By Annabelle Berry, contributor
When Jim Collver moved to Harrisonburg last year, one of his first conversations with a neighbor revealed an issue he didn’t expect to find.
The neighbor, who homeschools her children, told him her daughter was interested in theater but struggled to find opportunities in the area.
“I talked to her a little bit more and did some research and found that it’s true,” he said.
While some opportunities exist through public and private schools, along with community organizations, there was no theater program serving homeschool students in the Harrisonburg area, particularly one designed to be affordable for families already paying for curriculum and additional educational expenses.
Rather than wait for someone to tackle the issue, Collver decided to build the program himself.
The former teacher and theater director recently launched Shenandoah Valley Theatre Collective (SVTC), a faith-based nonprofit organization aimed at providing theater education opportunities for homeschooled students and other young people who don’t have access to traditional school theater programs.
“I was surprised that there was nothing available for homeschool kids,” Collver said. “One of the Christian schools allows homeschool students to participate in their theater program, but it’s pretty pricey. A lot of families just can’t afford it.”
Under Virginia law, homeschool students may be allowed to enroll in public school classes part-time, including fine arts, if permitted by the local school board.
“The law gives school boards an option to offer part-time enrollment, but it does not require them to do so,” according to the Home Educators Association of Virginia.
In Harrisonburg, no families who homeschool their children opted to enroll in city public schools’ theater classes.
“We had four homeschooled students who were enrolled with us part-time this year,” Joy Blosser, chief academic officer of Harrisonburg County Public Schools said. “None of these students were enrolled in theater or fine arts courses.”
In addition, private theater programs can be costly, especially for households educating multiple children.
“So that’s kind of one of the big things that I think we’re going to address and give that opportunity to homeschool families,” Collver said.
The collective’s first programs begin this summer with four one-week Actors’ Studio Training Camp sessions starting July 13, followed by additional sessions July 20, July 27 and Aug. 3 at Asbury United Methodist Church in Harrisonburg. The camps focus on acting techniques, games and skill-building exercises, with each week ending in a performance for families.
Collver brings more than 25 years of education and theater experience to the effort. He taught music, theater and computer classes in Maryland before moving to Michigan, where he worked with several community theater organizations and later served as artistic director of Caledonia Community Players.
He said theater teaches skills that present well beyond the stage.
“When somebody messes up a line on stage in the middle of a performance, you’ve got to think on your feet,” Collver said. “When you’re building a set and something’s not working, you’ve got to figure it out.”
Research also links participation to academic benefits.
The College Board reports that students who took four years of arts in high school scored an average of 92 points higher on their SATs than students who took one-half year or less. The American Alliance for Theatre and Education also says arts education can help narrow achievement gaps among students of different backgrounds and abilities.
SVTC volunteer summer camp teacher Liz Marin has witnessed this firsthand.
“I have seen students develop confidence in themselves over the course of a production or class project/activities countless times,” Marin said. “The longer a student is involved in theater, the stronger their self confidence can grow.”
Marin said even a brief theatre experience can have a “lifelong impact.”
“Learning how to listen to one’s self and others is how a person can be an effective partner…in school or work in the real world after school has concluded,” she said.
Beyond the organization’s summer theater camps, additional programs are planned for the fall, serving students ranging from first-time performers to those with previous theater experience.
“Maybe there’s a scene that they’re just really struggling with and we finally hit on the right combination of words and demonstration and assistance for them and it clicks and it all of a sudden the scene comes to life,” Collver said. “Seeing that is just transformative. It really is.”
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