After months of preparation, the high school theatre production “She Kills Monsters” took to the stage in May 2022. More than 30 students from different grades across German and European Sections dedicated break times and after-school hours to accomplish this. GESS Magazine speaks with Stacy Ohrt-Billingslea and her Theatre Club students.
Stacy, your passion in drama is infectious and we hear that drama has been a big part of your career in schools. Tell us more?
My life journey thus far as a director, actor, and educator has been diverse and exciting. My love for travel, culture and communicating, and the need to share these passions with my children led my husband (also a teacher in GESS) and I on an international teaching adventure. First we spent 5 years at the American School Foundation Guadalajara in Mexico, creating a thriving theatre programme that united students from all grade levels, producing engaging and educational theatre experiences for the entire community and inspiring the students to be creative, compassionate and responsible leaders. My passion for the arts and building programmes next led me to the position of Performing and Visual Arts Director at the International School Dhaka in Bangladesh. Prior to this, I was the Head of Drama at Yakima Valley College, Adjunct Professor at the University of Montana and Chair of the Pacific Northwest (Region 7) National Playwriting Programme for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Other positions I held included Executive Director of the Children’s Museum, Missoula and the PYP Performing Arts Specialist at Missoula International School, in Missoula, MT.
Looks like you have been bringing your passion in drama and theatre to places and people. What is it that makes you tick when working with schools?
Creating and collaborating are two main aspects of my day to day interactions with students and colleagues. As an artist, educator and outdoor enthusiast, I encourage my students to ask questions and seek answers to find meaning in their classroom experiences as well as in the world around them. I firmly believe that inspiring students to inquire, connect, and contribute with integrity, compassion, and confidence is essential to the development of today’s artists, leaders and global citizens.
The theatre production “She Kills Monsters” got our attention with its title. What is the storyline and why did you pick this for the Drama Club to work on?
In short, “She Kills Monsters” is a drama-comedy play by Qui Nguyen that debuted in 2011, narrating the story of Agnes Evans who lost her parents and younger sister Tilly in a car accident. Agnes then embarked on an adventure to get to know her late sister by playing a Dungeons & Dragons module that Tilly had written, and unraveled things she had never knew about her sister.
To be honest, I didn’t pick the story. My DP Theatre students and I explored it in class and were all so taken by the story. It had many strong characters confronted with different challenges and emotions, and it was theatrical with many strong female roles.
The various touching issues in the story are so relevant to our students at their age, and I am very proud of them that they have delivered this powerful story, particularly with a double cast and some of the students playing more than one role.
Soon after “She Kills Monsters”, in June, our Middle School Theatre Elective performed another play named “School Daze” by Lindsey Price. This is another gripping story, exploring the challenges and situations of a teenager on the first day of middle school.
You can tell we are mindful about what scripts we select, as these have to be personally embraced by the students and deliver messages close to our hearts.
What next after these for Theatre Club?
We have a great group of students and faculty members committed to building the Theatre Club in GESS. Together we are planning for the new year that can include anything from more plays to even musicals, to connect with our GESS community and create opportunities for different types of audiences to join us.
I also make sure my students are part of the planning, decision making, creation and leadership. They are the theatre makers of today and tomorrow, and I am looking forward to creating impactful and meaningful projects, to teach us about life and hopefully inspire us to bring about positive change to the world.
What do you feel is the biggest challenge working with students, and what is your biggest takeaway all these years working with them?
I have been teaching theatre for a long time, and worked with many different age groups and profiles. I would say the biggest challenge is to help them to find a balance – manage academic commitments, social life, yet have time to rehearse. I also want to create a safe environment for them to explore who they are, be able to take calculated risks, and develop skills which can serve them their entire life.
What do you hope students can learn and gain from being involved in drama?
I want them to feel accepted, that they have a place wherever they are, learn who they are, believe in themselves, trust others who have their backs, have confidence to solve problems and make decisions, and look at themselves as creators, thinkers, carers and more. These help them develop important parts of self-worth and identity.
And from the students’ perspective…
What is your biggest takeaway or learning from being involved in this theatre production?
“We get to choose what we want to do! Not everyone wants to act or perform onstage, or some just want to act as the monster. There are so many ways we can get involved, such as costume design, lighting, sound, props, dance choreography, as stage managers or others.”
“Everyone is part of a bigger machine and all parts have to be working at the same time to produce this beautiful, magical story!”
Why is it important that you chose to tell the story of “She Kills Monsters”?
“Many teens can relate to the characters and what they are going through, emotionally.”
“There are so many aspects of this story. Since Covid happened, many people have probably felt isolated for a while. It felt good to be mask-off, reconnect with another and through the lens of this story, celebrate differences, deal with bullying, accept relationships and ourselves, process grief, love, sisterhood, family, and more… It was to us, also about reaching out to people, how can we understand someone else’s view and help them?”
