Announcer (00:00): Highlighting the amazing stories from inside the North Clackamas School District. This is the Proud To Be NCSD podcast, hosted by longtime principal and current community relations director, Curtis Long.

Robert Nove (00:14): We're quiet and listening and we're paying attention to what's going on so that way, not only us but the people around us know what to and know what's going on during the show. Sound good?

Curtis Long (00:26): You are listening to the sounds from one of the favorite days of the year for North Clackamas Elementary Students.

Robert Nove (00:31): Stay in our seats because these lights up here are gonna go out.

Curtis Long (00:36): It's field trip day for fourth and fifth graders from both Happy Valley and Verne Duncan Elementary Schools. But the Happy Valley students aren't wearing waterproof boots on a traditional field trip to the schools nearby wetlands.

Robert Nove (00:48): Awesome. Awesome.

Curtis Long (00:49): And Duncan students total commute time for this field trip. Two minutes. That's because today's field trip was put together by the multi-talented Adrienne C. Nelson High School thespians, who along with their director Robert Nove, invited a packed auditorium of Happy Valley and Duncan students, teachers and parent chaperones to a sneak peek of their fall production. Alice In Wonderland. After a few final instructions for the excited audience from Mr. Nove...

Robert Nove (01:13): During the show. Should you be talking?

Student Audience (01:15): Nooooo!

Robert Nove (01:17): Awesome job.

Curtis Long (01:18): It's time to draw back the curtain and let the show begin. And as Nelson High School sophomore, Melly DaMetz opens the show as Alice herself

Melly DaMetz (01:29): Because today's my birthday and my mother's baking a great big cake with pink icing.

Curtis Long (01:36): It's the culmination of months of hard work from a group of students who don't have a drama class offered at their high school, which means every set design, every line reading, every costume fitting, and every rehearsal was done on their own time simply for a love of performing. And simply put, these young elementary students love being a part of the audience. Today on the Proud To Be NCSD podcast, we go behind the scenes to meet three Nelson High School students who, like many of their castmates, manage to balance the demands of everyday high school life with an afterschool role in the school's production of Alice In Wonderland. What drew them to such a demanding extracurricular activity? How did they manage their time and what makes it all worth it? After hearing the cheers of audiences like this and joining us now on the Proud To Be NCSD podcast, we are very excited to welcome three fantastic performers from Nelson High School's fall performance of Alice In Wonderland. It's Nelson High School students, Emily Sutliffe, Tyson Thames, and Melly DaMetz, Emily, Tyson, Melly...We are actually recording this right at Nelson High School today during a school day. But we promise each of you are excused from class right now. <laugh>, thanks so much for joining us.

Emily Sutliffe (02:57): Thank you for having us.

Tyson Thames (02:58): Thank you. Yes, thank you. Thank you, <laugh>.

Curtis Long (03:00): Now, since this is a podcast and our listeners can't actually see you talking, let's have each of you introduce yourself so they can match a voice to a name. Tell us your name, your year here at Nelson, and what role you played in the most recent production and maybe what you love most about being a part of Nelson's drama program. Melly, you wanna go first?

Melly DaMetz (03:16): Yeah. My name is Melly. I'm a sophomore here at Nelson and I played Alice in Alice in Wonderland. And my favorite part of our theater program is definitely our community and how close we are and how we're just constantly cheering each other on and just pushing through everything together. It's, it's, it's very, it's just very supportive.

Curtis Long (03:35): Emily, you're up next.

Emily Sutliffe (03:36): Hi, my name's Emily Sutliffe. I play the two Spades in Alice In Wonderland and I think my, I think my favorite thing about being part of the drama program is just being able to be with a group of people who all share a love of theater. We all get to relate with that, so we all start on some like common ground and we all get to like relate to each other and it was like, it's really easy to grow a friendship with people that you share common interest with.

Curtis Long (03:59): Alright. Tyson, you're up.

Tyson Thames (04:00): I'm Tyson Thames. I played the King of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland. And for me, my favorite part of our theater program is like they said, the support and working together with people who have a common interest because that's not super common in the world where you get to work with people who have one goal and be part of something that's bigger than yourself and that, I think that's really cool.

Curtis Long (04:23): Alright, first things first. You heard the excitement in those elementary school students' voices as the curtain went up on your latest show. What's it like to perform for students who could end up on that same stage one day

Emily Sutliffe (04:32): I was getting so excited at the thought that being the person on stage that might potentially inspire them to become an actor, like might have been us. Because a lot of them were really, really, really just like, we had a q and a afterward where they were all asking us questions and they all just seemed so eager. Even after being in an auditorium for like over an hour, they all seem so eager to like learn more. So I was really getting knowing that like one day these people after we've graduated, they might end up on the stage getting to perform.

Melly DaMetz (04:59): I remember that 'cause it was our first show for an actual audience. I was so nervous waiting in the Vom. And that the second that all of the elementary schoolers sort of answering to Mr. Nove, I was straight up hopping up and down and just pure excitement and like joy, like Mama Thames, Tyson's mom, she was recording me jumping up and down and all the freshmen in our troop, they're like, you're gonna do great Melly. And I remember the sick and I walked out on stage and like the spotlight hit me. Everybody in the audience, they're like, oh my gosh, is that Alice as, oh

Tyson Thames (05:29): My gosh, she's so, she's

Melly DaMetz (05:30): So pretty. And then like after the show, a bunch of the, the little kids came up to the stage and they were like, can I get a hug with you? So I jumped off the stage and there's this little girl who had a bow in her hair and I was like, I have a bow in my hair. And she goes, I tried to dress like you. And that moment I was just, this is all I've ever wanted to do was be an influence for other people and I get to be an influence by something that makes me so happy. And so I was just like, it's just pure joy. And I was like, please, please join theater little ones. <laugh>.

Curtis Long (05:57): Yeah. It was so great. I saw them at the end. They, they came up to the stage. They were like flooding the stage and wanted to high five you or Yes. Or touch because you're celebrities today.

Melly DaMetz (06:06): I know <laugh>. Yeah. It's like we're literally important the characters to them. Like we were quite literally like the king and to and Alice.

Curtis Long (06:14): And I think it helps that it's a story that they know pretty well. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. Yeah. Most kids know the story of Alice In Wonderland. So to see that come to life and with people who go to school literally for Duncan kids right down the street. I mean, it's five minutes from here. Yeah. So it's gotta be pretty fun.

Tyson Thames (06:27): Yeah. It's, it was so fun to like, well I asked some of them, I was like, now do you wanna do theater? And they were like, no. And I was like, I was like, why? And they're like, it's kind of scary. And I was like, yeah, but it's, you're fine. But this show is much, not as much for Melly because you know, everybody loves Alice. But I did a show last December where I played Buddy The Elf and we had a lot of kids in the audience and it was very similar where they're so giddy and they just, they laugh at all of the jokes. Even the ones that are kind of dumb. So like, they're so earnest. They haven't become cynical yet. Like most high schoolers and middle schoolers <laugh>. Yeah. So it's really cool to see that and have them come up to you after the show and be like, Mm-Hmm <affirmative>. I wanna do that now. And it's just like, it makes heart happy.

Curtis Long (07:09): Now did any of you ever attend a high school play when you were in elementary or middle school and get inspired by that?

Emily Sutliffe (07:14): No, but I remember when I was younger getting to go on field trips to Portland Center stage and stuff like that and getting to see different performances and stuff like that. And I remember like, gosh, I wish I could do that. Like I really wanna be open on stage and perform. So when Curtain had opened, we did our bows and everyone clapped and stuff and we were doing the questions I was just like remembering, I was like, oh my gosh, I wanna do this as a kid. So now I'm like, I'm that person for them. And I think that they were all just so excited and I think it helped a lot that we did a show that's like familiar to them. Yeah. Because they didn't really have to try as hard to follow the plot of it. They just knew like it was stories. Like these are second nature to us because we, you know, hear them as kids or we watch them on tv. So I think them getting to see how we put on the show was really cool for them.

Curtis Long (07:53): And we're gonna talk about it a little bit later, but you guys don't have a drama department here at school. There are no drama classes during the

Tyson Thames (08:00): Anymore.

Curtis Long (08:00): Unlike other high schools that maybe could practice during school day. You guys don't have that. We'll talk about that a little bit more. I'm interested too in, I mean, Melly, you're a sophomore. Emily Junior. Junior. And Tyson also

Tyson Thames (08:11): A junior.

Curtis Long (08:12): A junior. So you two have been here. Well all of you have been here since the school's been open. It's only the third year of Nelson High School. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. What made you want to join a program that didn't really have classes during the day? What made you wanna be a part of the drama department?

Emily Sutliffe (08:24): Actually, so the first year that the school opened me, uh, Tyson and I were both freshmen and at the time we did have, oh, okay. Um, we did have classes during the school day, not this school year, but the past two we did have classes. So we were able to get to work on different things and skills and stuff like that during the school day. So I think I signed up for that immediately. Like I remember Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. I came from a private school so I didn't really get to do forecasting. The only thing I like told them at the counseling office was I want to be in the acting classes. So I got to be put in one of them. And I knew right away I also wanted to do it outside of class. 'cause I went to a private school where like performing on stage was like something that we all kind of did. So when I came to public school and nobody, people were like, oh, theater kids are weird. I was like,

Tyson Thames (09:03): What are you talking about?

Emily Sutliffe (09:05): Yeah. Like what is going on?

Melly DaMetz (09:06): No, I grew up always wanting to perform and wanting to go into theater classes, but we didn't have much money and my parents were divorced and worked, so I couldn't go to Journey or would just now imagine. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative> and stuff like that. So the second I was in eighth grade and we got the forecasting sheet, I was like acting, acting, acting please. And the second I got to acting class, I was so happy. I was like, these people are cool, these are like the people I was I'm looking for. And like the acting classes taught me things that we use so much on stage. And because we don't have those classes anymore, during our thespian meetings after school, we're trying to make acting seminars and little introductions to tech areas so everybody can still get a sense of what happens in the classes. 'cause without the acting classes, I wouldn't have known how to audition. 'cause the first audition I ever did was for the fall play last year trap. And I wouldn't have known how to do that if it weren't for the acting classes.

Emily Sutliffe (09:59): Yeah. Our hope is that since we're doing a lot of events this year with our drama club and stuff like that, we're doing lots of events and fundraisers and fun things in the class as well as doing shows. Our hope is that we have enough people who are interested next year in those classes so that enough of them forecast to bring those classes back. 'cause what happened was last year we didn't have enough people forecasting for the classes. So because of like budget cuts Mm-Hmm. They cut that class 'cause it was at least like forecasted for Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. So this year our hope is that we get people really interested back into it so that next year we can have classes. So we're really pushing teaching, uh, everyone, like all the stuff we learned in those classes. 'cause it's also not really necessarily fair to them. 'cause we had that outlet during a school day and we had a way to learn all those foundational things like improv and cheating out and you're blocking and levels and things like that. Those are things I learned in those acting classes. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. We're trying to teach those things during drama club because we just don't have that anymore.

Curtis Long (10:46): Well I think you're well on your way to popularizing drama again at Nelson with performances like you had with Alice In Wonderland. Now Tyson, for you, drama's not new to you in high school. You've kind of grown up around this. Tell us a little bit about your story.

Tyson Thames (10:57): Well I'm very unique. I never wanted to do theater. Okay. I was very shy. I hated watching the musical. I, if I was in that elementary school performance, I would've been like, Ugh, guys, this <laugh>. I never took a drama class. Jeez Tyson. But freshman year when we came in and there was the musical, my parents told me I had to either audition with my sister who's a senior now. Okay. Or do track. And I was like, absolutely not <laugh>. I'm not, I'm not taking track. So then I like, they tricked that a trick tricked You

Emily Sutliffe (11:31): Forced you didn't want

Tyson Thames (11:32): To do it. Yeah. But then I did that and it was the coolest experience of my life. And ever since then I've been doing shows here at the school, at other places. I'm in my first professional show right now. I mean, I got hooked as a freshman. Whereas it sounds like the other two had already been hooked. They already wanted to do it. But I came in and I was like, I

Melly DaMetz (11:49): Got super duper hooked. I, I was doing dance team last year at the same time as theater. But then the second we finished our fall show trap, I was like, this is the only thing I want to do. <laugh>. I love performing and I love dancing, but acting, performing, that's my thing. Yeah.

Tyson Thames (12:04): Yeah.

Curtis Long (12:04): So Tyson, I knew you were, you're in other shows so all because you didn't wanna set foot on a track. <laugh>, you found your new passion.

Tyson Thames (12:10): Yeah. No this is like, this is, yes. And this is one of those things where it's like, I love it so much now that I can't imagine not doing it. Yeah. So it was one of those happy things. And I, I constantly think, I'm like, well what if I had just been like, fine, I'll do track. Yeah. I would be a completely different person. Sure. And I wouldn't be with all these wonderful people and having all these great friendships. I would've probably had other friendships. But <laugh>, that's

Melly DaMetz (12:33): An amazing story. I think Core,

Emily Sutliffe (12:34): I feel like it's a similar story for a lot of, a lot of people at our drama club. Definitely. It's sort of the same for me as with Melly. I auditioned for Pippin and I was lead for Bertha and it was a really, really fun experience. It was a super amazing show to be in. And I remember I was doing club volleyball at the same time and balancing both was like really stressful. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. And I was like, okay, next year I have to pick. And I knew the exact moment when I decided when we were doing after shows. We always do like a circle up when we share memories or thoughts or feelings or moments from the show or shout out people. And it's a really emotional time. Normally we most

Tyson Thames (13:04): Start crying. There was a lot of crying. We

Emily Sutliffe (13:06): Saw a lot of crying above. And I remember I was like, this is too great of a community to give up was definitely. So I was like, I'm quitting volleyball and I'm doing theater full time. And I know a lot of people in our drama program are like that where they did sports Yeah. Or other activities. And they're like, no theater's. Theater's my thing. Now it makes me so happy.

Melly DaMetz (13:20): I did a full year of dance team. But with dance team, nobody ever hung out outside of practice or competition. Nobody talked to each other outside of practice. But with theater we're constantly doing things as big friend groups after school. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative> after shows going out and doing stuff. We're constantly talking to each other and posting each other. It's so weird. I don't know how to explain it if you're not in it, but it's really just such a bonded community. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. And I've never seen anything like it anywhere else. Yeah. And I don't know if it's just our troop and the way the people who are in our troop right now founded it all because of Pippen, like Emily and Tyson. I think it's leaving a really good mark for the incoming freshmen and how fast they took me under their wing and how fast I'm taking the incoming freshman under my wing. It's just such a close and tight community that I don't want it to go away. And I feel like everybody deserves it

Curtis Long (14:10): Now a lot of times. I'm glad you talked about the commitment that you guys each make. 'cause a lot of times people think of extracurricular activities at high schools and they think of sports. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. They long hours of practice after school games on specific nights. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. I don't think people think of things like band or choir or

Tyson Thames (14:24): Drama.

Curtis Long (14:24): Definitely. But your schedules are just as demanding, aren't they?

Tyson Thames (14:28): Yes.

Curtis Long (14:29): It's like playing a varsity sport. Time

Emily Sutliffe (14:31): Shoes. They, yeah. They always care about

Tyson Thames (14:33): Arts kids

Melly DaMetz (14:34): Throw

Emily Sutliffe (14:34): Under the bus. It takes up so much time. So if you rack up enough hours, a hundred hours of theater work, you can become an inducted thespian. And it's a international organization where you become like, it's kind of like, I feel like the best way to explain, it's like an official theater person, theater kid.

Melly DaMetz (14:51): You're an official amazing theater kid. And now at certain high schools you can get into shows for free.

Tyson Thames (14:56): Like high, like

Curtis Long (14:57): Taking you back to sports. It's like you've lettered in

Tyson Thames (15:00): Exactly. Yeah. Letter get.

Melly DaMetz (15:01): Letter letter. You

Emily Sutliffe (15:02): Get, it's so time demanding that you can rack up a hundred hours within one show. Uhhuh so easily. Mm-Hmm.

Tyson Thames (15:08): <affirmative>. And for me, for example, my schedule, because I just, I loved it so much. I was like, okay, I'm gonna throw myself in. Last week we had tech for Alice in Wonderland. Yeah. That's five hours, six hour days on top of the school day. Uhhuh that like

Melly DaMetz (15:22): Every night at that point, at that point, theater after school, I thought it was a completely new day. Every single day. Yeah. <laugh>, I remember specifically during the mock turtle scene because I'm so far away from like the other two Uhhuh and the other two people I'm acting with, I'd go, oh my gosh, this is the same day as like six hours ago when I was in class right now. Yeah. <laugh>, how is this

Emily Sutliffe (15:40): Possible and time, time morphs. You have no concept of time anymore. Uhhuh. And we do, we do try to be courteous that we want as many people to join as possible. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. Because we want everyone to experience the joy that is theater, Uhhuh, <affirmative>. So we do try to like be courteous about the people who do do sports and they also wanna do theater. So there's opportunities, even if you can't, you don't have the time commitment to be on stage every afternoon as a lead. Yeah. There's opportunities for everyone. Even if you do have prior commitments, you can go to drama club or

Melly DaMetz (16:07): Backstage crew. Backstage

Emily Sutliffe (16:09): Crew, our crew, they are phenomenal and they work so hard. They're amazing. They're behind the curtain. But there is no show without tech. Uhhuh <affirmative>. So yeah, there's,

Curtis Long (16:18): I was gonna ask about that. 'cause Tyson mentioned tech. What is that for someone who doesn't know drama?

Tyson Thames (16:21): So there's two things called tech, which is a little confusing. <laugh>. So there's tech as in all of the people working backstage to bring us our lights. So the lights, our sound costumes, our sets, our props, all of that stuff that makes And

Curtis Long (16:33): Those are students as well? Yeah.

Tyson Thames (16:35): That's students. Students. Students. And that's what makes us look good. Yes. But the other tech is when we combine what those hardworking students have been doing backstage with what actors have been doing on stage. And it takes a long time to get that honed in. And it's like getting all the lights and

Melly DaMetz (16:50): Stuff. It's the stressful part of theater. Yeah. But once it's over and you realize all the hard work that both parts of the community have been doing, crew and actors, it's like the best feeling ever seen everything finally put together. Yeah.

Curtis Long (17:02): So when Melly comes out on that stage for the first, first the show starts. There's someone who's in charge of getting that spotlight

Emily Sutliffe (17:09): In

Curtis Long (17:09): The right spot.

Melly DaMetz (17:10): I'm pretty sure Jack Stanley was doing my spotlight. <laugh>

Tyson Thames (17:13): Shout out to Spotlight. Shout out Jack Stanley. Yes. Yes.

Emily Sutliffe (17:16): Tech Week is like, it's when the two elements of tech and acting come together and that that point you create a show, everyone does tech differently. Yeah. But you know, a week or so after you do tech opening night happens

Curtis Long (17:26): And then one of you had were blowing a bugle horn. So you had to have the bugle sound effect Exactly. In the background. Exactly. So someone's gotta be on cue to make sure that that goes out at the right time.

Emily Sutliffe (17:33): They actors, if they're not on stage, they can, you know, chill in the green room where they can, you know, touch up their makeup or something like that. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. But tech has to be paying attention for every single show the whole time. Getting those cues, getting those spotlights, making sure they open the curtain there. So dedicated uhhuh, they have to be dead focused the entire times and it's killer and hard

Melly DaMetz (17:50): Things wrong.

Emily Sutliffe (17:51): Yeah. It's hard after, especially after a long day when you do the shows in the evening when

Melly DaMetz (17:55): You're backstage, you wanna be quiet. Not only so the audience can't hear you, but so people who are on comms like Ethan and Kyler, they're the are two set leads. Alright.

Curtis Long (18:03): They're on comms. Okay. Tell us what that is. What are they doing?

Melly DaMetz (18:06): Comms is the big like microphone headset that's connected to all the other crew leads like backstage. And so Frankie, she's our stage manager. Stage manager student. Yes. Another student,

Emily Sutliffe (18:16): Couple

Melly DaMetz (18:17): Of, she calls all of the cues during shows. So when curtains open, when lights come on, when props enter, when the set gets switched. And so people, specifically our crew leads, they have that headset on so they know when everything is like the perfect timing. Okay. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. And so when you're backstage, you wanna be as quiet as possible. So not only actors know what's going on, the audience can't hear you, but so are amazing epic crew leads can Yeah. Can narrow in and focus on what they're doing.

Curtis Long (18:43): So Frankie's backstage saying, Melly, you need to be over here. Get where you're, you're coming up Tyson over there.

Melly DaMetz (18:47): So Frankie, she's actually up in the booth. Okay. So at the very, very, very back of the house or

Emily Sutliffe (18:52): The audience lights,

Curtis Long (18:53): We wave to 'em all.

Emily Sutliffe (18:55): Cute, cute. We always applaud them. We always applaud tech when we do our bows and you see us like clap to the back of the audience or to our left and to our right. That's us giving applause to the tech because they can't be out on stage. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. Because there needs to be someone controlling all the tech elements happening. Yes. Even when we are doing vs. mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. But it's that moment of recognition for them for all the hard work that they did during the show.

Curtis Long (19:12): Speaking of hard work, these three super students from Nelson High School put in countless hours after school with coworkers on and off the stage took cook up a production with just the right flavor of laughs and entertainment.

Sound From Play (19:24): Excuse me sir, but there's too much pepper in your stick. Nobody asked your opinion!

Curtis Long (19:29): But in case you are asking still to come, what were our three thespians favorite moments from the play?

Emily Sutliffe (19:35): One of my favorite moments from the show has nothing even to do with me. It was when I was watching you take pictures of all the girls and you were up, you were on the like floor with all of them, like taking the photos, I think because I got to see how excited the little kids were. So I was really excited for them. But I was also really excited for you because you got to be that person for them.

Curtis Long (19:52): And what would they tell kids who are thinking about joining drama for the very first time?

Melly DaMetz (19:57): Do it. Literally just do it. Even if you're too scared to go out and act on stage. There is so much behind the scenes stuff. I started in crew and then I went to acting. It's such a good feeling,

Curtis Long (20:09): More good feelings straight ahead from Melly, Tyson and Emily right after this. Are

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Curtis Long (21:09): I'm curious too about how auditions work. So Mm-Hmm. <affirmative> Mely. You hadn't done a lot of auditions before. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. When you find out you're doing Alice in Wonderland, how do you choose what you might want to try out for? Does everyone always get the part that they audition for? Do you end up in another part that works out better for you in the long run? How does the audition process work? Um,

Melly DaMetz (21:28): It starts with, oh, it

Tyson Thames (21:29): Starts

Curtis Long (21:30): <laugh>. Alright, Mel on it starts

Melly DaMetz (21:31): With, we go up to Mr. Nove, our director, and we go, what type of monologue do you want? Do you want comedic or dramatic? We

Emily Sutliffe (21:39): Scope at the area. Like what are you looking for?

Melly DaMetz (21:41): What are you looking for?

Curtis Long (21:42): So Mr. Nove, does he make the final decisions?

Emily Sutliffe (21:46): Yes. He's a Director. Yes.

Curtis Long (21:47): So he makes the final decision. So you go to him.

Tyson Thames (21:50): He was the one who decided that Melly would be the best Alice

Melly DaMetz (21:53): For our program and and stuff. He actually, after closing, he came up to me and he went, Melly, I've directed Alice Wonderland before, but you're the most perfect Alice I could've asked for. And I was like, oh my What

Curtis Long (22:01): A nice thing for So Melly, when you decided that you were gonna go for Alice, you asked Mr. Nove.

Melly DaMetz (22:08): I didn't decide. I was going You did Alice actually, I literally would put me in the show, put me in the show, just wanted anything.

Emily Sutliffe (22:13): She would've been a tree is what

Melly DaMetz (22:14): She said. I literally, Cheshire Cat Reese, she lays on a tree. I wanted to be that true. I like, I'll stand there and I will have someone lay on me if I can be on that <laugh>.

Curtis Long (22:26): Yeah. Um,

Emily Sutliffe (22:27): Well, when we audition for school, it's, so you get an audition form and it kind of says like, you know, they wanna know your name, your email, your student info, and then also your GPA to make sure, because it is time to me. Sure. It takes up that time for your homework. Yeah. So, mm-Hmm. They wanna make sure your, you know, your grades are in a good spot and it gives all the info and then you can mark off, you know, ensemble supporting lead, like what you're kind of looking for and you go in with your audition monologue and it's not like you fill out a role that you want on that page

Melly DaMetz (22:50): And you can't audition for things that are from the show. Mm-Hmm. So if you wanna audition for Alice In Wonderland, you can't use a Cheshire or Cat or Alice monologue. Oh, okay. Or if you're auditioning for Mama Mia, you can't sing like a Mama Mia or Abba song. Right. Like, it has to be something that's not from the show. Yeah. At least that's how our school

Curtis Long (23:06): And Mr. Nove gives you latitude to do whatever you like

Emily Sutliffe (23:09): And sometimes, I mean, sometimes we can do those things. Like for shows, sometimes they will hand us monologues from the show. They're like, Hey, instead of bringing your own thing, here is a stack of monologues from the show. Choose one and I'll put you, we did that for Trap, we did that for Trap last year. Oh, okay. So it just depends. So you go into your audition, you perform, you, you put in your all, you put in your all <laugh>. And then if the director and the director who's the one who casts the show, as well as, you know, stage managers or your producer and your music director, depending on the show that you're doing, can also be there. And they're part of the say that goes into the casting, not necessarily stage managers, but producers, directors, and, uh, music directors. And then if they'd like to see more of you, they'll ask you to come do a callback a day or so later. A day or two. So later and then cast list comes out. Yes.

Curtis Long (23:50): Okay. Now, when the cast list comes out, is that everybody's name up on a sheet of paper. So everybody sees

Melly DaMetz (23:55): Not everybody not

Emily Sutliffe (23:56): Always.

Melly DaMetz (23:56): And not always. It's not always

Curtis Long (23:58): For, I imagine that could be a little nerve wracking. Disappointing for some people. They go

Tyson Thames (24:02): Have a look at it. Definitely disappointing. Yeah. My, it's, it's such an experience because Mm-Hmm. Especially when it's a show that you have a lot of emotional stake in. For this show, I didn't really care. I was like, Mr. Novi, put me where you need me. Okay. But for some shows it's like, I really, really want to be this character. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. So it can be really frustrating Sure. Or disappointing. Mm-Hmm. When you don't get the role that you want.

Emily Sutliffe (24:24): Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. And when you don't get that role, it doesn't necessarily mean that you're not a good actor or Right. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>, you know, you can't do it. It just means that you weren't the fit for that role if there was a person for that role. And it just means that you weren't it. And it doesn't mean that you're not good at acting. It just means that your skills, someone else's skills Sure. Are gonna build the character lot. Or

Melly DaMetz (24:42): There's like a certain envision that the director had. Yeah. That somebody somehow their monologue or the way they delivered lines during callbacks, they're just like, oh, that's kind of how I wanted the character to be played. So it just,

Curtis Long (24:53): And I would think if you're gonna be a part of this program, you've gotta know that going in Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>, you may not get the part that you're hoping for. And that's, that's part of the process that happens. Mm-Hmm.

Emily Sutliffe (25:03): <affirmative> it's learning lesson. Let lesson every time. You can't that

Curtis Long (25:05): Discourage you and they let you never audition

Emily Sutliffe (25:07): Again. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. Yeah. It's, it's a learning lesson every time. And Mr. Noby was telling us, he's like, guys, this show was so hard to cast, it could've worked a million different ways. But directors normally have an idea of what they want in their head and they'll normally play to the strengths of the actors to Yeah. To reach that goal. And no matter what role you play, I mean, I've played an array of different loads between supporting and leading or whatever the role is. It's a fun experience either way. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. And it's a learning lesson because if you're not on stage as much, that just means you get the bigger opportunity to be able to learn from the people who aren't on stage and really bring your all for the scenes that you are on stage. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. And it's, yeah. You don't always get the, the role that you want. But I feel lucky just being able to be part of the program because I mean, I got to be in the show, which is so cool as it is. And I never wanna take that for granted because it's just, yes. It's so much fun to be,

Melly DaMetz (25:54): And Emily was flinging herself on the floor first

Emily Sutliffe (25:57): I was

Melly DaMetz (25:58): Flinging myself on the floor and

Emily Sutliffe (25:59): I was only on for like 10 minutes <laugh>. And

Melly DaMetz (26:01): She was, she was phenomenal.

Emily Sutliffe (26:03): Thank you. Thank

Tyson Thames (26:04): You. She was a gardener. So a lot of, when they're like painting the roses red. Yes. So very

Emily Sutliffe (26:09): Slapstick. Very

Tyson Thames (26:09): Slapstick. So like, you know, hitting, falling down, all that stuff. Thesis.

Curtis Long (26:14): Okay. By the time this podcast is released, Alice Wonderland is closed. You've done your performance. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. Looking back now, give me your favorite moment from the whole experience.

Tyson Thames (26:24): This take a minute. Okay.

Curtis Long (26:26): Your favorite moment. You only get one

Tyson Thames (26:28): With

Emily Sutliffe (26:28): A constant high sometimes. Well

Curtis Long (26:29): That's great to hear.

Emily Sutliffe (26:30): Sometimes you can't always reflect on your favorite parts in the moment because you're so focused on getting the show on its feet. Yeah. That you're just like, you're go, go, go.

Melly DaMetz (26:39): I'm still in mourning process that we're closed. Yeah. Something that's weird about me is that after a show ends, I lose a lot of motivation. It's like during the process of the show, 'cause we're after school so much, I'm like, oh, I have to do all my schoolwork during school hours now. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. But now that we have like free time in between one X and Mama Mia. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. I'm like, oh, I actually have time to do my schoolwork so I can put it off now. Uhhuh <laugh>.

Emily Sutliffe (27:04): And so it's already,

Melly DaMetz (27:05): It's already been a procrastination thing and we've only been back in school for two days, <laugh>. And

Tyson Thames (27:09): So

Melly DaMetz (27:10): It's like the entire time, I'm just so focused on in the moment and I'm so happy that now that it's over, I just wanna go back 'cause it was so happy. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. But if I had to pick one thing that was my favorite, I think it would be the elementary school show. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative> During bows,

Curtis Long (27:25): Which you heard at the top of this podcast. Yes. You could hear the excitement in those little kids' voices.

Melly DaMetz (27:29): Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. And that, that was my favorite. It topped a lot of things in my life that I didn't think could be topped because it was just, that experience was pure joy. Hmm. And, 'cause I remember when I was little, I was like, I wanted to do theater so bad. So I was like, maybe the little girl that dressed up as Alice, maybe she'll come to Nelson and be some lead role on stage when she's here. The feeling inside of me, I was like, I could influence at least one of these kids is like the best feeling her.

Curtis Long (27:56): And I don't think you guys realize this and we can look out the window here. We can almost see Duncan Elementary looking out the window.

Tyson Thames (28:01): Yeah.

Curtis Long (28:01): Yes. You three are heroes to a lot of those kids who came by. Oh yes. And I don't think we realize that, which is why I wanted to talk to you when you see I was an elementary school principal for 20 years before I took on this job. And those younger kids look up to the high school kids.

Emily Sutliffe (28:16): Besides just all the fun like giggly moments where you get to take photos in your new costumes. Mm-Hmm. In the mirror and are really, 'cause we have all new spaces. So getting our our, it's shiny. It's getting shiny and new and our mirrors and our makeup room is just so awesome. So I think all those fun moments and then like when you become delirious during tech because you've been there for 12 hours,

Melly DaMetz (28:33): We started playing down by the banks during

Emily Sutliffe (28:36): On stage, during the cue to cue. To be honest, one of my favorite moments from the show has nothing even to do with me. It was when I was watching you take pictures of girls and you were up, you were on the like floor with all of them, like taking the photos. Oh. I think because like, it was so cool to like, of course it was a twinge of jealousy because I'm like, oh my gosh, look at her. But it wasn't like, it was more like, oh my gosh, I'm so happy. Aw. It was more of, I'm happy for you because I got to see you. 'cause I got to see how excited the little kids were. So I was really excited for them. But I was also really excited for you because you got to be that person for them. So that was one of my favorite moments from the show, but it wasn't, it wasn't centered around me.

Curtis Long (29:10): Yeah. Tyson, how about for you? Now? You got to be out in the middle of that show. Some of your interests were out in the crowd. You were out there.

Tyson Thames (29:15): Yeah, it was really fun. The whole elementary school performance was one of my favorites. But I'd probably have to say my favorite parts were the ones where I was backstage and people would be crying and I would give them a hug and I'd say, Hey listen, things are gonna be okay.

Melly DaMetz (29:31): Tyson is so comforting and

Emily Sutliffe (29:33): Like he

Melly DaMetz (29:33): Hard more than

Emily Sutliffe (29:34): Anybody else. Like his hugs are so good.

Tyson Thames (29:37): That was for me, the best part of the show process is where I can, especially for a lot of the freshmen, I can be there for them. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative> and kind of, well not like a father figure, but like <laugh>, that's a little weird.

Curtis Long (29:48): Older brother

Tyson Thames (29:49): Figure, older brother like kind of be there and be like, Hey, everything's gonna be okay. It's like, oh, why are you crying? Why don't we go take a breath? Yes. And those sorts of things, those are my favorite because I've been in shows where I was the main character and I've had those moments like Melly where it's all these people are clapping for you and you get to say hi to the little kids. Yeah. So for me, just being on the more personal level really is what makes me the happiest. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. And like those connections. I think

Emily Sutliffe (30:14): It's such a beautiful selfless thing when you can see somebody else get so much love and praise and you are simply just happy for them. Yeah. And we have such a supportive community where that happens

Melly DaMetz (30:24): All the time. I go through that feeling so much. I remember during Peter and Trap, so during Trap I sat in the audience and I watched the show every night and it was just pure joy and like happiness I had watching the show because I was like, everybody's up. They're just having fun with it. And it's just such a nice feeling knowing that we're all here for each other.

Curtis Long (30:43): Isn't that the best thing though? Watching somebody do something that they love to do? Yes. And getting recognized for it.

Curtis Long (30:47): I think that's great. It's so good. Mean we forget about, I think we forget about drama kids who are having the time of their life up on the stage or the band kids who are playing every, they've practiced for months. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. Yeah. And they're finally getting to perform in front of people. Yeah. Or choirs or things like that. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. We get a lot of that with the sports programs. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative> because they of course play in front of a bunch of people. They have games on certain nights, but we forget about what joy that you have performing on stage and what joy you bring to other people, which I thought was very evident in the reaction of all those elementary school kids. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. Okay. I can hear kids out in the hallway. You're missing a lot of class for this, but I can't,

Emily Sutliffe (31:23): I'm on lunch now, so...

Curtis Long (31:25): I can't let you go yet. I do wanna know from you if there's someone listening right now, could be an elementary school kid, could be a high school kid who's considering enrolling in drama classes, but are still kind of on the fence. What advice would you give them?

Melly DaMetz (31:37): Do it <laugh>. Literally just do it. Even if you're too scared to go out and act on stage. There is so much behind the scenes stuff. I started in crew and then I went to acting. It's such a good feeling, like just knowing there's a community there and then especially if you experience both crew and acting, you get a lot of gratitude for everybody and all the efforts that that's going into the show, because I don't really know how to explain it, but I feel like that crew is a good way to start. If you're an actor, go for it. But if you have your first show because you're just a little nervous about what's gonna happen, do crew and then audition for the next show. 'cause then you get a good sentence of everything that's going on and then you're just grateful for everything that's happening. I'd just say do it.

Curtis Long (32:20): Emily or Tyson, anything to add?

Emily Sutliffe (32:22): I'd say there's nothing like opening night where you've got an adrenaline rush and you get to stand under the lights in five layers of clothing and you're already sweating and you're sweating. There's nothing, there's nothing like performing in front of an audience. You can't even see because the lights are so bright on your face. Like, I don't know what it is, but like, it's the best feeling ever. It's the best feeling in the world. And I feel like everyone should get a moment in their lives when they get to experience that. I always think about how lucky we are to have such a supportive community, like drama community at our school. But I think it isn't just our drama club that's super supportive because I am on council and I've been on council for the past three years for our school. I've done other events outside of our school and I've got to meet other people who do theater from other schools. We're all such a tight knit community. Like it's just something about people who do theater. We're nicer, <laugh>,

Emily Sutliffe (33:08): We're just better.

Tyson Thames (33:10): Yes.

Emily Sutliffe (33:10): There's something about it that's just so welcoming. So I'd say that. I mean, because I feel like we don't get that kind of attention. We're ready to welcome you with open arms. Join us, join us.

Curtis Long (33:19): Tyson, would you have any advice for kids maybe on the fence about joining a production?

Tyson Thames (33:24): Yeah. I

Curtis Long (33:25): I mean you were there at one time. If, if, if mom and dad hadn't tricked you into getting off the track team.

Tyson Thames (33:31): Yeah, so like I've mentioned, being a part of something bigger than yourself is one of the most fulfilling things for me. So I would absolutely recommend drama because there's so many different things to do. You can act if you like, you know, sewing and costumes, you can go do that. Yes. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative> you like makeup, you like makeup do,

Emily Sutliffe (33:48): Do

Tyson Thames (33:48): Makeup. So there's a lot of different places you can fit and be a part of something bigger. But also if drama's not your thing, find some way to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Join a choir or a band or go to clubs

Emily Sutliffe (34:02): On Tuesdays and

Tyson Thames (34:03): Thursdays. Yeah. Go to clubs and like, just be a part of something bigger than yourself. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. Because that's the most satisfying part about it. Even if

Emily Sutliffe (34:10): It's, even if it's not theater or performing arts or sport, just like go for it. Because being a small piece is something really big is such a fulfilling feeling. Mm-Hmm.

Curtis Long (34:17): <affirmative>. Those are three of our high school students. Tyson Thames, Emily Sutliffe and Melly DaMetz. So much fun to visit with all of you here. This is such a,

Emily Sutliffe (34:26): This was such

Tyson Thames (34:27): Pleasure to do.

Emily Sutliffe (34:28): I was nervous at the start. I'm sweating right now. I was so nervous.

Tyson Thames (34:32): Stressing out <laugh>.

Curtis Long (34:33): I know our listeners, you're developing a lot of Nelson High School drama fans. When can they catch you again publicly? There's a spring show, right?

Emily Sutliffe (34:41): Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. Yes. We have a spring show that will be in end last weekend of April. Mm-Hmm. First week of May. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. Okay. And then we also have one act happening in, I think we're performing them in February, I believe February.

Curtis Long (34:54): Oh so those are open to the public as well...

Emily Sutliffe (34:54): Yeah they're all, uh, open to the public. And if you aren't an inducted thespian, you get to show up for free. Free. You get to come and watch your shows for free. And if you're not an inducted thespian become one Become

Tyson Thames (35:06): You can for free. Yes.

Curtis Long (35:08): Well, the purpose of this podcast is to provide our listeners a behind the scenes look at some of the people and places around North Clackamas that our listeners typically wouldn't think about. And today we literally went behind the scenes. Emily, Tyson, Melly, thank you so much for taking on such a big extracurricular activity that brings joy not only to elementary school kids, but to your peers and community members as well. Just like the title of this podcast says, each of you truly makes us proud to be NCSD. Thanks so much to each of you for joining us and continued success as this, this school year moves along. We gotta get you back to class.

Emily Sutliffe (35:39): Yes. Thank you so much.

Melly DaMetz (35:40): Thank you for having us.

Curtis Long (35:43): Thanks for listening to The Proud to be NCSD podcast in North Clackamas. We know that education is a community effort and we're so thankful that you and your family are a part of our community. Until next time, remember, there are always great things to see wherever you go in NCSD.