Dress Rehearsal At New Manchester, the school plays are rehearsals for a career in theater
J
ust a mile off the Chattahoochee River, and 10 minutes from Sweetwater Creek State Park, New Manchester High School is on the quiet, naturerich fringes of Douglasville. The campus is surrounded by clusters of tall pines, within walking distance of local parks. Inside the school is a wide, well-lit theater. Robert Connor is there, directing his class in rehearsals for “The Wiz,” a 1974 Broadway musical adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz.” But don’t be fooled. This isn’t just the kind of fun, softly graded, playing-pretend-on-stage that some may expect of a high school drama. These kids are really learning - and learning tough skills. In short, Connor is teaching these students to be actors - actors who may someday find a career in theater.
years. This is his first year at New Manchester, and he speaks highly of his experience at the school and the learning opportunities this supportive and disciplined atmosphere affords teens. “It’s a great school. The students are great kids. It’s clean and sleek, an excellent family environment, and very conducive to teaching and learning,” Connor says. Connor received his B.A. in Film and Television and Morehouse College, then went on to complete an master of fine arts degree in theater from the University of Georgia. But his talent goes beyond pedagogy; he has performed and directed various on-stage productions. He found himself drawn to teaching purely by chance.
“I stumbled into it, just basically on an opening, and fell in love with working with “My favorite show is always the one I’m young people and developing their skill sets to currently working on, so my current favorite show is 'The Wiz.' No matter how many times I prepare them for college and professional do a show, and no matter how many shows I’ve opportunity. It’s been very rewarding over these past 15 years working with and training worked on, there’s always the process of discovering the new talent each time,” Connor young students in the area of musical theater.” says. Magnet schools like New Manchester offer an New Manchester’s fine arts magnet program in-depth and comprehensive education in art, opened in 2012 for high-school students with an indispensable experience that many public exceptional potential in one of several high schools simply don’t offer. concentrations the school offers: instrumental “With all of the cuts that people are making in music, chorus, theater, drama, dance, or visual art. Connor, director of drama and musical theater, has been teaching in magnet schools for 15 20
West Georgia Living
March/April 2015
Robert Connor, director of drama and music theater at New Manchester High, directs a read-through of "The Wiz."
STORY BY COLLEEN DONNELLY PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY
Whether a student is going into drama for a career or for a hobby, the craft helps develop a passion the student can apply to anything they love.