Written by Mallory Paine
This spring, a member of East Ridge’s first graduating class has been working as the director to create a COVID-safe musical for East Ridge.
Ms. Jones transferred to East Ridge in its first year of operation after her freshman year at Woodbury High School. She was part of the theater department all three years. Her main mentors as an actor at East Ridge were Mrs. Hestwood and Mrs. Carlson. Reflecting on their collaboration, Mrs. Carlson adds, “It’s been awesome. Because we’ve known each other for so long we know each other's taste and when I give feedback I know 9 times out of 10 we are going to agree on something.”
After acting in high school, Ms. Jones originally sought to continue acting in college. “I had a little bit of an indirect route. I started off majoring in acting and musical theater and arts administration and then I transferred and ended up getting a degree in business,” Ms. Jones says. Now, in addition to directing at ERHS, she works to support theater in other ways, too. “I work in fundraising for a theater company called Trademark theater. I help them raise money and support all of the activities that go on there.” Ms. Jones said. “I am also a freelance director so I direct all over the place. Right now I’m at East Ridge and I’ve also directed at Artistry in Bloomington and I’ve directed at Merrill Community Arts Center.”
Ms. Jones has worked as the director or assistant director for four years. She co-directs with East Ridge English teacher, Mrs. Carslon, one of her mentors from her time as an ERHS student. She is involved with her students and wants to improve every one of them. ERHS senior and actor in the musical, Carter Bannwarth, shares that she uses a technique called “tactics” to help students learn and get into character. “She gets every actor to figure out why your character is doing the things that they are doing and all of the reasoning behind it.”
Her students for the upcoming musical are quick with praise for Ms. Jones. “She knows how to let us have our little bit of time to mess around and she also knows how to get down to business when we have to,” says Carter. “She is very good at balancing both sides of us being high schoolers but also wanting to be actors and continuing to do these kinds of things.” Senior Allison Benjamin adds that “she is very encouraging. She keeps people accountable and is so positive. Even when we are goofing off or not living up to her standards, she doesn’t cut us down, she builds us up with encouragement and positivity.”
Ms. Jones has formed an emotional connection with her students and has been a big part of their acting careers. Carter is planning on attending New York University next year to continue acting. “She was definitely a big part of that. A lot of her direction and a lot of her help along the way pushed me into this.”
Ms. Jones is also an advocate for mental health, according to Allison. “If I was overwhelmed with something, I could go and talk about it and they would say that it was totally ok and that they totally understand, do what you need.” Along with that, Ms. Jones and Mrs. Carlson have been working on equality and anti-racism in the theater program. “They do definitely hold us accountable for those things,” Allison said about the anti-racist agreement form signed by the whole cast.
“She puts her heart and soul into every production she directs. She really cares about the students and we can definitely see that.”
