In a marvelous combination of talent and effort, the newly renovated North Theatre and Galileo Magnet School have created a "professional theatre workshop concept" to foster the participation of young people in the performing arts in Danville.

Jerry Meadors, director of the North, is hopeful that the students of Galileo will be able to use their talents and ingenuity to the fullest to gain an "understanding of 'professional theatre,' including project selection, pre-production planning, rights acquisition, casting, set design, marketing, publicity and promotion, production and producing."

Dianne Locker, Director of Magnet Programs for Danville, is justly proud of the fact this project was conceived when she and Dr. Sue Davis, Superintendent of Danville Public Schools, met with Linwood Duncan and Jerry Meadors a little more than a year ago to discuss their plans for the restored North Theatre. At the time, Galileo was applying for International Baccalaureate status (which it has since achieved) but the school had no dedicated performance facilities, even though its primary fine arts program was to be Theatre/Performing Arts.

After discussions of plans for both the North Theatre and Galileo, the four hit upon an exciting joint venture that would "provide real world professional performing experiences for the students and a performing 'home stage.'" As a result of their discussions, the Theatre Program's director, Rhonda Johnson, has been leading her Galileo students on a journey to the stage of the North Theatre since the fall of 2002.

In keeping with Galileo's mission to provide a unique environment in which the students of Danville and surrounding areas could be stimulated by a variety of creative activities, Johnson has spent a great deal of time familiarizing her students with the "behind the scenes" aspects of the stage (the nature of theatre, how it is created, and how it functions in society). She has emphasized the diversity of theatre, introduced them to the basic terminology of production and acting, and taught them about a variety of production techniques. Johnson believes that Galileo's collaboration with the North Theatre will provide her students with an unparalleled opportunity to experience professional theatre.

Prior to this collaboration becoming a reality, Johnson brought guest directors, educators, and actors into the classroom so the students interact directly with them. Recognizing that Galileo's program was untried, she eased them into an appreciation of the dramatic arts by allowing them to work on short scenes for presentation to the rest of the Galileo student body, thus giving them
experience as actors, directors, and backstage technicians. This gave
them the opportunity to gain confidence without being overwhelmed.

Johnson credits Averett Theatre professors Jackie Finney and Richard Breen for their support of the fledgling Galileo Theatre Program, especially in terms of giving Galileo students the opportunity to attend auditions and rehearsals and workshops at Pritchett Theatre. Galileo students also had access to the Averett stage to learn about the technical facilities, such as stage lights and sound equipment, working with set and lighting designer Finney. In addition, Johnson brought members of Danville Little Theatre to Galileo to coach students on auditions and technical design.

By fall of 2003, Johnson felt her students were ready to participate in Danville Little Theatre's production of Grease as actors, backstage crew, and ushers. After that successful experience, the students were ready to "go solo" with a one-act children's environmental play, Moonscape to Treescape, which they performed at five area elementary schools.

From there the road led to a public performance of Anne-Arky, at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts. Their two performances were sold out, and the audience was most appreciative of the students' efforts.

This carefully orchestrated theatrical journey is now culminating with this spring season's production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town, which will be presented at the North Theatre. On March 11th and 12th, Galileo students will be the very first troupe to take the stage in the newly restored theatre.

The student actors are most enthusiastic about this opportunity, noting that it is "exciting but scary." Lauren Johnson, one of the many Galileo students involved in the productions believes that because Our Town is a well-known drama, it will draw a lot of people to this Danville first. And, as student Matt Morris notes, this is a "good opportunity for Galileo's Theatre Guild." Like many involved in the production, he is excited by the prospect of a long-term collaboration with North Theatre, which is expected to provide theatrical workshops to the community and engage professionals in
mentoring students interested in theater.

Meadors, too, sees this as a long-term partnership-one "raising the bar on theatrical training in this area at the high school level as we build an experience that would equate with that had by students in the high school for the arts' arenas that are common to large cities like New York and Los Angeles." Meadors further notes that this partnership provides an excellent opportunity for gifted students to make useful contacts in the show business world, coupled with the training they need to prepare them for the challenges they might face.

As the time for the students' production draws near, enthusiasm is high at both Galileo and the North Theatre, and everyone involved is looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship that will benefit not only students attending Galileo, but the community surrounding the North Theatre and the City of Danville as well.