Interview with New Theatre Teacher Ms. Casey

Gabriel: First, what are you looking forward to this year?

Ms. Casey: I'm looking forward to getting to know all the students because they're all new to me. And getting to see their creativity.

Gabriel: What did you do before you came to Blake?

Ms. Casey: I did a lot of things, actually. I directed a lot of shows, I taught a lot of classes that were like after school classes for summer camps. I produced a couple of shows, which means I was the person who took them on and hired the team and did all that. So I was you know, I was even acting too, before I came to Blake.

Gabriel: Are there any changes you're planning to make to the curriculum this year?

Ms. Casey: Not this year, Really. I think my only small change is that with my first graders, I'm going to do something that's called a puppossily. Which I don't think they've done in first grade at all. But if I stay longer than this year, then I might start changing a couple things. But nothing big, like the plays will stay the same. I'm not going to take any plays away.

Gabriel: Are you directing any plays outside of Blake?

Ms. Casey: I am. I'm directing two plays right now outside of Blake. I'm directing a musical called Bright Star at Bluewater theater here in Wayzata with their high schoolers. And I'm also directing a holiday show in Hudson, Wisconsin with the FIP Center for the Arts. It’s called the North Poles got talent, and the North Poles great Bake Off.

Gabriel: Why did you decide to become a theater teacher?

Ms. Casey: Growing up, I remember very distinctly the theater opportunities I had as a student, and I remember being in theater classes and looking at those teachers and being like, I want to do that one day. And when I graduated college, with my degree, I got that opportunity to do that. Because I just fell in love. I fell in love with the fact that students of a younger age have so much more creativity than us. They use their imaginations way more than adults.

Gabriel: What are your hobbies?

Ms. Casey: I like to knit. It's not very good, but I like to knit. I also like to go hiking, so I like to go along the river where there are the fall colors like the woods and go camping and things like that.