Wiesbaden, Germany — More than 120 DoDDS-Europe students representing 21 high schools will converge at a holiday retreat center in Germany April 30 to May 3 to study the art of theater.

Drama Fest 2007, a four-day event that is conducted every other year, kicks off the first evening with performances ranging from Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” to segments of Neil Simon’s “The Good Doctor.” In the days that follow, students will spend their daytime hours training in workshops, and presenting and critiquing evening performances by groups from the participating schools.

“Selections were made at each school based on criteria established by educators in the school,” said Dan Nukala, a Ramstein High School educator serving as this year’s festival project officer. “We asked them to find enthusiastic drama students who wanted to learn new things that they could take back to their schools and share with their classmates.” 

Those lucky enough to be selected will take their thespian experience to a higher level in the company of peers from across Europe. Drama Fest is one of a wide range of exceptional student activities available to DoDDS-Europe students that expand their educational experience and allow participants to grow and excel.

“The emphasis in the workshops is not to create a performance, but rather to learn new techniques that can help them when they return to their host schools,” said Nukala. “The focus at the fest is on creating theater rather than on simply performing alone.”

Students will live together at the retreat for the duration of the festival, which affords them opportunities to socialize and share the educational experience with others interested in theater. The workshops will be run and supervised by DoDDS-Europe educators and instructional support specialists.

“We have workshops for students in areas such as character building, stage movement, monologues, musical theater, improvisational acting and open scenes,” said Nukala. “Students will spend about three hours of time in each of two workshops, so there will be plenty of learning time and hands-on experience.”

Nukala, who currently teaches Shakespeare, Advanced Placement Language and Composition, and supervises the Ramstein High School Yearbook project, has been a DoDDS-Europe educator for 28 years. This is his sixth time around as the director of a drama fest.

“I still enjoy the whole process of putting things together for opening night,” he said.

TO ARRANGE COVERAGE AND INTERVIEWS, CONTACT:

Mr. Ron Coia
DoDDS-E Instructional Support Specialist
English Language, Middle School
DSN: 338-7943
CELL: (0151) 5398-6785
EMAIL: ron.coia@eu.dodea.edu

David Ruderman
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
Office of the Director
DoDDS-Europe
DSN 338-7613/7614
CIV (49) 0611-380-7613/7614
FAX: DSN 338-7685 CIV 0611-380-7685
david.ruderman@eu.dodea.edu

"MATH MATTERS"