The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

14 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, October 14, 1987 An Innovative theatre co-op program ~ HHT THI HH HT ------_------m-- Supporting Cast rises up to the challenge "We need some frames, now, or these gels are all going to melt!" shouts a young female voice from high atop a mobile ladder Below her, eight other students are hard at work. One is putting the finishing touches on a surreal look- ing tree. Another is helping. Still more are rifling through a prop box The gymnasium stage at Port Perry High School is a virtual beehive of activity, as members of the Theatre Arts Co-op program prepare the set for their first major project. The program is a unique one -- the only theatre arts co-op in all of Durham Region. And the first pro- ject isn't easy. The group is respon- sible for producing an upcoming fashion show, "Just Image 'N Fall," for several local merchants. The show is slated for October 15, less than a week away, and the students are starting to feel the pressure of the impending deadline. But there's no doubt they'll be ready. The nine students who make up the co-op, along with their teacher, John Crocker, have attack- ed the project with a degree of pro- fessionalism that's almost uncanny. From designing and building the set, to selling tickets, making up posters and ads, to actual modelling and providing a mime demonstra- tion for the show, the troupe has shown it's more than up to the task. It should be. The young people taking part in the school's in- novative co-op program, all (with one exception) want to make their careers in the show business world. A few are confident they want to be - actors, a few more wish to be direc- tors, while some want to work backstage, either in sets or make- up. Only one member of the group doesn't want a career in theatre. Janey Haggart, instead, wants to use the interpersonal relationship skills she gains through the co-op in "a career involving children. The rest, however, are cockily sure they will someday work under, in or around the footlights. The theatre arts co-op, then, pro- vides the students with real ex- perience in their chosen careers. And like other co-op programs (where people who want to own their own business might work at a local store, or where a future jour- nalist might work here at the Star), the theatre co-op gives the students school time in order to work, bet- ween '» to 14 of their timetables. Naturally, certain school officials weren't too thrilled when John Crocker first approached them with the idea, last year "1 admit, there were problems," he said. "'There were times when | felt like giving up on it." Theatre wasn't exactly what school brass had in mind when they originally approved the work co-op program (initiated in the 1986-87 school year). It wasn't what student Mark McMillan's parents had in mind either. "1 don't think they liked it. They thought it was frivolous," Mark said. Mark and his co-op mates thought just the opposite. They had no plans to be lawyers or doctors. They had no wish to own their own business. They wanted, and still want, to have careers in theatre, and when they heard about Mr. Crocker's co-op Meet the enthusiastic members of *'Suppor- ting Cast," Port Perry High School's innovative theatre arts co-op program. With teacher John idea, they signed up immediately. So when they heard the program might not be implemented after all, they decided to fight for it. "They all met with me while I was having lunch, en masse," Mr. Crocker (seated) is (from left), Blair Bailey, Krista CHESTERFIELD SUITES - LOVE SEATS SECTIONALS - MATTRESSES A Large Selection LESS THAN 1/2 PRICE! McKEEN FURNITURE 524 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa - 725-5181 country Lane Hwy 7A & High Street, Port Perry, Ontario "Knowledge humbles great men, astonishes the common man and puffs up the little man." Crocker recalls. **And with that kind of enthusiasm, I thought, I'll give it another try.' Try he did, and he was successful. On September 2nd, the co-op of- ficially began. 5 Carr, Lynne Moore, Taylor Price, Paul Dearborn, Patti Gallant, Mark McMillan, Janey Haggart and Laura Jensen. See story for details. JAZZ at Emiel's Place THURSDAY, OCT. 15th OPEN FOR BREAKFAST! Monday - Saturday 6:00 AM Sunday 8:00 AM (ATENIGHT MUNCHIES ? PORT PERRY DAIRY BAR 158 Water Street 985-8611 Is Now Open until 3:00 AM THURSDAY -- FRIDAY -- SATURDAY Burgers - Fries - Sandwiches Take-Out Orders Available SO DON'T GO TO BED HUNGRY! But it was a few days before the 22nd that the co-op started work on its first job, the fashion show. With Blair Bailey as student in charge, the group presented Images with 4 detailed presentation of how the se might look. Linda Menzies, co-owner of the store, was suitably impressed. "We thought it was very good." she said. *""That's why we went ahead. We were surprised at the talent up there. They're great. And if they want to do it again next year, we'll be there." Fashion shows, however, aren't the mainstay of the co-op program. Much of the group's time will be spent on creating presentations to public schools and nursery schools. Morals and lessons will be taught to children through the performance of fairy tales such as The Three Bears and Little Boy Blue. And while the kids enjoy the shows, the theatre students learn about everything from script writing to set building to make-up ---- to everything involved with the production of a theatrical show. As Mr. Crocker explains, the co- op takes a three-pronged approach to theatre education. The first, is teaching younger children in other schools about theatre. The second is backstage work, including make-up and set design lessons from profes- sionals. The third is actual perfor- mance, with bookings already fill- ing up the school year, in schools throughout Durham and Victoria. "It's job experience," Mr. Crocker said. "I see myself as a con- tractor, who finds work for the students." '"They're sort of like a touring company. As it is right now, 'we're really booked." The students involved are Paul Dearborn, 18; Mark McMillan, 16; Krista Carr, 17; Taylor Price, 17; Laura Jensen, 17; Blair Bailey, 17; Janey Haggart, 17; Lynne Moore, 17 and Patti Gallant 18. All are senior students, in grade 12 or 13, and are graduates or current students of the grade 12 theatre arts class. And all of them are anamotif¢d 'with the program. Blair Bailey likes the respect he gets. "You're treated as if you know what you're doing." Taylor Price likes the experience. "It's more practical for what we want to do with our lives." Patti Gallant lives the exposure. "I think there's going to be a lot of jobs for us." "What I don't like,"' Blair Bailey said, 'is certain people who think - this is a waste of time." "We will," Patti Gallant added, "on Thursday night, we will prove them wrong." Their first production, the fashion show, is Thursday, October 15. Tickets are at Images, the Children's Den, and from nine en- thusiastic future theatre stars at Port Perry High School. The Front Room ANTIQUES & 4 COLLECTIBLES both big and small at LANDFALL FARM R.R. 1, Blackstock, Ont. 5 mi. east of Port Perry on Hwy (416) 986-5588 OPEN EVERY DAY Except Wed. & Thurs. by chance PRE-INVENTORY SALE 10% DISCOUNT through October 31, 1987 7A