Silverton High School seniors Sierra Druley and Hallie Day were two of 65 students selected from applicants from across the United States to attend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival 2009 Summer Seminar in August.
The Summer Seminar is a rigorous two-week program designed for students who have completed their junior year. Students stay on the campus at Southern Oregon University. They work with OSF theatre professionals, gaining insight into the workings of a successful repertory theatre company including theatre administration, stage management, costume construction, scenic painting, properties, sound and theatrical lighting, as well as studying Renaissance dance, stage combat, marketing and publicity, fundraising, auditioning techniques and movement and voice for the stage. The students also attended nine of OSF’s productions and work together on projects.
One of the objectives of the Summer Seminar is to teach students about arts advocacy. During the seminar students presented cases for the funding of an arts program to a mock board.
“Whether or not the students pursue a career in theatre, all of them benefit from the lessons of theatre: self-knowledge and the ability to collaborate with others on projects that are greater than any one individual,” OSF Director of Education Joan Langley said.
