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I’m so excited to introduce you to a good friend and incredible theatre teacher from Mississippi, Erick Weeks. Erick is full of passion and enthusiasm for theatre, but even more than that, he is a dedicated advocate for his students and wants so much to see them thrive and express themselves without limitation. Hope you enjoy Erick’s interview!
Erick Weeks, theatre teacher and director in Jackson, Mississippi
Rent, because at the essence of the story, we get to examine the experience of young artists trying to make it in a world where the cards are usually always stacked against them. We get to see friends form a family bond. It was also the very first Broadway show I’ve ever seen. Life changing.
One of my happiest moments in theatre would definitely be getting to see Angela Lansbury on stage in Gore Vidal’s The Best Man with my mother back in 2013. I took my mother for Mothers’ Day.
I was running a tech run through of Alice in Wonderland with our junior high ‘babies.’ All of sudden, one of the students on the far stage right who was in the tallest platform misstepped and fell to the ground. Thankfully she was ok, but I’ve never run so fast from the booth, which is in the balcony, to the stage in my life. That student is now a senior and we laugh about the memory.
I love theatre because I truly believe I was built to love theatre. There has always been something inside of me that pulls me closer to the theatre—even when my depression sometimes pulls me away. Theatre is life and because of that it’s literally for every person who walks this Earth and beyond. I could think of no better art form than that of the Theatre!
HEALING
I chose healing because the theatre is a place where the unimaginable can happen or where the most realistic interpretations can thrive. Theatre will always be the medicine that heals not only my brain, but heart as well!
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Erick Weeks, a native of Pearl, MS, currently serves as the Theatre Director at Pearl High School. Erick graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. He was the State Chapter Director for Mississippi Thespians from 2017-2020, and a National Advocacy Leader with the Educational Theatre Association where he advocated for theatre and performing arts education before Congress in Washington DC. He is a member of the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education and sits on the Board of Directors for Fondren Theatre Workshop. Most recently Erick worked with his local city government to establish the brand new Pearl Community Theatre.
“Act well your part, there all the honor lies.” – Alexander Pope
Matt Holl: Drama Teacher and Director – Theatre People
Esther Newell: Theatre Teacher and Designer – Theatre People
Mitch is the Founding Creative Director of Theatre Avenue, where he designs digital projections for the performing arts. For the last 14 years, Mitch has produced digital content for theatre and ballet companies, universities, and schools internationally. His work ranges from original illustration, animation, and motion design for productions such as Willy Wonka, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, The Wizard of Oz, Annie, Lion King and beyond. Mitch travels the country teaching projection design workshops, conducts virtual learning sessions, publishes media content, and writes for theatre magazines and blogs. Before his dive into the theatrical world, Mitch was an art director and designer creating nationwide campaigns for corporate and non-profit organizations like NBC News, Global Down Syndrome Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and the Alzheimer’s Association. He worked for 10 years with hundreds of clients as a graphic and web designer, illustrator, and motion graphics artist. Mitch earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at Ball State University, where he studied art and design, the humanities, and computer animation.
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