A Second Great Year at Ettrick Elementary

Many theatres are arts-for-art’s-sake organizations. Barksdale Theatre and Theatre IV, from their inceptions, have been arts-for-the-community’s-sake organizations. Those who knew Muriel, Pete and Nancy often tell stories about their amazing community interactions. Having worked with Bruce and Phil for the last 15 years, I’ve learned first-hand that their commitment to community impacts every decision they make.

At B’dale and TIV, we spend hours working tirelessly to find new, often non-traditional ways to serve our region, and even more hours implementing those ideas. We strive to provide not only national-caliber mainstage productions, but also exemplary service initiatives that reach out to hundreds of thousands of Virginians who never make it inside the walls of our theatres.

Last week, Brad Tuggle (Assistant to the Managing Director) and I completed a 12-week stint at Ettrick Elementary in Chesterfield County. Audra Honaker and Jen Meharg will soon complete a sister program at Beulah Elementary. At Ettrick, Brad and I have been working with about 40 students who are part of the After School Achievement Program (ASAP). Created by Chesterfield County, this excellent program gives students an opportunity for continued instructional support in a fun after-school setting. David Leath and Antoinette House head up the ASAP program at Ettrick, and both have done extraordinary work with their students. Our theatres have been privileged to be involved in this program for the past two years, and plans are now underway for year three.

As part of this program, Brad and I worked with students to create and produce four one acts dealing directly with Virginia Standards of Learning, reinforcing what the students are working on in school. For twelve weeks, we worked with students on basic principles of theatre: public speaking, blocking, costumes, props and, above all, self-confidence. Throughout this period we saw students come out of their shells and grow into assured and accomplished young people who braved getting up in front of their teachers, parents and fellow students to bring to life the social studies “facts” they’d been learning in class. The results were remarkable.

It’s of great importance to me to foster a new generation that appreciates theatre and the many roles that the arts play in our lives. Programs such as this certainly pave the way. Just as important, programs like this help to teach the 21st Century workplace skills that these students will need to succeed on the job in the years ahead.

On May 18th, our new friends from Ettrick will be our guests-of-honor at The Wizard of Oz, and we’ll treat them to an in-depth backstage tour. I hope this will reinforce the interest and excitement about the performing arts that they developed over our twelve weeks together. There’s nothing more important than that.

--Chase Kniffen
Special Projects Manager
Barksdale Theatre/Theatre IV