Jarah Botello directs a community theatre production

Behind the Curtain – Interview with Jarah Botello (part 2)

College theatre instructor and director Jarah Botello talks to Theatre Avenue about producing community plays

What do you love most about theatre?

There are a lot of things I love about it. I love that it incorporates a lot of different forms of creativity. Someone who’s in theatre can sing, dance, act, paint, design costumes and sets. You can write plays. Pretty much everything you could possibly do as far as an artist you can do in theatre. And I love that it’s a collaboration of a bunch of different artists. To work on a show, I think it’s one of the best ways that people can bond together. There are always fun moments in a show and then there are trying moments. It really takes every part to pull a show together and if you have a missing part, it doesn’t work. So, in that sense, I think it’s a great team-building, bonding experience with a group. There’s nothing like it.

I mean, I have friends that I did shows with, probably 20 years ago, and there’s still a connection there because we did a show together. It’s sharing that creative experience together that I think bonds people. I’m creative in a lot of different ways so I like to act and I like to write songs and I love to write music and scenes and design and all of that can come out in a show. And I think it’s a good way for kids to gain confidence as well—or for anybody. It’s a way to push outside of yourself to tell a story—and outside of your fears. I think public speaking or speaking in front of a crowd is one of the most common fears, like right underneath death or something (giggles). For people to get over that in a really fun and safe environment. I think it’s really powerful.

And then, just the storytelling element as well. The fact that there are so many stories, fiction and nonfiction, to be told that have a message that can really impact an audience.

Question 3 Coming Soon!

Jarah is a director with a community theatre program in rural Alabama, helping children and teens in an impoverished area gain opportunities through local theatre.