Words: Vaishnavi Mahalingam

The theatre department at Centennial High School has an excellent reputation, both in the school and in the county.  There is one play and one musical every school year, along with improv shows and multiple options for involvement in theatrical events.  Some students are heavily involved in the drama department, consistently auditioning for the plays, playing a part in backstage work, or taking a theatre arts class for all four years of high school.  One of the goals of high school is to prepare students for college and careers, and some of these self-professed “drama geeks” have theatre-related plans for college.

Junior Frances Kramer has been involved in drama since elementary school.  Starting in third grade, she participated in her elementary school’s musical each year.  These musicals soon became part of an over-the-summer theatre camp, which was all she did in middle school regarding drama.  

Kramer plans to major in film and directing, which shares some fundamental similarities with live theatre.  Therefore, she is preparing for her major by taking a theatre course this year.  Kramer has also taken part in drama-related activities outside of school.  Last summer, she was involved in a film course at Howard Community College, and is currently writing and directing a short play for her synagogue.  

Although Kramer admits that live theatre and directing are two very different things, she noted that “being in a theatre class and having experience with writing and directing has been a wonderful opportunity.”

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