Abby McCann ’11 in Winslow, Maine
“I spent my winter term directing the theater department at my high school in Winslow, ME. When I was a student at Winslow High School, I was very involved in its theater productions, especially the one-act plays that were put on every winter as part of the statewide Maine Drama Festival. Unfortunately, my senior year was the last time Winslow was represented at this competition. Faculty changes within the theater department had made it impossible for my high school to prepare a show to compete the last two years, and after speaking with my high school’s administration, it seemed unlikely that they were going to find new faculty to head up the program again this winter. I was very upset that students at Winslow, including my brother, Mike, who is a junior this year, would not have the opportunity to experience the one-act play festival. After reworking my D-Plan, I was able to take the winter term off, move home, and start working at the high school. We rehearsed daily for the months of January and February on “Dragons” by Lucile McIntyre, a challenging one-act drama focused on the before and after events of a drunk-driving accident involving high school students en route to their graduation ceremony. Among the other heavy topics addressed in the script were child hunger, alcohol abuse, and domestic violence. My students were so affected by the show’s message, that they decided to hold a charity performance of the play with all proceeds benefiting the Spruce Run Domestic Violence Project located in Bangor, ME. We also held two performances for the Winslow High School student body as part of the school’s anti-drug and alcohol programming efforts. In early March, we competed in the Regional Drama Festival and finished fourth. I had an incredible time working with and learning from the 25 students who made up the cast and crew of the show. It was such an honor to direct them.”
From round the girdled earth is featured every Monday. Send a photo and short update from your off-term to schewe [at] dartmouth.edu for inclusion.
Sarah Schewe
