Drama Road Trip

By Brian Morgan

On the morning of November 15, 2011 the Hopkinton High School Drama Troupe, along with students in the music theory and theatre arts classes, boarded a bus to Hartford, Vermont. The students were excited to be headed to a Vermont high school to watch a dress rehearsal of the musical Les Miserables. This rare opportunity came about because Mrs. Gattie, the current music teacher at Hopkinton High, attended this Vermont school. As a result, when the group arrived, they were welcomed with open arms.

When asked about the objective of the field trip, Ms. Gelineau, Hopkinton’s theatre arts teacher replied, “The purpose is to give the students the opportunity to see another high school doing theatre successfully and to give the students the chance to meet other thespians.” After the dress rehearsal was over, the visiting students had a chance to talk with the cast about what their drama troupe is like. Lively discussions centered around set construction, auditions, costumes and singing. The students enjoyed discussing different points of view and experiences.

On the late bus ride back to Hopkinton, the students were tired but glad to have made the trip. Emma Ridinger, a theatre arts student and a part of the Drama Troupe said, “the acting was amazing and the music was brilliant also, it was great to spend the day with the drama troupe and the other classes.” This appeared to be the sentiment of the group as a whole. They expressed a desire to have similar trips in the future and who knows maybe a Vermont school will make the trip to New Hampshire to experience the acting talents of this small Hopkinton New Hampshire high school.