Theatre programs get creative with black-box productions

How did Northwest ISD’s fast growth lead to some people sitting up close and personal with Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice and in the midst of the Salem witch trials of The Crucible? Read below to find out, then get your tickets to see Les Misérables at Eaton High School in a way you’ve never seen before.

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Photos: The Crucible (Eaton) | Pride and Prejudice (Byron Nelson)

As a fast-growth school district, Northwest ISD is constantly managing multiple construction projects. In addition to regularly building one or more new schools a year, the district is almost always in the process of renovating current buildings. 

It is these renovations that prove to be especially difficult logistically as NISD works to keep students and staff safe and maintain a positive learning environment while also allowing construction partners the space they need. NISD’s construction department and construction partners work hand-in-hand to ensure safety on campus and job sites, and teachers are often the ones who get creative to ensure learning isn’t affected. 

For example, Byron Nelson and Eaton high schools are currently undergoing expansions to common areas such as gymnasiums, cafeterias and performing arts centers. Throughout this process, their performing arts centers are not able to host audiences like they typically would for shows throughout the year.

That is where Wendy Bramlett and Nick Kougias, theatre directors at Byron Nelson and Eaton, respectively, had to think outside the box (but also inside the box). With a pair of classics, Pride and Prejudice (Byron Nelson) and The Crucible (Eaton), on the docket in October, each program turned to their in-house “black-box” theater to fill the gap of an inoperable auditorium.

The black-box theaters at Eaton and Byron Nelson are located behind the main stage, and they are essentially the theatre program’s day-to-day classroom. On a typical school day, Ms. Bramlett or Mr. Kougias would be found in these rooms leading classes like Theatre Production, Technical Theatre, Musical Theatre, etc.

However, with the main auditorium under construction, each program got creative and used the much smaller, but also flexible, black boxes for an incredible experience. Their ability to innovate with the space available ensured students still got the full opportunity to perform in front of a live audience.

Each show had its audience seated in a U-shape around the perimeter of the black box with the show’s set constructed on the fourth side of the room. The shows featured actors utilizing all of the space in the room, including sitting right alongside the audience.

“This year, we aimed to take both design and performance to the next level—creating immersive experiences for our audiences,” Kougias said. “This approach means more interactive shows and less traditional seating, allowing every audience member to be fully engaged in the story and giving performers the opportunity to inhabit their roles completely throughout the performance.”

Full engagement was certainly achieved. Audiences of The Crucible sat alongside the girls of Salem while being eyewitness to John Proctor’s struggles between saving his life at the expense of his reputation. Those who took in Pride and Prejudice practically danced at the opening ball with the Bennet’s and could see Elizabeth Bennet’s tears as she grappled with her prejudices.

The up-close adventure was not only thrilling for the audiences, but also the performers and crew. Although each performance offered less than 100 seats, the thrill of performing in such an intimate setting for a live audience is one many high school actors don’t typically get. 

Each show still featured all of the immaculate costuming, scintillating tech production and remarkable acting skills that all NISD theatre programs are known for, and the full cast and crew of Pride and Prejudice and The Crucible did an amazing job.

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Didn’t get to see one of these unique black-box shows? You’ve got another chance!

Eaton High School is set to perform Les Misérables, starting on November 13, in another black-box style show, but on a grander scale on the main stage of the Eaton Performing Arts Center. 

Although the audience seating of the performing arts center is under construction, the stage is still available, and the audience seated around the edges, just like in one of the smaller black-box shows from October. The show will be just as close and intimate as previous black-box performances, but with more space for the magic of Les Mis to come to life. Tickets are available by clicking here.