K'Lynn Childress, high school theatre director at Jersey Village in Houston, Texas

TheatrePeople (#1) - K'Lynn Childress

The very first entry in our new series, TheatrePeople. Enjoy getting to know K'Lynn, Theatre Director and Teacher at Jersey Village High in Houston, Texas!

K'Lynn Childress, drama teacher at Jersey Village High in Houston, Texas

What’s a show that inspires you? (explain away!)

Come From Away is one of the most incredible theatrical experiences I’ve ever had. The pacing, the switching between characters, the design...I haven’t stopped thinking about it for ten months!

What’s your happiest moment in theatre?

It seems impossible to narrow down, but watching our show last year at Bi-District contest (Where Words Once Were) was definitely one of the most incredible moments of my life in the theatre. My students told a beautiful story, the design came together exactly as I’d envisioned, and for the first time ever I truly felt that I was capable of directing. That show was such a labor of love, and that was by far the most incredible performance!

What’s the biggest ‘fail’ or goof you’ve seen on stage? (do tell the story)

Oh gosh. A few years ago I directed the Scottish Play. We waited too long to add an element to the vision M has if the line of kings—clear plastic sheeting draped over the kings’ heads—and performed the scene in front of an audience without rehearsing it with the plastic first. The kings circled M...and then one of them, unable to see through what was apparently not clear enough plastic, kept walking. Straight off the stage. He was totally fine and it was hilarious later, but not at the time!

Why do you love theatre?

I love how almost every time I tell someone what I do for a living, their eyes light up and they begin to tell me about the shows they were part of in school, their teacher, their favorite musical...theatre matters!

Theatre is for...

PERSPECTIVE

The ability to place yourself in someone else’s circumstances, the understanding of why humans do what they do, the ability to empathize with another person, the knowledge of how you fit into a global story...theatre expands your world in ways nothing else can.