While adults direct most plays and musicals, DHS acting teacher Brooke Kinsinger gave the reins to two student directors for the presentation of “The Play That Goes Wrong.”
Juniors Max Smeltzer and Alexandria Booth, who have been involved in theater for years, had their mainstage directorial debuts at the end of September.
“I wanted to act in the show at first, but Brooke came to me and she thought it would be really cool if we had two student directors in this show,” Smeltzer said. “I decided ahead of time that in my junior year, I would like to be more of a leader in drama than in my sophomore and freshman years.”
This will not be the only time these students will direct their own productions, though. Both volunteered to direct the one act plays, as well.
“I had mentioned that I wanted to direct the spring one act plays, and Brooke had mentioned that she had a student director open, and I accepted the job for ‘The Play That Goes Wrong,’” Booth said.
Historically, productions often avoid having multiple directors due to potential conflicts. However, the two directors worked well together and were motivated to give their full effort to the project.
“We butt heads sometimes, but we usually clear it out and manage to come to a compromise,” Booth said.
Both students aspire to direct larger productions some day. Smeltzer is thinking about taking his directorial skills to another medium – the big screen.
“I’ve always wanted to direct my own movie and have my own movie, but it really depends on where I take myself and how I do those things,” Smeltzer said.
As with all artists, they receive their inspiration from many places. Their own experiences drive how they direct their actors and how the show is put together.
“Typically, I look off of the Broadway version of whatever show we’re doing and work off of that,” Smeltzer said. “I like to put my own flair onto whatever it is that we’re doing because it is still my show.”
They both know that they will not be at DHS forever, so they offered a few tips to those who wish to join the drama club.
“I’d definitely talk to your directors, teachers and get involved,” Booth said. “I will say that you have a better chance of being important if you have the passion for what you’re doing, because otherwise you’re just going to feel so out of place.”