THE ATRE'S MAGIC NEW DIRECTOR I L L U S T R AT E S H I S O W N T R A N S F O R M AT I V E EXPERIENCE.
By: Sally T.
Photo by: Josiah W.
“In theatre, you are forced to sit down, be quiet, and actively listen to what’s being told to you. At the end, you can interpret anyway you like, but you are not allowed to interrupt or dismiss it. I’ve played everything on stage from a billionaire to a slave” Tyler Price, ASH Theatre Director, said. Theatre has the power to transport people to new places, expose the experiences of others and enhance the lives of both cast members and those in the audience. For Tyler Price, this magic of theatre is what sparked his love for it as a child. Price’s mother passed away at the age of nine from a brain tumor. He was assigned a social worker to check in on him in the wake of this event. This social worker quickly noticed his dramatic and charming personality, and knew he belonged in theatre classes. She contacted the Talented Theatre program, and the teacher of this program saw something special in Price. He auditioned for the class and his passion for theatre began. “During a song in the musical Dear Edwina, we were choreographed to point at one girl in the audience at the end of the song. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was our second performance of the day, and I pointed at this little Spanish girl in the front row and her face lit up. I saw that I put so much joy in her heart. I remember calling my theatre teacher that night and saying ‘this is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life, today was magical,’” Price said. After graduating from Northwestern State University, Price’s career took him all over the country. Price’s favorite places he has ever worked are Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Cedar Point and Busch Gardens are amusement parks so he was able to walk around parks everyday for an income. He said this “never got old.” Busch Gardens was his favorite amusement park because he was there during the Christmas season. He loved working at Pagosa Springs, Colorado because it is his favorite place on Earth due to the beautiful mountains and the people who live there. At ASH, Price plans on directing many plays and musicals, beginning with Footloose. The auditions will be November 19-20. Price’s plans for the theatre department are to develop more talent and introduce more students to joy that acting, singing and engaging with an audience can bring. ASH/CENTRIC
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