Ask theater students for their thoughts about performing and you’ll likely be impressed and overwhelmed by their answers. That’s especially true for the young actors at Manitou Springs High School.
First, District 14 theater teacher Wendy Harms wants to lead a round of applause for the program’s recent accomplishments.
She steered a production of “Suzette Who Set to Sea” by Finegan Kruckemeyer to the Pikes Peak Regional One-Act competition in February. Their goal was to win outstanding ensemble, which they did, and then they won first place overall.
“It’s important to note that when we compete in the one acts, we are competing with 5A league schools — Cheyenne, Palmer Ridge, Lewis-Palmer, etc., schools that have the benefit of more students and more resources than Manitou has,” Harms said. “And our kids can hold their own at competition.”
Harms has lived in Manitou since 1992 and estimated she’s overseen 60-plus productions in that time. It’s not all perfect performances and standing ovations; since the program runs multiple productions at the same time, it can be overwhelming.
Harms, the actors and the technical crew are also working with outdated theater and light systems, so they devise workarounds or let go of some of their visions for the production.
“Those kind of challenges are also the things that help our students learn resiliency, problem-solving and to get a perspective on what can happen in the real world when a situation doesn’t go the way you want,” Harms said.
Several theater students shared their thoughts about how performing has helped them grow.
“I struggled a lot with stage fright through middle school, but since I started doing theater, I’ve gotten a lot better about being able to speak well and comfortably in front of people, which is a really helpful skill to have,” junior Elanor Fugate said.
Ryder Ballard, who graduated in December, said that theater is “a great place to push your comfort zones.”
“It builds a community where you are able to be seen as the goofy, outgoing person you are. Theater has always helped me feel more like me,” Ryder said.
Senior Colton Talbot said that theater is a way to escape life’s problems, giving him a place to do what he loves. Nicole Wickes, a junior, enjoys working with people she may not socialize with otherwise.
Kai Jacobson, a sophomore who admits to having been shy, has found theater helps with making new friends. Junior KenZie Connors also said that theater has helped her meet new people and make memories with them.
“I love what theater does for both the participants and for the audience. To watch a student in their first production at a middle school level, and then see the self-confidence they have gained when they perform as a senior, is amazing,” Harms said.
Some of the students plan to continue in theater after graduating.
“Performing is the only thing I really want to do in life, so I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon,” Kai said.
“Theater is the one thing I know I want to do in my future; it is my life,” KenZie said.
Ryder has already started working for the Colorado Renaissance Festival, which takes place in Larkspur every summer, and intends to major or minor in theater as a college student.
“I love the adrenaline rush of theater. As the lights turn on and the crowd goes quiet, you can tell they’re all waiting for you to speak or sing or do something,” Ryder said. “I love being able to step out of myself and into a character that people can relate to or people can hate. I love hearing the crowd cheer and laugh. It truly feels like stepping into your home.”
The students also talked about the favorite characters they’ve played and ones they hope for in future productions.
For Nicole, playing Juliet in a fourth-grade production of “Romeo and Juliet” has been a highlight.
“It was the role that really made me realize how much I loved theater and it inspired me to continue to pursue it,” she said.
She’s hoping to someday play Sally Bowles in “Cabaret” because she’s so different from the characters Nicole usually plays.
Kai loved playing Conroy in “Suzette Who Set to Sea.”
“He was so animated and fun to play. The play was also so fun because the people in it were the people who wanted to give a good performance and tried their best,” he said.
He wants to play Kevin T. in “Come from Away” because it’s so collaborative and “flows so beautifully.”
The role KenZie most remembers is Lucy in “Is There a Doctor in the House?” It was her first big role and had a great cast and fun script.
“I would love to be Hamilton or the king in Hamilton. I love history and that show, and those parts don’t require being a great singer,” she said.
Ryder loved playing an orphan in “Oliver” when he was an eighth-grader. That’s when he knew theater could help him step out of his shell and make friends. He also loved playing Molière in “Skinflints and Scoundrels.”
“When I saw my name on that cast list, I felt like I was dreaming,” he said.
“Getting to take on such a huge role was one of the biggest turning points in my acting career. I learned more about my acting style, my energy, and myself from this role than I have anywhere else.”
Colton’s most memorable roles have been Spencer in “Spy School” and Du Park in “Skinflints.”
“Both of these roles were kind of a comedic relief, which is the role that I really enjoy playing,” he said.
They’re all euphoric about returning to the stage. The District 14 theater program has staged three live shows since COVID-19 restrictions were eased.
“It is such a joy for our kids to have a live audience. We’ve had to remember old systems, start new ones, and the kids have gathered their friends in and we’ve introduced live theater to a lot of new people,” Harms said.
“We have great kids in this district: passionate, smart, caring,” she added.
The drama club has been rejuvenated and is now called the Manitou Performing Arts Club.
Ryder urged aspiring performers to participate in Manitou productions, calling the department one of the most inclusive he’s ever seen.
“It doesn’t matter if you have theater experience or not, if you want to learn and grow, audition. If you want to learn about the technical side, take a class or talk to Ms. Wendy Harms. You will feel right at home,” he said.
These young people are wise beyond their years, and it’s obvious that theater has played a major role in that. Even if they don’t plan to pursue acting after high school, they recognize the magic it creates.
“When we act, we’re not just following a script. We’re not just interacting with the story, not just reading it or watching it. We’re becoming the story. We’re bringing it to life right there in front of the audience,” Elanor said.