Students spend a day at the theater
MARQUETTE — Students from four Upper Peninsula high schools had a chance to learn all about theater during Northern Michigan University’s High School Theater Day.
Students attended workshops, talked with professors, and learned new skills throughout the day at the Forest Roberts Theatre. Workshops included all aspects of the theater, from acting to production.
“We’re showing the students some various skills,” NMU director of theater Ansley Valentine said. “They’re learning about stage combat and improv acting and how to audition as well as learning about fly systems and focusing and hanging light instruments today.”
“(Students) are super excited, especially (since) they’ve expanded the tech theater offerings this year,” Gwinn High School drama director Dave Dagenais said. “Our kids will be learning some skills that they can take back to our own stage and add to their performances and their tech work.”
Some students have participated in the program a second time, and some former students are now involved with theater at NMU. Valentine said Theater Day has been a great success for NMU’s theater program.
“It’s just such a neat opportunity to get high school students here to see what are the possibilities of having a lifelong involvement in the arts,” he said.
Students from Gwinn, Republic-Michigamme, Houghton and Superior Central participated in the day’s activities.