PHOTO CREDIT: SARAH SHARPE
BY SARAH SHARPE
Cooper City High School has definitely scored the cream of the crop with one of its latest additions to their staff. Boasting a resume that covers over 20 years of professional theatre experience from right here in South Florida, Amy London has happily taken the position of the new drama teacher. London has been doing theatre since she was only five years old and started working professionally at the young age of 16. She has earned a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Vermont and an MFA in Acting and Directing from Trinity University. Over the course of her career, London has been a performer, director, producer, lighting designer, and stage manager, and now can add teacher to her list.
Recognizing her love for teaching and the performing arts, the previous drama teacher Angela Thomas recommended London for her position. London now teaches all of the acting classes, levels I-IV, and looks forward to a great debut at CCHS.
Along with sharing her love of theatre in the classroom, London has planned a wonderful year as the drama club’s new advisor. She will be putting on the beloved 1960’s musical, Hair, in the winter and a comedic play in the spring that is yet to be determined.
“I’m very excited for Hair because a lot of people can be in it and the music’s great,” London said. “It’s all about the Hippie movement in the 1960s and it should be fun to explore that and tie in some of the history with it.”
CCHS will also be participating in the annual Florida State Thespians competition, attending the district level festival in December and state level festival in Tampa in March. London is also very excited to get the drama club involved in the Cappies, the “Critics and Awards Program”, again. The Cappies is a program through which high school theatre and journalism students train to be critics, attend shows at other schools, and write reviews, which are published on the Sun Sentinel Teenlink website and in local newspapers. At the end of the year, the student critics vote for awards that are presented at a formal Cappies Gala at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in May. As for drama club, meetings will be held every Monday after school.
“It’s a very inclusive club,” London said. “You don’t have to want to be an actor. Between technical work, selling concessions, and helping backstage, there’s a lot to do to have fun with in the arts without wanting to be a performer. Of course, there is also plenty to do if you do want to perform on stage.”
Auditions for Hair will be held October 20th, 21st, and 22nd. For those brave enough to sing along with a piano, an accompanist will be provided, so students are encouraged to bring sheet music. Also, anyone who is familiar with the musical will know that some elements of the script are not appropriate for school. London has thoroughly thought this through and revised the script so that the whole family can enjoy the show.
“There definitely will not be nudity in our production,” London said. “I think the nudity was done as shock value, and now that everyone knows and expects that, it doesn’t do what it set out to do anymore; I don’t think you need it. I think you can communicate in other creative ways. The original production wanted freedom, free love, respect for one another, and love for yourself.”
London hopes to meet a lot of people this year and witness the talent CCHS students have to offer. It looks like it’s going to be another fantastic year for the drama department.
“My advice for any student who wants to audition is to be confident and have fun,” London said. “I don’t care if you make a mistake; it’s just how you handle it. Keep going and think positive.”
