Spotlighting diverse casts in theater Talia Cain directs drama students
BY NICHOLAS LAWRENCE & ALEX COTTRELL Staff Reporters The bell rings. Thousands of students stream out from all the classrooms at Sequoia. While some go to practices for sports to Sequoia’s fields, some go to parking lots, and some go to after-school club meetings, a small contingent of students go to Sequoia’s Carrington Hall. Drama supervisor Talia Cain shouts stage directions from the center, as students from all parts of Sequoia run about the dark foreground. Students recite their lines, and some manage the lights from the catwalks that spread across the Carrington ceiling. This energetic scene, visible at Carrington Hall from 4 to 5:30 p.m. everyday, was not always the case. Drama has morphed into something new over the past few recent years, with more people participating in Drama than ever before. While Drama is undergoing change, there’s still a lot of work to be done, especially with diversity and inclusion. Talia Cain first arrived at Sequoia Drama on Zoom during the 2020-2021 school year. Prior to the 2020 school year, Daniel Broome, a former teacher at Sequoia, ran all Sequoia Drama programs. When Cain first came to Sequoia, the only class available for Drama was Stagecraft. Stagecraft primarily dealt with the workings of theater and was less focused on acting. A lot of Drama activity was limited to the Drama Club and extracurricular activities that could not offer the same structured experiences that classes have. This led Drama to be less accessible, since the lack of formalized training or schedules often scared away novice actors. The stigmatization of Drama is an important part of the growth conversation, as the perspective that Drama is only a
small clique of hyper-dedicated kids is very However, there’s still progress to be common amongst Sequoia students. This made. Drama always needs more members, hurts Drama, as people have traditionally only especially to harder-to-reach populations. entered Drama from close friends and family, “Drama needs a little more diversity because and people rarely joined after freshman year. there aren’t many people of color in Drama. At least, that is the perception. I am one of few people of color in there,” “I think students should not put the junior Janmarco Flores said. This is one issue program down. Because I’ve heard a lot of that Drama has historically failed to address people say, ‘you’re just theater kids. What are in the past, and there is still a long way to go. you good for?’ Students shouldn’t do that, they While Drama is a unique activity, different should uplift one another. And here in Drama, from other sports, lessons can be learned there is a sense of a small community,”Valerie from the marketing of other activities. Olayo, junior and Drama Club president, said. A critical aspect of getting people to This sentiment has been reinforced join Drama is awareness about the program. through the actions of Drama as of recent as “I think we just need more advertisement, well, hosting inclusive coffeehouse nights and because a lot of I think is the same for all high expanding the accessibility of the program schools, where a lot of the sports, especially through individual classes and clubs. Drama football, are more in the spotlight than any has expanded, offering many different ways to other extracurricular. So, I think that spotlight be part of the community. There’s the Drama needs to include more people and more clubs, classes, a club, and the performances put on, because high school isn’t just about sports or which don’t require people to be part of the football. It is a big chunk of our high school class or club. experience,” Olayo One issue that said. clouds Drama is the “When Mr. stigma that’s put on Broome retired, his students who do class became Drama I’ve heard a lot of people say, theater. II. Right now, there “I think that if ‘you’re just theater kids. What are over 60 students people were to come are you good for?’ Students enrolled in Drama and see that and not classes between just base us on that shouldn’t do that. those Drama I and stereotype that’s Drama II, and the been put on us, then Valerie Olayo, Junior and Drama Club Drama Club has they’ll think ‘This president grown. Furthermore, actually seems likew our production right a fun thing that I’d be now is involving willing to do.’ Again, around 100 students Drama isn’t just about acting or producing in both the cast and the crew,” Talia Cain, or directing or writing. It’s also about lights, Drama supervisor, said. sound, mics, [...], they don’t need to act or However, this growth has not come write a play or direct play,” Olayo said. without effort. More specifically, the Drama
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RAVEN REPORT | NOVEMBER 2022
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