Sanford Theatre Workshop Aims To Awaken Love Of The Arts in Students

For Ron Coley, developing a love of theater in students has become a passion. The Theatre Arts instructor at Lee County High School in Sanford has taken on the task for 17 years now, and it's helped create a thriving arts culture with the students.

But just teaching the students in class wasn't quite enough for Coley. Because of that, a Theatre Workshop was born.

Lee County High School in Sanford, North Carolina will soon play host to a Theatre Workshop open to Lee County students grades 2 through 8. The event will take place on Saturday, November 4th at the LCHS auditorium.

This workshop is the brainchild of Coley, the high school's Theatre Arts instructor for the past 17 years. As an ardent advocate of the dramatic arts, he hopes that this event will awaken a love of theatre and performing in many children who may not get the chance to experience it otherwise.

Being an alum of LCHS myself (go class of 2012!), I knew how effective something like this could be for the community. I recently had the chance to go back to my alma mater and speak with Coley directly about his desire to instill that passion for theatre in future high school students.

This workshop is not the only effort being made to bring the world of acting to Lee County students. "We've also started doing at least one show a year where we audition young kids to be part of these high school productions," he said. "We're trying to open that up to where we're not just teaching high school students. We're offering theatre opportunities to the whole county."

The benefits of involving Lee County children in the local high school theatre scene are incalculable. Not only does it help them discover a potential love of theatre, but as Coley clarified, it can also provide a sense of familiarity as they enter high school age.

"Middle schoolers are gonna be here, and they’re scared. But when they experience the friendly atmosphere, and then they come to high school in the next year or two they may see some faces that they know, and a place that they’ve seen. So they’re more comfortable."

But it's not just the younger children who are experiencing new opportunities. The workshop and even a few school productions are 100 percent student-led, which allows Coley's students to step into meaningful leadership roles. "The high school students will lead three different sessions: acting, singing, and dancing. I'm mainly there to guide kids between sessions but as far as the subject matter, my students take care of all of it."

As it turns out, the LCHS students leading these events get just as much out of it - if not more - than the kids attending them. "We did this last year, and the kids who showed up were very very happy. But OUR students were very thrilled," Coley said. "The ones who led the classes were like, ‘can we do it next semester? Can we do it twice a year?' Some of them may even decide they want to be teachers because of these workshops."

And helping students explore new horizons is exactly the point behind these efforts, as Coley made abundantly clear in our conversation. "Sometimes we’re so busy pushing kids into a certain direction. But we need to let them sample different things. Until they sample it, they have no idea what they want to do."

I understand more than most the kind of impact theatre can have on students. Believe it or not, I was a devastatingly shy kid growing up, to the point where people would genuinely ask my parents if I was mute. However, after enrolling in Theatre in my freshman year of high school, I was able to open up and explore my passions, tapping into skills that I didn't even know I possessed.

I credit much of who I am today to my time in my school's theatre department. Performing onstage during those four years opened up a whole new world to me, and allowed me to cultivate the personality and skill set that I would later turn into an amazing on-air radio career.

This concept certainly isn't lost on Coley either. He understands that not every child who tries theatre is going to enjoy it, but he does believe there is some value to be gained from every student who participates. "My goal is not to turn out a classroom full of professional actors. But if they walk away with a deeper understanding and respect for the arts, and they walk away with more confidence in their selves and their abilities, then I consider that a success."

Theatre can be a creative, liberating outlet for children, many of whom may have trouble expressing themselves otherwise. It's so important to support the local arts, and getting your kids involved at a young age is a perfect way to show that support for generations to come!

Here's all the info you need if you'd like your child to participate in the Theatre Workshop in Sanford:

As a youth coach, there is no better feeling than being able to be able to coach a team that your kid is on. But you realize, if your little athletes goes on to play post-youth ball, they will eventually play for someone else. This led me to think about which high-profile football coaches (in both the NFL and NCAA) I would want my kid to play for today.

This is focused on the sport of football for three main reasons. The first is that is the sport I coach him in. Second, it's the sport of the season. Lastly, it's the sport my son loves the most right now.

In today's modern era of professional and high-profile college sports, the head coaches are very prominent figures. Their press conferences are posted to social media. Furthermore, their demeanor is constantly evaluated,, as the press formulate an opinion as to whether or not they are doing a good job.

So, what do I look for when thinking about who I'd want my son to play for? Well, in this hypothetical scenario, it is important to note that I am selecting a coach, and not a team. Then, it boils down to attitude. These coaches seem to have an attitude that goes way beyond winning. There's an empathy to their approach. They carry themselves as unique individuals first, and then as a coach. This then leads their locker room to do the same. Lastly, each of them has bet on themselves, and some point had to have the unwavering belief that they would be great at what they do. They never quit on their dreams or their teams.

I have never met any of these coaches. In addition, none of them coach the team I cheer for. They simply inspire me with how they go about their craft and inspire their players.

Here are the four football coaches I'd want my kid to play for.

After the Lions beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, head coach Dan Campbell stood at the team locker room door and congratulated each player on his team as they entered. A hand shake, a hug, a slap on the shoulder pads, or a "great job, man" was issued to each member of the squad. This sentiment is nothing new for Campbell. He's a player's coach; he relates to his players. Why? Because he was one. Campbell played tight end in the NFL for the Giants, Cowboys, Lions, and Saints before becoming a coach. Campbell makes sure his players know two things before they take the field. That he believes in them, and that he has their backs. Furthermore, Campbell always exemplifies gratitude for his moments. He knows what it's like to fail and get back up. In 2015, Campbell was named the interim head coach of the Dolphins. He was not retained. Now, he has the Lions in the playoffs.

From a NFL Dan to a college football Dan. Yes, the Oregon Ducks lost heartbreakers to the University of Washington Huskies this past season. Yes, you can argue Lanning had some interesting calls in those games. In response, Lanning said, "I think this game is 100% on me," he said." He took responsibility and held himself accountable, which is what he expects of his players. A coach who has the confidence to show his or her leadership while simultaneously recognizing the responsibility that comes with such a title, is someone you want your kids to look up to. Speaking of kids, Lanning had to move countless times until he earned his Oregon head coaching job. He too, failed more than once, but believed in himself to get back up without having a plan B. Even when his kids were babies, he bet on himself to keep going after his dream instead of taking a paycheck outside of coaching. 

If you want an example of overcoming adversity and defying the odds, Mike McDaniel is a pretty great example. As a young kid obsessed with the Denver Broncos, McDaniel used to ride his bike to their training camp. One day he lost his hat and then met the team assistant, Gary McCune, who felt bad for this kid who was so upset. This led to McDaniel eventually becoming a ballboy. At 22, he was a coaching intern for the Broncos. Over the next 17 years, he would do every odd job possible as an NFL assistant. He got fired a few times, successfully completed rehab, and lost a Super Bowl. McDaniel never stopped grinding, even when he'd frequently get called the "IT guy" due to his smaller size. He didn't look like a NFL coach, and he had his own style. This is what has led to McDaniel's success with the Miami Dolphins. His players love playing for him, just as much as he loved coaching for them. He also gets to the office at 3 am.

I am staying in the Pacific Northwest for my college choices here. However, it's a non-football related story that made me take to Coach DeBoer, who led the Huskies to the championship. Prior to the Oregon game, the Huskies star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. partnered with a local artist named Keegan Hall. Together, they signed prints of Hall's incredible drawing of Penix Jr. They sold 200 of them and donated every dollar earned to a local charity. Coach DeBoer was involved in this effort, showing a high level of support. Then, Hall shared a story where DeBoer went out of his way, while on the field during the Oregon game to express his sincere interest in what Hall and Penix Jr. had accomplished. "Without a doubt, @kalendeboer has been incredibly successful on the field but, in my opinion, it’s what he does off the field that enables that success," Hall said, telling the story in an Instagram post. This type of authentic human-element is something you can't teach. DeBoer has shown he cares about the person, and the impact, not just the football player.