PRAIRIE VOICES: Theater of life

Ryan Johnson

Nov. 1, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Q. Let's talk a bit about the music and theater arts programs in Grand Forks.

A. I'm very fortunate to work in a district that puts a great value on arts education. As I go to conventions and talk to people or students who are maybe teaching someplace else, I learn that we're very lucky here in Grand Forks.

For example, look at Red River High School. There are just shy of 500 students (out of a student body of about 1,100) who are taking a fine arts class, and so we have the interest.

I think about it as a perfect storm. We've got three things: We've got an administration and school board that are interested in supporting the talent in dollars. We've got a community that's very supportive, both monetarily and also to come see all the activities that go on across the city. Last and most important, we've got students who are interested in spending their time and talent to practice the arts, to learn the arts, to live the arts.

Q. What about changing technology? Is it hard for the program to keep up as lighting and sound technology changes so rapidly?

A. Right now, the district is doing a needs analysis for the fine arts. Specifically, they're looking at facilities and technical support. Actually, they're looking at the entire district -- all the programs. They're trying to create a long-term vision for what the district is going to need five, 10 or 15 years from now.

And one of the first places where they started was in the fine arts. We're just concluding that right now. As part of that study, it's absolutely amazing in, say, the past 30 years, how much has changed because a lot of stuff hasn't been updated. In many respects, we are far behind other areas of the country in technical terms simply because our facilities are older.

Q. What have former students told you that they got out of their theater work at Red River?

A. It's the classes but also the productions that they were in -- not only the Red River productions, but the Summer Performing Arts productions during the summer. Typically, that ends up being the area that they look back at and reminisce about.

Those were the times that they had with their friends, when they could express themselves and take advantage of the learning environment. Learning English and math and science are very rigorous and very important activities. But often, the parts that become the best memories are those times when you get a chance to express yourself or sort of learn who you are.

To have those skills of being able to interact, to think creatively, to problem solve, to work on a team -- those are the skills that you take away.

Q. In a recent meeting with the Herald editorial board, superintendent Larry Nybladh said music and theater arts are signature programs of the School District. Why is that?

A. First of all, I'd like to say I agree with him. Again, I go back to that perfect storm analogy: There are a lot of great things that happen in this town, and one of them is what happens in the arts.

We just have a unique combination where we have tremendous support from the administration and from residents, and then we've got this wealth of student interest. Ten percent to 15 percent of the student body will be involved in a theater production during the school year, and it's the same amount for the SPA program in the summer: Across the district, it's 10 percent to 15 percent. That's a lot of students.

Q. Do you think a new space is needed at Red River, and why?

A. I do. During this needs analysis, as the consultants asked questions and we put our ideas down on paper, it became clear that we spend an awful lot of time scrambling to find space for things to happen.

For example, the choir programs exist totally outside the Red River building. They practice in the choir room, but all of their performances have to be held somewhere else because the high school doesn't have a space that fits them.

But, of course, there always is the question of dollars and whether we're able to afford something.

Q. For decades, schools across the country have been cutting budgets or entire curriculum for music and arts programs. How has Grand Forks been able to avoid doing that?

A. The key thing is that the district had a long-term idea of supporting what it is that we do. Also, it's because we have people such as Dr. Nybladh, who say that it's a signature program and who'd work very hard before they'd say, "Let's save those dollars, let's cut the programs."

That would be easy to do in a day and age where so much depends on test scores in English, science and math. It would be easy to cut all the classes but those.

Fortunately, we have folks who say, Wait a minute. We know the arts are not on the test -- but how important are they in life?

Q. Why are these arts programs vital for the schools?

A. Well, they're vital for the schools because they're vital for the students.

I love to be able to take a kid in high school who hasn't done much outside of schoolwork before and desperately needs to find a "home" to do something. We can help that student. Because of how drama's put together, if one young person is interested in lights, another is in sound, another wants to act and another wants to sing, we can use all of them. All those interests can come together in one project, which is just fantastic.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0074-39342838