My kid found the theater

Simon has always been interested in theater tech to some degree, which is to say that he kind of looks through the magic to see the tricks. He does this with theme park rides, too. Last year, for his first year of high school, we were excited that he wanted to take the tech theater class. My experience with theater is that it's always been one of the more welcoming environments for people who can't really find their tribe. Well, that was my hope at least.

But his theater experience in grade 9 was miserable. Part of it was unkind classmates, sure, but the teacher was the biggest problem. She continually marginalized him, even though he wanted desperately to help in every way, even if it was directing traffic in the parking lot on show nights, or being an usher. He wanted to crew the show, but she literally told him, "I'm too worried that you'll be talking backstage and I don't have time to teach you anything." She fancied herself more a for-profit director trying to get awards than a teacher, which triggers me given the college instructors that I had who felt they were "station managers" before educators. We went around with principals and such, but got nowhere. I have an email that felt like discrimination against someone with an IEP, but did not pursue it. Oh, and Diana, former union stage manager, and I, long-time lighting enthusiast and community theater lighting designer, also offered to help from the start, and she never answered. Whatever.

This year, the School of the Arts at Dr. Phillips Center brought in kids to learn and do the tech work for their Beetlejuice Jr. show. We got Simon into it, and while he was reluctant at first, once they got into the theater, and then into tech week, he absolutely loved it. The kids have generally been nice, and the staff has been caring and sensitive to him. He has been surrounded by professionals (not that hack teacher) who share their knowledge and mentor the kids. He found the theater that I thought it could be.

I'm sure he'll be a wreck after the last show tonight, because he's an emotional kid. But I love that he's been able to have the opportunity. It gives him purpose, and gets him out of the house for all good reasons. I hope we can get him into another program like this.