Back To School

High school is an awkward time in anyone's life.

Pimples, puberty, popularity -- there's a lot to worry about. And beyond graduation, there's college and jobs and issues with the parental units. Not to mention the break-ups, stare-downs, make-ups and break-downs that make a day in the life of a teen particularly stressful.

Yes, high school is a difficult time, especially if you attend Public School Maximum Security. That place is just crazy.

Farmington High School students are risking their sanity and heading to the asylum of Dr. Sygmundo Fraud with the opening of "Help! I'm Trapped in a High School!" tonight at the new Tonya McCuistion Performing Arts Center in Farmington.

The show focuses on four "Valley" students who, due to a computer error, end up in what is referred to as "Last Chance High." There are no visitors, no options and no escape. And good luck getting anything decent to eat. The cafeteria only serves spaghetti loaf and licorice Jell-O.

"Four normal teenagers are thrown into a chaotic high school and have to figure a way out," says high school senior Karsen Brink. "If you think you are crazy -- wait 'til you meet these characters."

Brink is new to theater, and as stage manager for this production, she has had to learn fast.

But learning is easy to do in the new state of the art performing arts center that opened in January in the Farmington School District, says theater teacher Rebecca Garza. The center, named for 42-year district veteran Tonya McCuiston, allows students to gain practical knowledge about publicity, event planning, journalism and theater production, she says.

"The first week we were here, it was almost a type of shock and awe effect," she says. "I even had some kids say 'What did we do to deserve a facility this nice?'"

Maddy Shuckman (who plays Betty Diluth) is also getting the chance to spread her wings on the new stage, but unlike Brink, she has been involved in school theater since her freshman year.

The high school junior says she is excited to see all the things that can be done outside a typical classroom and excited to show off just how much the drama department is capable of on the bigger stage.

Austin J. Bailey (Dr. Sygmundo Fraud and assistant stage manager) has performed with the school's theater program for four years and has grown accustomed to presenting shows in "odd places," he says. "Being able to have a real stage and being the first class to perform on it makes it so important to me."

Without a stage, students traveled to elementary school cafeterias, libraries, and as Garza says, anywhere else they could perform. But the joy and allure of theater was never tempered.

"It is great to be able to be involved with something bigger than yourself -- to watch a play come together out of basically nothing," Bailey says. "It's a lot of hard work but worth it."

Theater students aren't the only ones benefiting from the new stage, says Garza. Journalism and photography students are working directly with the school, community and local media outlets to get the word out about productions at the new center.

"Students are learning about publicity, planning events, working with others in a tense environment," she says. "In this age of social media, students are putting everything about themselves out for the world to see. I feel it is vital for them to know when and where it is appropriate to give out information."

"Media is everywhere nowadays," Shuckman says. "It's is important to know how to carry yourself."

Brink says the practical knowledge offered by the new facility has made the ideas in her head come to life. Finally joining the theater group has opened a new creative side for the future art teacher, and she and her fellow castmates are ready to put their efforts to the test.

The students are itching to perform hope theatergoers will have a good time.

And glad to be out of high school.

NAN What's Up on 03/13/2015