BECCA SPENCE
Class of 2000
Becca graduated from Mannes College of Music and holds a masters degree from Manhattan School of Music
The first theatrical performance that I can remember seeing was Cats at CWA. My parents brought me along to see my brother, who was playing in the orchestra, and I was captivated. From then on every spring CWA served as my introduction to theatre classics from Les Miserables to Fiddler on the Roof and My Fair Lady. To my young eyes anything could have happened in that little room and it would have been perfect. However, when I got to CWA in seventh grade I quickly learned the limitations of the very unforgiving, long and thin rectangular space that acted as the CWA theatre. I realized how determined, talented, and hardworking the teachers in the music and drama departments had to be to put such amazingly successful productions. I also learned first hand how hard the students had to work. Giving up weekends and evenings when you are in high school is never an easy thing to do, but we were always willing to help paint a set, search for that last prop, or run a scene one more time, then rush home and try to finish our homework.
           
Since I was in middle school there have been rumors of plans for a new performing arts center. When I got the call from CWA asking me to sing at this benefit I thought “FINALLY” and I still couldn’t quite believe it. A functional performance space is so important for a school. Drama and music can bring so much out in a person and are such an important part of a child’s education. Working in New York, I’ve done shows in schools that no longer have any music or drama curriculums and when we came in to do our half-hour show the students went wild. They need to have that creative outlet to sing, bang a drum, or pretend to be someone else. The best part of doing these shows is that you never know who you will inspire. High school productions can work in the same way, especially in a school like Charles Wright where there is such a wide age range in the student body. How many more could get inspired when they have a real theatre to dream of performing in? I know the high caliber of the music and drama faculty at Charles Wright. I know the determination and need of the students. If they can be so successful working in the smallest of spaces just imagine what they could create in a new performing arts center built specifically for them!