, dynamic, and personalized learning community.
Over the last decade our Upper Grades has nurtured the reputation with the head of DOE Theater (and drama teachers across the public school system) of having meaningful arts education and quality productions.
From Jillian Fletcher
Middle Grades and Upper Grades Theater Teacher and Director
I teach Middle Grades and 10th Grade Theater classes at NEST+m. I’ve been teaching for 18 years, and I adore my work, which is centered around creating an open space for imaginative play where students are encouraged to invent and try out their ideas. I also work with students to help them develop a visual and spatial awareness of how to stage dynamic scenes and make powerful, symbolic and expressive blocking choices. The studio is a place where students make stuff: props, costumes, set pieces, as well as original scenes and theater pieces that they devise, write, and direct. Students are constantly engaged in finding and honing their artistic eye and voice through practice. Students also view and discuss each other’s work in order to gain an understanding of what works, and what really grabs an audience’s attention and imagination, and how to revise and strengthen their own work as theater artists. Students develop an artistic practice and learn to create avant-garde original work, so they can carry their voices into the world.
My curricula emphasize authentic theatrical experiences for my students, and the Middle Grades Theater program culminates in 8th grade class plays where students take on production team roles such as director, lighting designer, sound designer, stage manager, stage crew, etc. As part of that project, we rehearse in the auditorium so students can learn to operate the sound and light boards, the curtains, etc. in order to have an authentic hands-on experience. In 10th grade we devise original work and stage scenes from the plays we read in class, so 10th graders also get time in the auditorium to learn how to fulfil their role and use the actual tools of the trade. The students then perform their work for the school community, family and friends. This kind of authentic hands-on learning is indispensable to preparing the next generation of theater artists. It is also enthralling and magnetic for students. Students who sometimes struggle in traditional academic courses thrive in Theater when given the opportunity to train on actual equipment and work together to put on a show for a real audience. The students are empowered by the opportunity to present authentic, professional, polished pieces of theater to their community and, in turn, they are able to mentor younger students.
My work emphasizes giving students space and time to construct dynamic, experimental, original theater, as well as bringing fresh perspectives to repertoire pieces, and I see my role as empowering and educating the next generation of theater artists to share their voices and use the medium of theater to critique and work to change our society and world for the better.
From Kim Roberts
Lower Grades Musical Theater Director
Our Lower Grades Musical Theater Production, offered in partnership with After3, has been bringing musical theater opportunities to our elementary grade students since 2018. Though we are small and a bit scrappy, we have been able to put together a fully produced, 60-minute musical. Past productions include Shrek The Musical Jr, Seussical Jr, James and the Giant Peach Jr and Newsies Jr.
Through these productions our young performers have learned how to find power in their voices, become comfortable in their own bodies and gain confidence. They are able to improve communication skills, emotional awareness and empathy, as well as overcome anxiety and manage unexpected challenges. Our student actors learn the value of teamwork and collaboration, as they work with the director, choreographer, musical director, the Upper Grades student tech team and castmates to build the show.
We are proud of the opportunities that our program provides for students, but we’re always looking for ways and resources to improve their experience, and continue to expand our offerings.