The Theater Company is now home to two new directors, head theater director Hattie Bergman, and technical theater director Aaron Johnson, both aiming for a successful year heavy on student-engagement.
“I had been at my previous school for a good two decades, and it seemed like it was a really good time to seek out a new challenge and try to learn something new,” Johnson said. “I saw the job opportunity arise, and it seemed like a really good fit. I’ve been very happy with the decision. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Johnson previously worked at McNeil High School in Round Rock ISD and Bergman worked at Stiles Middle School in Leander ISD. While leaving their previous jobs and students behind was difficult, they’ve found great joy working with the students here so far.
“The students are an incredible bunch of kids,” Johnson said. “I always joke that theater kids are the same wherever you go. Of course I miss my kids dearly at my previous school, but the students here are just so welcoming. They’ve been really ready to jump in and just learn as much as they can. And it’s been a real pleasure enjoying teaching them.”
Several students reported that they were very close to the three previous theater directors, but Bergman has also quickly developed strong relationships with the students.
“I’ve gotten to connect with Ms. Bergman a lot because during the whole transition process, she’s been super helpful,” senior Izzey Riley said. “Not only is she excited, but she actually gets the things she’s excited about done. She really follows through with her plans. And I think that in a couple years, the department will have grown so much.”
Riley is performing as Velma Kelly, the lead in their upcoming show, Chicago. Riley, as well as senior Max Hunter have both noticed a significant increase in theater productivity with the new directors.
“We don’t waste time,” Hunter said. “We’re already pretty close to being done with our show Chicago. Our tech and our site are almost built and ready to be put up, which is a huge change from last year where we were all kind of behind.”
With Johnson as the new tech director, there is a high standard and expectation set for the students. Students are required to work on the tech for a certain number of hours. There is a need for this efficiency with the many upcoming projects that the directors are planning. They’re currently rehearsing Chicago and casting their UIL one-act play, Tartuffe. Afterward, the Theater Company plans to perform Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars and Alice in Wonderland Jr. as their spring musical.
“I’m actually co-directing Alice in Wonderland [Jr.],” Riley said. “It’s really fun to get to be the director. It shows me a lot about things that I could work on as an actor by helping other people get over the same things. It was really cool to do the casting process and see everything come together.”
Just like Riley, Hunter, and senior Lourdes Hernandez were given the chance to senior-direct the upcoming musical, both directors are placing an emphasis on getting all the kids as hands-on as possible.
“It’s very clear to me that there has already been the groundwork laid for a really, really excellent program,” Johnson said. “So all we’re doing is trying to carry that on and give as many kids as possible the opportunity to get involved and get that sense of empowerment, where they get to have a lot of stake in whatever it is we’re doing.”
In addition to empowering students, the directors signed them up for Heller Awards, an honor presented to distinguished individuals in the talent industry. This allows students to succeed individually, presenting them opportunities to expand their talent beyond Vandegrift.
“This age is such a unique opportunity to try out so many different things and avenues,” Johnson said. “If your thing happens to be theater, great. But my hope would be that every single student here is able to find an activity that is their thing, where they can find their people.”
