Student directs full length play for first time in WLHS history

Mary Earp
September 28, 2012

For the first time in West Linn High School history, a student will be directing a play on her own. Kaelyn Rushforth, senior, is directing the play “Eurydice” by Sarah Ruhl, and she will be doing this almost completely on her own.

“I am directing this show by myself,” Rushforth said. “Jessica Murray [Acting teacher] will sit in on a few rehearsals, but other than that, it is just me.”

According to Rushforth and Murray, this is the first time that any student has had this opportunity.

“Kaelyn actually proposed [the idea of directing a play] to me last spring,” Murray said. “I have never had a student direct a full length show. We do SHORTS every year, with student directors, but this is a much larger task. She gave me a very prepared, thoughtful, mature pitch and I decided to go for it.”

Rushforth feels honored by this opportunity, as she has been involved with theatre for a large part of her life. According to Murray, Rushforth is very qualified to direct the play.

“We may not have a student do this each year, but I have one who I feel is very capable now,” Murray said. “She has taken all the courses, shown high-quality work and plans to study theatre in college. I am a big believer in project based learning. I think students learn best by doing.”

Rushforth will be casting and directing the play while Murray helps guide her along the way. Murray is sure that the play will be a success, and she is very excited to see the end result.

“I have no doubt that it will be beautiful,” Murray said. “Kaelyn has an excellent aesthetic. This is educational theatre, “education” first, and this is an incredible learning opportunity for Kaelyn and also for the seven actors who will be cast in this challenging show.”

Both Rushforth and Murray are fans of the chosen play, “Eurydice.” In fact, Rushforth chose the play because of how much it moves her.

“I saw this play performed at State and it moved me to tears,” Rushforth said. “It moves me so much, in fact, that I’ve read it at least 50 times, and there isn’t a time I haven’t cried.”

According to Murray, Rushforth’s love for the material will help to make the play that much better. Along with this, Murray supported the play decision because of how it coincides with her vision of the year.

“I love the play…It completely fits within my theme for the entire theatre season this year—reinventing and reinvigorating the classics,” Murray said. “Kaelyn read many, many plays in preparation for this and finally presented me with this proposal. She is very inspired and excited about the material, and that is essential when directing a play.”

“Eurydice” is a “beautiful, heartbreaking story of love and loss,” Rushforth said. The play will be performed from Dec. 6-8 in the Black Box.

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About the Contributor

Mary Earp, Co Editor-in-chief

Perfectionist, outgoing and busy are just three of the many words that describe Mary Earp, senior. Earp heard about Amplifier from her eighth grade English teacher, and has been a part of the staff since her freshman year. Currently, she is one of the three Co-Editors-in-chiefs of the paper. Most people have goals that they would like to pursue in their life, and this is a true statement for Earp as well. “I want to be a doctor, and I know this sounds cheesy, but I would really like to make a difference in the world,” Earp said. After high school, her hopes include attending either Pomona College or University of California, Berkeley. Outside of school, Earp has a very hectic life which includes playing co-ed soccer, being a member of the school Mock Trial team and being the President of National Honor Society. She is traveling to New York in late October for an international Mock Trial Competition, Empire, where she is assigned to present the closing argument and both direct and cross examinations for the trial. Some highlights of Earp’s summer were hanging out with friends and taking a vacation to North Carolina, where she visited family and spent some time at the warm sunny beach. If Earp could visit any place two places in the world, she would choose “Italy and Machu Picchu, Peru, because the scenery is beautiful,” Earp said. Her favorite year in high school so far was junior year. “It challenged me the most and broadened my horizons,” Earp said. So far in her senior year, the class Earp most enjoys is AP Environmental Science, “It’s very interesting, enlightening, and I have a great teacher,” Earp said. Earp’s senior year is packed with AP Environmental Science, AP Calculus BC and AP English, leaving her with a long night of work to complete. The most challenging part of taking these classes “is all of the work involved,” Earp said. So far, her last year in high school has been hectic and full of work, yet she is excited and looking forward to all of the opportunities that lie ahead in her future.