Students Learn How to Handle Long Rehearsals and Schoolwork while building friendships and having fun.

The Challenge

Mastering time management is no easy task, but RCHS Drama students have overcome the battle. These students rehearsed for “James and the Giant Peach” every day for hours after school. They did this for weeks before opening night last week. During this time, they had to figure out a schedule for their schoolwork, theater practice, and other extracurricular activities.

Getting to know the master time managers

The burden is different for every student. As freshmen Rhea Victorien says, “I just make a list of what I need to do. I look at my free time each day. Sometimes, I have a long break when I am not on stage. This allows me to get work done. Other days, I often do my work at lunch or in the car.” Students must examine their schedules. They need to find enough free time to work on homework.

Many students ask their teachers for extensions on some assignments. Quinn Patrick, as a freshman, says, “My teachers are very understanding. They know what time I have outside of the classroom for schoolwork. They often give me extra time to complete them.” Teachers at Raleigh Charter know what it is like to be a high school student. They are typically very understanding in situations like this. 

Patrick also talks about the free time she has while prop making. Some days, there is a lot of free time for her to do homework. Other days, there is a long list of tasks to be completed. This leaves limited time for homework.

A day in the life of a playworker

An actor’s life is typically a hodgepodge of time. Some days they have a week with no rehearsals. Other times, rehearsals occur every day the next week. The schedule changes frequently. These actors must be prepared for unexpected calls to rehearsals. They also need to be ready for other unexpected events. To be prepared, these students have to talk to teachers and peers about strategies for time management. They need to discover their own strategies that work for them in order to get things done.

It is not just actors who should get the credit. The musical would be in ruins without hours of hard work from the backstage crew. They prepare props, paint set pieces, organize costumes, and so much more. 

The week of opening night is chaotic. All of the actors are finding costumes, placing props, setting lights, and getting mics. There is so much more happening that actors need support from a behind-the-scenes crew. These crew members do so much work but often go unnoticed.

Opening night was a success! Senior Amy Lin says that she laughed so much and that the actors did such a great job. There are 6 shows in total. These actors will have a chance to spread the joy of James. They will share his adventures along the way. The actors made so many more friendships along the way, just like James did with the critters in the peach!