By Maddie Kunkle

Staff Writer

    Lights, cameras, action! A new school year for R.J. Reynolds High School brings a new director of the theater program. Dr. Jennifer Pierce has taken the lead by bringing in new ideas and working tirelessly to ensure our talented actors and actresses are prepared for the school play. 

    Pierce’s new perspective is already shaping the program through her new ideas about what to do with the theater program moving forward.

   “We’ll be doing a musical and I’m hoping to put together a competitive Shakespeare team,” Pierce said. “We will compete regionally and nationally. Hopefully it will happen this year, I’m waiting for the European Union to put out their guidelines for the competition.” 

   Pierce intends to lead the program in a slightly different direction than the previous year, focusing on different areas of acting. Emerson Carrol, student president of the drama club, has helped Pierce in her introduction to Reynolds.

   “The drama class this year is a lot more acting focused and centered on performing techniques and disciplines in action,” Carrol said. “Compared to last year, there was less technique and more games. We did a lot less last year.”

   Pierce’s goal isn’t to change the way the theater program operates, but to extend its legacy and continue the great quality of the productions. She’s focused on building a sense of community within the actors whilst doing everything she can to improve upon the acting skills students already have.

   “We’re going to have a movie night where we watch something in the auditorium,” Carrol said. “We’re going to have socials for the holidays, and we’re working on acting in scenes.”

   In addition to creating a sense of community within the theater program, Pierce has thought about what each individual student brings to the program. She has weighed options for the play based on the students’ qualities, deciding upon a play called All of the Timing, which is a comedy.

   “I’m really excited because we have some very talented comedian actors here,” Pierce said.

    With her new ideas and focus on community, Pierce is already making a strong impact. She is the heart of the theater program, and things truly couldn’t run without her.