Patience is not a virtue for middle schoolers. It certainly isn’t for Junior Thespian Troupe #89673, Lakeridge Middle School’s official theater club.
Even if no middle school Junior Thespian Troupe had ever applied to be an Honor Troupe — not once in the 90-year history of Oregon Thespians — that didn’t mean the students should wait until high school for the honor.
So, they decided to apply.
After preparing, performing and presenting for the Honor Troupe committee during the Oregon State Thespians festival, Lakeridge Middle School became the first-ever Honors Junior Thespian Troupe in Oregon.
“I remember Mr. Dunwoody pitching it to us: ‘Hey, this is what an honor troupe is, this is what it would entail.’ I remember not understanding that no middle school in Oregon had done it, so we were all like, “Sure, whatever,’” said Immie Eichen, an eighth grader.
An Honors Thespian Troupe, at either middle or high school, is a special designation that “recognizes the collective work of your theatre department,” according to Oregon Thespians. The title celebrates the work the school’s theater community works on throughout the year and displays an extra level of dedication from the students.
The officers of Troupe #89673 gathered before school, promptly at 8:15 a.m. for the weekly troupe meeting. Drama teacher Franklin Dunwoody is the club’s advisor and helped the troupe prepare a portfolio and work on the presentation.
“(Theater) is a step outside of your comfort zone. You’re able to take a risk and then you just gain so much from it and you learn so much. You learn how to be a leader, how to work with others, how to collaborate,” said Jiya Aneja, a seventh grader.
The presentation included all the different plays, service work, classes and field trips the club worked on. Lakeridge students covered their junior one-act festival as well as a production called “The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong” and their children’s theater performance of “The True Story of the Big Bad Wolf.”
Performing for elementary school students was an experience they wouldn’t soon forget.
“Their faces lit up whenever we had a funny moment for them, which made our hearts glow,” said Jiya. “This is what we’re trying to do: make them happy and inspired by theater.”
They all hoped the performances and the new honor troupe designation would inspire more students to join theater at Lakeridge.
“I started as a sixth grader in theater, not knowing anyone or the stage or how the theater program works,” said seventh grader Jasmine Salem. “So many people brought me into their group and I’m so comfortable here. I love being able to play a character that’s not you; you can take a break from reality.”
With opening night for “Spongebob The Musical: Youth Edition” right around the corner, Troupe #89673 was getting excited about a “working weekend” painting and building the set.
“I really like that it’s kind of a family. We spend almost every day together after school and we bond and it’s nice to have a family outside of home,” said Immie.
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