Leading by Example: A Look into the Professional Theatre Work of Compass Educators

Here at Compass Creative Dramatics, we take great pride in the accomplishments of our staff and educators. It’s important to us that our educators aren’t just teachers who sometimes perform, or performers who sometimes teach - they stretch their creativity and bravery muscles as both teachers and performers regularly! This means that our teaching artists often enjoy consistent, professional theatrical work outside of their time at Compass.

We’re dedicated to hiring educators who also practice their craft regularly beyond their work at Compass as we believe this enriches our students’ experience and enhances the quality of programming we offer to our communities!

While our teaching artists work professionally at an array of types of theatres and artistic projects, we want to take a moment and highlight the exciting Theatre For Young Audience projects beyond Compass that our staff has been dedicating themselves to over the last few months and brag on behalf of our amazing team - Here we go! 

A.J. Morrison at Lexington Children’s Theatre ​

A.J. (right) and his director Katie Mitchell on ABC 36 News talking about The Cat in the Hat (Photo by ABC 36 News)

A.J. Morrison, Compass Creative Dramatics’ Education Director and one of our teaching artists for Summer 2020, is playing “Fish” in The Cat in the Hat  with Lexington Children’s Theatre. This musical is based on the book by Dr. Seuss, and has been adapted and originally directed by Katie Mitchell for LCT. If you recall the plot of The Cat and the Hat, it’s all about causing chaos! “Just like anything in theatre, staged chaos is intended to appear spontaneous, but in reality, that chaos must be meticulously planned in order to be safe.” A.J explained to us. “The cast, director, and creative team were in constant collaboration to plan the perfect mess… and its cleanup. It has been a blast to have so many creative minds working together.” 

Performing on stage gives A.J. more tools in his belt to share with students on the road. While he’s working as a performer, he’s thinking like a teacher! “When something goes particularly well on stage I will often reflect on what the difference was. I’ll ask myself: What happened that time that made it work? What steps in the process helped me get to that point of success?” These discoveries onstage are not only a tool A.J. can keep in his belt as a performer; he is able to hand those tools to his students as an educator.  The Cat and the Hat runs from February 23rd through March 18th, touring through regional Kentucky. Congratulations, A.J.! 

Kelsey Fortier at The National Theatre for Children

Kelsey Fortier is the touring QUEEN! She was a teaching artist with Compass last summer, and is returning to teach for Summer 2020. Kelsey is ALSO currently on her second tour with The National Theatre for Children playing four different characters (Dr. Professor, Kitty, Friend, Teacher) in The Energy Guardians, a show about energy conservation that teaches children the importance of saving the planet’s resources. Kelsey has loved both of the projects she has done with The National Theatre for Children, having previously toured The Resource Force. Performing 2 to 5 shows per day, Kelsey travels around the world bringing knowledge, laughter, and joy to middle schools far and wide. 

Kelsey as “Kitty Hairdo” in The Energy Guardians at The National Theatre for Children (Photo by Lizzie Narlock)

These performances aren’t your typical scripted show throughout - Kelsey has the fun challenge of taking suggestions from the students in the audience, and tying them into the storyline through improv! “The students are always looking forward to that moment when they hear their specific suggestions, and the laughs are glorious. Every one of these shows are completely different as the suggestions turn the tables. ” Kelsey says. Touring with Compass Creative Dramatics last summer piqued her interest in TYA (Theatre for Young Audiences) and she believes her experiences on the road have made her a better human, performer, and educator.  “I am constantly interacting with students on and off stage allowing my communication skills to soar. As an actor, this show always has me on my toes constantly listening and being in the moment, which is extremely exciting.” Kelsey’s tour started January 25th, and she’s out on the road until March 9th. Happy touring, Kelsey!

Jill Matel and Sonia Goldberg with GreatWorks Theatre Company

Our Finance Manager and our Sales and Marketing Coordinator - Jill Matel and Sonia Goldberg - work with another touring children’s theatre group, GreatWorks Theatre Company! GreatWorks has a lineup of 13 social studies and literature-based touring shows seen by tens of thousands of students every year, in venues from the Atlantic coast to the Canadian border. While Sonia joined the ensemble this 2019/20 season, Jill has been acting in GreatWorks shows for several years now! “I truly enjoy performing for students as they are engaged and intelligent audiences.” Jill says. “Talkbacks are always fun to see what the students take away from the show.” Jill tours with The Giver and plays the Chief Elder, and plays Mrs. Rosen in Number the Stars. Sonia tours with 50 States in 60 Minutes, Fractured Fairy Tales, and A Christmas Carol and plays many fun and zany characters. Way to go, Jill & Sonia! 

Sonia Goldberg at Chicago Children’s Theatre

In addition to performing with GreatWorks, Sonia recently played Music Bear Wake Up, Brother Bear! at Chicago Children’s Theatre. Wake Up, Brother Bear! Is an immersive and highly interactive show for children ages 0-6. Brother Bear and Sister Bear guide the audience through the four seasons, while Music Bear plays cello on top of the bear cave to make their adventure full of music, fun, and excitement! Young audience members get to meet butterflies in the Spring, play with fireflies in the summer, throw leaves in the Fall, and help the bears get ready for hibernation in the winter. 

Allyce Torres (left) Sonia Goldberg (center) and Jonah Winston (right) in Wake Up, Brother Bear! (Photo by Charles Osgood)

Throughout each week, school buses filed in and hundreds of local children get to see the show as a part of their school day. On the weekends, Wake Up Brother Bear!  had public performances, and the theatre was full of children and their friends and family. “Since the show is so interactive, it changes based on the energy our audience gives us each show. So 30 shy montessori students may lead to a gentler show, while 100 students from two different schools leads to a more raucous show.” Sonia explained. “Throughout the adventure, our young audience members are encouraged to make brave choices and be a part of the story in their own way. I feel so proud of everyone during each show that my cheek muscles hurt from smiling afterwards!” Wake Up, Brother Bear! ran from January 21st through March 1st. Great job, Sonia! 

Audie Deinlein at Northbrook Theatre ​

Our wonderful office manager, Audie Deinlein, just wrapped up an exciting TYA project out in the suburbs. She performed in Knuffle Bunny, a musical adaptation of the Mo Willems book by the same name at Northbrook Theatre. Audie loves TYA because of the way in engages the community. “In Knuffle Bunny specifically, we have had so much interest from the kids in learning about the use of puppets in the show. We have shadow puppets, marionettes, and traditional hands-on puppets.” Audie says. “We've had Q+A's where we have shared all of the jobs within the theatre sphere including teaching artist positions.” So she got to share a bit about her work at Compass and beyond! 

Audie (far right) and the cast of Knuffle Bunny (Photo by Northbrook Theatre staff)

Knuffle Bunny closed on February 26th, and had many sold out performances. Well done, Audie! 

Wyatt Kent at American Blues Theatre ​

Last but not least, Wyatt Kent, the artistic director of Compass Creative Dramatics performs with The Lincoln Project through American Blues Theatre. This program was developed in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. The Lincoln Project is a free arts education program for students in 5th through 10th grades in Chicago Public Schools. It also tours to festivals, museums, and other events throughout Chicago. Wyatt and others involved in the project perform selected scenes from the Pulitzer Prize-nominated script about Lincoln’s life, The Heavens Are Hung in Black. After the performance, they lead discussions with the students, and help students write their own text based on personal experiences or current events that affect them. “I think the real highlights of the Lincoln Project is helping students from a wide range of backgrounds in Chicago practice telling stories that matter to them in their own words.” Wyatt says. “The scenes that they see performed are a jumping off point for conversation.” 

Chicago Public Schools made a concerted effort to make sure African-American History is taught year-long from middle school through high school. While there was a gap in supplementing their social studies programs, The Lincoln Project helps fill it. The Lincoln Project serves over 4,000 students annually. Great work, Wyatt!

We are so lucky to have a driven and dedicated team, and we are proud of all the great work they do to bring art to the Chicago community and beyond. And we haven’t even touched on the projects they have coming up on the horizon! Stay tuned for more exciting updates on the rich, full artistic lives of our teaching artists and staff.