Theater Classroom Visit at St. Paul Central High School with Lein Walseth

December 12, 2024

Theater educators observe during Emily Gill’s drama classes at St. Paul Central High School in St. Paul Public Schools

On December 11, 2024, a group of theater teachers joined Perpich’s Theater Education Specialist, Dr. Stephanie Lein Walseth, for a visit to Emily Gill’s classroom at St. Paul Central High School. They observed classes in Beginning Acting and Advanced Acting, then were able to discuss what they observed, ask questions, and share resources. Another goal of the day was to connect observations and the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Theater. Teachers traveled from as far away as Winona and Goodhue, Minnesota.

When asked about their favorite part of the day, one participant responded, “Witnessing theater in action and being able to ask questions and gain knowledge.” Another participant went further to say, “Emily’s transitions and classroom procedural integration were seamless and masterful. It had clearly taken a lot of time to build to that level, but the final product was very helpful and effective.”

“Teachers learning from teachers” is at the heart of Perpich’s Classroom Visit program, facilitated by the Professional Development and Resource Programs team. A classroom visit is a half- to full-day experience with a small group of job-alike arts educators. Participants are provided with the day’s lesson plans, then observe up to three hours of classes. The afternoon is focused on debriefing the morning’s observations with the host teacher and one of Perpich’s Arts Education Specialists. Participants and the host teacher ask questions, share reflections and wonderings, and create collaborative conversations to spark ideas for everyone to bring back to their classrooms. Watch for more Classroom Visits scheduled throughout the year.

Students engage in a lesson during Emily Gill’s drama class

Emily Gill is a Twin Cities area director, actor, and teacher. She holds a BA in Theatre and Dance Education from Gustavus Adolphus College and an MFA in Directing from Illinois State University. Currently she teaches theatre and AVID at St. Paul Central High School. Directing credits include: The Women of Lockerbie (Illinois State University); Veronica’s Room (Chameleon Theatre Circle); The Playboy of the Western World (Illinois State University); and Grease, Moon Over Buffalo, Working, Guys and Dolls, Into the Woods, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Addams Family, These Shining Lives, The Little Mermaid, and Clue (all at St. Paul Central).

Stephanie Lein Walseth, Ph.D. is a theater educator, artist, administrator, and scholar with over 20 years experience working with students and artists of all ages. She is a founding core artistic group member of Full Circle Theater Company, and she has served tenures with Penumbra Theatre Company, Mu Performing Arts, Mixed Blood Theatre, and Sod House Theater, among many other professional companies in Minnesota and across the country. Stephanie received her Ph.D. in Theatre Historiography from the University of Minnesota, and her research focuses on theaters of color and issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. She has served as an instructor and curriculum developer at Augsburg University, the University of Minnesota, and Penumbra. Her writing has appeared in HowlRound, Theatre Topics, e-misférica, The Baylor Journal of Theatre and Performance, and the anthology Theater, Performance and Change.