Hills-Beaver Creek School Board members will hire a theater director/adviser, at the request of a student.
Junior Britton McKenzie requested a spring theatrical performance at the school. High School Principal Andrew Kellenberger brought the request to the board’s Oct. 11 meeting.
“I am a big believer in opportunity,” Kellenberger said. “Having another art opportunity will allow more of our students to be active in our extracurricular activities and develop more student-leaders.”
When McKenzie expressed his interest in theater, Kellenberger encouraged him to poll his fellow students to gauge the interest in theater.
“Thirteen said ‘yes,’ with 18 ‘maybes’,” Kellenberger said.
The theater option returns after a year off during the pandemic, and that’s good news to McKenzie.
“I am extremely excited for there to be a theater program at H-BC again,” he said.
“I love theater because it gives everyone a chance to express themselves even if they’re not being themselves — you could let out your own emotions by portraying someone else’s.”
McKenzie has been involved in the arts through the Green Earth Players theater group in Luverne since he was 1. His father, Casey McKenzie, is a frequent actor in GEP productions and introduced him early on to other GEP members.
“They (GEP) feel like a family to me,” the younger McKenzie said.
Bringing theater back to the familiar walls of H-BC and connecting with another group of art-minded individuals also appeals to him.
“Hopefully the familiar space will make a space that fosters creativity,” McKenzie said.
The last H-BC theatrical production was 2019 when students performed “High School Musical.”
With the school board’s approval, the district is looking for a director/adviser for the spring play.
In the meantime, McKenzie encourages students to cast aside any preconceived judgments about theater.
“Theater is not widespread especially in rural communities,” McKenzie said.
“The biggest and most successful schools have theater programs. With the addition of a theater program (locally) I believe we are taking a step toward being one of those bigger, better schools — a school with ideals that embrace the arts.”