Theatre touring class performs for area elementary schools

Students at nine area elementary schools received a safe live theatre experience this semester, thanks to students and faculty in an Educational Outreach Tour course.

Students enrolled in the course learned how to coordinate the theatre production “Apollo: To the Moon,” which virtually “toured” Gate City Elementary,  Grace Lutheran School, Holy Spirit Catholic School, Indian Hills Elementary, Paul Elementary, Sunrise Elementary, Syringa Elementary, Tendoy Elementary and Wilcox Elementary in Shelley, Paul and Pocatello.

In a time when theatre artists across the country are struggling to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, said course instructor Joel Shura, the tour provided a positive experience for everyone involved.

“For us to be able to do an in-person production and stream directly into classrooms for kids to enjoy is just huge,” Shura said. “It gave our students additional opportunities to put onto their resumes and portfolios, and it gave children and schools an opportunity to see an educational theatre production at a really reasonable cost.”

The “Apollo: To the Moon” school tour was conceptualized after the success of a previous tour, which brought “Last Train to Nibroc” to local high schools in the spring of 2019. Shura had received a grant through the Bistline Family Foundation to purchase tour-specific theatre equipment, and the schools and students involved reacted positively to the experience.

Next, the department started planning a tour for younger audiences, especially for schools in rural areas where theatre and art is less accessible. Originally, theatre faculty and students planned to drive the production to new schools each week, performing a play and teaching a workshop to elementary students before heading back to ISU campus.

The department, of course, had to change plans after the start of the pandemic. Faculty explored outdoor performances on playgrounds and lawns, but ultimately decided to perform for schools via livestream to create the safest experience possible.

“Everyone involved — faculty, students, elementary schools — were really understanding and flexible throughout the process, which was a huge relief,” Shura said.

Meg Stover, business and promotions manager at the School of Performing Arts, reached out to area elementary schools to book performances, as students prepared to put on a show.

To put on the “Apollo: To the Moon” production, students needed to practice acting and design skills. The class was split into two sections: one for actors and stage management crew, overseen by directing faculty member Joel Shura, and another for designers and technicians, overseen by scenic and lighting design faculty member Paul Yeates.  

“Because theatre is an extensive collaborative art form, it takes several people to produce beautiful performances,” said Tara Young, chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance.

For the first seven weeks of the semester, Yeates oversaw the technical theatre students in the creation and building of the production, while Shura oversaw the performance students and the rehearsal portion of the production. Some days, they worked separately, and others, they joined forces.

“Overall, it was an extremely successful collaborative team-teaching process with many benefits to the students involved,” Shura said.

The department hopes to launch another school tour once it is safe to do so in-person, Young said, so that students can gain the full tour experience of packing a truck, setting up in a rural gymnasium and seeing the children watch theatre for the first time. 

“Our students need to understand the skill set of performing for youth audiences, and our community needs and wants to be a part of the cultural experience,” Young said. “It can be an incredible experience for everyone involved.”