Have you been to the main theatre on Skyline’s campus? If you have been there and happen to know anything about theatres, you would be amazed by the well thought out design and the abundant seating. The lights are very professional, and the backstage area is well-spaced. There is an orchestra pit below the proscenium (the lip that hangs off the front of the stage). And those massive double doors you pass in the bottom floor hallway of building 1? They’re for transporting pieces of heavy, large sets for theatre productions. We at The Skyline View must ask… why don’t we have a drama department at Skyline?
The answer may seem simple, but it’s really not. Some students may think “Oh hey, budget cuts killed the arts,” but it’s a bit more complicated than that. Administrative forces, whomever they may be, made the decision to combine the drama departments of Skyline and Cañada in 1984, probably to save the program from going completely under.
“It would be great to have a Drama Department here,” Jude Navari of the arts department said. He believes a drama department could bring more public attention to the performing arts at Skyline, potentially benefiting the entire school. With the institution of a drama department, musical theatre could come back to Skyline under the supervision of not only Navari, but several other faculty members with music and theatre experience.
As it is now, the theatre is indeed available for performances. We imagine that if there was an organized group devoted to drama and the art of acting, it would certainly be a much busier place. But, as it is now, it’s a place for discussions, lectures, and other forms of performing art.
Not to say that there’s anything wrong with them using the theatre, it’s just that the building was designed for major theatre productions-as seen in the major characteristics of the theatre. An orchestra pit is used for a place to hide musicians for performances. Roomy backstage areas aren’t only for the comfort of actors, but for the temporary storage of set pieces about to go onstage.
The dance and music departments at Skyline need to take the opportunity to use this wonderful space, but Skyline College, as a whole, isn’t taking advantage of its beautiful theatre by maintaining a drama department.
We at The Skyline View believe that drama could help the school by raising money, providing entertainment to bring more people to the school, and provide a place for people who are interested in drama to hang out.
According to Katherine Harer, “…a lot of learning happens in isolation at home with your computer,” and she believes that Skyline needs project-oriented, active and artful learning.
With a drama faculty, students would find it easier to rehearse and perform, but it isn’t the only way. Although a drama department, in our opinion, would be beneficial, a drama club could also get the job done.