By Jacob Dimond / [email protected]
Jhe Yelm Drama Club is gearing up for several performances this coming spring, with a localized rendition of “Working.”
The drama club has been unable to perform on stage for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The drama club is now also under new management, as Hannah McLaughlin, a former student of Yelm High School and current teacher at YHS, has taken on the role of director.
“My passion for acting started when I was here at Yelm High School as a student,” McLaughlin said. “We were between drama teachers and I really wanted us to have a program. I really pushed for a drama club.
After graduating from Yelm High School in 2015, McLaughlin attended Eastern Washington University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in theater. Now, she is studying at Western Governors University to get her master’s degree in acting.
“I’ve wanted this job since I was a student here,” McLauglin said. “I was thrilled when I was offered the job.”
McLaughlin has already benefited from the ongoing YHS auction, Dollars for Scholars.
“I told the people interviewing me that if they helped me win a scholarship, one day I would come back and serve the community,” she said.
And now that’s exactly what she can do thanks to the Yelm High School Drama Club. The club currently has 36 full-time members, with some students also participating part-time.
The drama club is currently rehearsing for its next number, “Working,” which will be performed at Yelm High School Performing Arts Center in May.
“Working is a feel-good, relatable piece. It gives us insight into the jobs of today and the people who do them,” McLaughlin said. “It celebrates the people in our communities and what they do. every day to keep our country running. It also includes some interesting information about Yelm.
The Yelm Drama Club wants to celebrate its return to the stage by celebrating its community. As COVID-19 cases decline, the drama club wants to help inspire its members, as well as the community as life begins to return to normal.
“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs during the pandemic,” McLaughlin said. “It’s important that we celebrate the good, and it’s the people in our community who always try to bring joy.”
The club will present Working on Friday May 6 and Saturday May 7, as well as Friday May 13 and Saturday May 14. Performances will start at 7 p.m. and there will be an additional performance at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 7. .
