For six students from this school, Nov. 14 will be no ordinary day. Instead, it will be their chance to perform scene three from act four of Shakespeare’s Henry V on the Mondavi Center stage. Led by Mrs. Kimberly Karver, Blu Hunt, Bradly Valenzuela, Caitlyn Shantz, Sidney Raey-Gonzales, Sierra Zellmer and Nick Manlowe will collaborate with students from all over the Sacramento region to perform the entire play. This entire project, however, began last December, when Karver applied to the Globe Academy for Teachers program, a partnership between UC Davis and the Globe Theater in London.
“In order to apply, teachers had to submit an application and essay. From hundreds of teachers, 32 teachers were selected to interview, and then a panel selected 12 teachers. I am the first teacher from Rocklin Unified to have ever been selected,” Karver said.
A program specifically for drama and English teachers, it aims to teach instructors interactive and creative ways to expose students to Shakespeare’s works. The program offers teachers many opportunities, including classes at UC Davis and a two week trip to London.
“In June, I went and lived in London with my fellow teachers (from the program), and each day we took classes at the Globe Theater. We also performed for a live audience at the Globe Theater on our second to last evening in London, a performance that we will do again for our students at the Mondavi Center after they perform,” Karver said.
Another part of the program involved each teacher selecting a group of students to participate in monthly classes at UC Davis, starting last spring, and rehearse to perform a section of Henry V. These classes involved hands on workshops and gave students exposure to various acting techniques.
“My favorite part of the experience has been the UC Davis workshops because we were integrated with kids from other theater programs and schools (around Sacramento), and we were able to work with brand new people and even learn a few new techniques. The great thing about the workshop was that (we) Whitney kids already knew many of the improv games and tools they were teaching us, which just goes to show how superior our theater program and director, (Mr.) Rick Eldredge, is,” Caitlyn Shantz said.
The classes gave students a chance to work with professionals from all over the world.
“Directors from the Globe came to teach us more about diction, iambic pentameter, and how to be more outgoing on stage,” Bradly Valenzuela said.
Participating students have particularly enjoyed this part of the project.
“It was really interesting when Margo Gunn, one of the professors from the Globe, came from London to help us work on our scene (on Oct. 10), since she had some really different acting exercises, and just because it was really cool to learn acting techniques from someone from a different country,” Blu Hunt said.
These students, who volunteered for the project, chose to do so for different reasons.
“I chose to be a part of the production because it really helps my acting, which I love. It’s really just amazing to be invited to any type of production, and it looks really good on a resume as well,” Hunt said.
Since all of the students are also performing in the fall play, “The Crucible,” conflicts have arisen between the two projects and students’ other commitments.
“There have been many, many, many conflicts between this scene and ‘The Crucible.’ In fact, we have had to postpone many rehearsals until after the play. It’s even more stressful trying to find time for the Globe Theater production when you’re in the play, have a job, and are taking a full load of classes,” Shantz said.
Due to these conflicts, rehearsals for this production have started only recently.
“We started rehearsing about a month ago, but since it is only a small scene, it hasn’t required tons of rehearsal. Learning all the lines for both the Crucible and the Shakespeare scene, however, has been really tedious and stressful,” Hunt said.
Despite the conflicts that have arisen, Karver has worked with students to try to minimize difficulties and make the experience enjoyable.
“Even though there have been scheduling issues, Mrs. Karver has worked around it so we can do both projects,” Valenzuela said. “It’s been a good experience and I’m excited to be performing at the Mondavi Center.”
This project affects more than just the students performing, though, as strategies taught in this program make their way into some classes at this school.
“I have learned many new hands-on ways to teach Shakespeare and literature in general, and I am trying my hand at the strategies this year with my English students, which I am really excited about,” Karver said.
Though this will be Karver’s only year in the program, she hopes other teachers will consider taking part in this experience.
She said, “teachers are only allowed to attend the the Academy once, but I have been encouraging my fellow Wildcat teachers to apply. Studying abroad for two weeks was the most memorable experience of my teaching career. It has changed the way I teach and the way I look at my students.”
by KAVYA PATHAK
