Sometimes, the best things happen by accident. That’s exactly how music teacher Kendra Nutting, the WHS drama club director, got into directing after an opportunity arose at the beginning of her WHS career.
“The drama club’s director left right before the school year started,” Nutting said. “No one else volunteered, so I stepped in. I had no idea what I was doing, but I loved it and have been directing ever since!”
Despite all the challenges that come with running a large production, she has one main goal: she wants to make the students have a good time, while also putting on something that makes their hard work pay off.
“Above all else, I want the students to feel proud of what they’re putting on stage.”
When it comes to balancing the script with her own creativity, Nutting has a unique approach, differing from old styles of directing. Rather than to use the script as a firm set of rules for how the show should be performed, she encourages students to use it as a starting off point to inspire their performances.
“I think of the script as an incomplete roadmap. It gives us the words, but it doesn’t tell us exactly how to say them or how to move. That’s where our creative choices come in,” Nutting said.
Nutting loves when students bring their own ideas to the table. She encourages her students to personalize the roles they play to make them authentic to themselves.
“Some of my favorite moments come from students who bring something new to their characters,” Nutting said.
While Nutting often takes on most of the technical work herself, she welcomes student input.
“There’s not a whole lot of collaboration that happens on the tech side because I am essentially a technical team of one,” Nutting said. “Depending on the students I have working with me, I design the majority of the tech in a show myself. If I have students who are interested in providing input, I will always give them room to be heard.I want the production to feel like a team effort,” Nutting said.
One of the biggest decisions Nutting has to make as the director of the program is picking which shows the students will perform each year. She prioritizes keeping the cast interested and excited to put on the performance when making her decision, but also has to consider logistic factors such as the current cast, the budget and the play’s content.
“There are so many factors to consider,” Nutting said. “I have to make sure we have enough time to rehearse, the right number of students for the cast, and that we can afford the set, costumes, and props.”
Nutting feels as though the first show she directed was the most rewarding. Seeing the show come together was fulfilling for her. The struggles that inevitably led up to the performances had all paid off.
“I had no idea what I was doing, but somehow, the show came together. I remember watching the curtain call and thinking, ‘I actually did it!’”
Walpole High’s drama teacher Kendra Nutting took a risk and found her passion. She encourages other people to do the same, and have fun with it.
“If you are interested in directing, be creative, take risks, and have fun. It’s a great ride,” Nutting said.
