7 more minutes: developing new work in high school theatre

Abstract

High school theatre often brings back cringe-worthy memories of stilted productions of Beauty and the Beast or cobbled together versions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream; it does not have to be this way. I believe new work written for high schoolers and about high schoolers is a much needed breath of fresh air for high school theatre programs everywhere. I decided to test my theory as my thesis, I produced and directed Ball State senior Madison Bradshaw’s new play 7 Minutes at Muncie Central High School. I spent the last six months preparing, staging, and writing about this process. I can now say with confidence that producing new work and allowing high schoolers to have creative agency in their theatrical work is an incredibly effective practice. This is especially true because high school theatre trains young actors and attempts to create a more genuine performance. Through this production and writing process, I have learned even more about the power of the work that I do every day