Lafayette Theatre Newsletter

It has been a whirlwind start to the second semester here with Lafayette Theatre! From navigating icy opening nights to hosting Google Meets with industry pros, our students are shining and learning every day and it has been amazing to see how they continue to grow! Read below to learn more about what’s happening across our various classes and productions.

James and the Giant Peach Heads to Nationals: Our production of James and the Giant Peach leaves one week from today to represent Kentucky at the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) in Chattanooga, TN! We are one of only twenty schools performing at this national festival. It is always a fantastic learning opportunity for our students and we are so excited for them to share their art, connect with other high school artists across the country and participate in workshops, auditions, and interviews.

Final Send-Off Show: Join us Monday, March 2nd at 7:00 PM in Beeler Auditorium to show your support before they head out! Tickets are 10 dollars and can be purchased HERE!

Our Theatre 2 students have just finished up a "Jobs in Theatre" unit, providing a deep dive into the diverse career paths available in the arts. We have been incredibly fortunate to host a series of Google Meet interviews with industry professionals across the country with a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds. A huge thank you to our guest speakers for sharing their expertise and teaching us about what a life in theatre or the arts could look like:

• Herman Farrell III: Playwright, director, and UK Faculty member.

• Melanie Turner & Katie Mullen: Professors with the UK Arts Administration Department.

• Nathan Fister: Lafayette alum, dancer/choreographer who has worked with The Lex, SNL, National Tours, and on Cruise Ships

• Graham Posner: Lighting designer and facilities manager who has worked with Transylvania & Centre College along with a wide variety of professional theatres

• Sarah Harrell: Performer/puppeteer who has traveled the United States and China with Paw Patrol Live and worked with Disney Cruise Line and Dollywood

• Megh Jennings Posner: Production Stage Manager and Program Coordinator for UK Opera Theatre and union stage manager who has worked with ballet, opera, and theatre programs across the country

• Rhonda Bell: Education Director at Lexington Children’s Theatre and MFA student with Point Park University

• Benjamin Nabinger: Costume designer and dresser who has worked on projects with HBO,the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and more

• Kurtis Brown: Lafayette alum, NYC-based producer and performer

Meanwhile, our Intro to Theatre students are wrapping up their Improv Unit. They have been mastering the "rules" of improvisation and participating in active class exercises to grow as performers, collaborators, and artists! Ask them about “yes and…” and to teach you a warm up activity or two!

Ms. K’s technical theatre classes have been busy getting hands-on experience:

In Advanced Technical Theatre: Students are working with our student teacher to update their portfolios and resumes, ensuring they are college and career-ready to showcase their technical accomplishments to universities and employers. They are learning about Google Sites, Google Docs, and more to showcase and communicate their learning. Seniors are working on completing their seal of arts excellence in both performance and technical theatre classes and it is great to see their hard work come together in this capstone project!

Introduction to Technical Theatre: Students are finishing a sewing sampler, learning the fundamentals of both hand and machine sewing. In just a few weeks, they will begin a favorite annual tradition: "The Monster Project" in tandem with Wellington Elementary! Stay tuned for updates on the magic they’ll create!

Our SCAPA Juniors and Seniors, Theatre 3, and Theatre 4 classes are all currently working on completely student-produced class plays! These offer a fantastic opportunity for students to collaborate and lead while creating a fully realized performance in Beeler Auditorium at the end of the year.

Students are currently blocking their shows and reviewing the design elements needed to bring the show to life because they will serve not only as technicians, but performers!

Make sure to have these dates on your calendar!

• SCAPA Theatre 3/4: Performing their class play on April 23rd and 24th.

• Theatre 3:, Too Many Detectives in the Murder Mystery Mansion April 30 and May 1

• Theatre 4: Performing Anne of Green Gables April 30 and May 1

Performance Dates: The Theatre 3 and 4 plays are performed in repertory on April 30th and May 1st, audiences will be invited to stay the entire time or only attend one performance.

Shrek the Musical: Rehearsals are officially underway for Ms. Lab’s and SCAPA’s production of Shrek! We are so excited to see Lafayette students shine at the Lexington Opera House on April 16–18.