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May 1, 2019

Go See This: A Scenic Trip to Jordan Matthews

As new members of our Chatham County community, Chatham Park is powering our Go See This series this year because art is an integral part of Chatham County’s identity. They join us in inviting you to Go See This . . .

PROLOGUE

Chatham County is not only bucolic and beautiful. It is also young. Its people are. And because they’re young, they’re also idealistic. Hopeful. Invincible. Creative.

Jordan Matthews is full of these creative beings. Both young and old.

Here, we are inviting you to Go See This: JM’s Scene x Scene acting-class showcase program on Thursday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m. at Siler City’s Jordan Matthews High School.

It will be an opportunity for you to see one of the wonderful things happening in western Chatham County. And you’ll be able to support the collective efforts that make this art extravaganza possible. All the families in Siler City have contributed with their energy, tax money, and children, to bring to life a wonderful place called Jordan Matthews. A place where administrators and teachers are aiming to build a new, more inclusive Chatham County. One classroom and one class session at a time.

I visited Jordan Matthews this past week. There, I met with Mrs. Pate and a couple of JM’s acting students: junior Jennifer Trejo Benitez and sophomore Conrad Suits. I wanted to find out what Scene x Scene is all about, and I did. I also got something else. Something more subtle. The kind of thing you can only get behind the scenes.

ACT I

Rose Pate prefers to be behind the scenes. Photo by Luis Melodelgado.

Mrs Pate:
Our Scene x Scene program is a brand-new experience for us. At Jordan Matthews we don’t have an acting curriculum per se. The purpose of our acting classes is to support the students’ commitment to our fall musical. To build some acting skills when we are not rehearsing our plays. We are very happy to have the support of the Chatham Arts Council, which is partnering with us, to make these classes possible. Our children are wonderful, and we want to invite the community to see them in action. Ours is the only live theater in Siler City. And, now, many people look forward to our fall musicals. Of course, we hope that many of our regulars show up for our Scene x Scene. We also want to invite anyone who will be part of JM in the future to come see this. At the end of the performance there will be an opportunity to mingle with our cast members and with members of our creative team. Local artist, Jessica Nunn, our Scene-by-Scene class teacher will be there to greet you. At JM we are committed to create space for all the students who want to be part of our shows. The only requisite is to show true desire and dedication. Come to the rehearsals. Show up.

ACT II

Jenny:
My family is from El Salvador. I am a US-born first generation. They are really proud of my accomplishments, and I know I’ve got their support. I am sure they know that sometimes it’s not easy for me, and I know I can always count on their love. (With wholesome modesty) There are no artists in my family.

I want to ask people to join us on our May 2nd theater evening. I also send an invitation for people to get involved with all of our Jordan Matthews programs. As a student, it doesn’t escape me the absence [or presence] of community support. I’d like everyone to know that we put a lot of hard work and effort in all the things we do. That we create spaces where families can really feel they are part of our school. At times it’s difficult for me to see the process. Every class we always have to take a step back, to review our progress, to have a better perspective on how far we’ve gone or how far we still have to go. We are constantly learning new things. And we are having a lot of fun doing this.

ACT III

Conrad:
In the Scene x Scene show, I’ll be doing a skit. I will also take part in showcasing some of the acting exercises. (In a lower, confidential tone) There could be an opportunity for the public to take part in some of the exercises with us! (Back to a normal tone) One of the biggest things I’ve got out of my theater experience? Confidence (pause) to present myself. Not only on the stage but out there in real life. It will be very useful when I have to get a job, for example. Or just to be around people.
I’ve been interested in theater since I was in middle school. I had the opportunity to finally experiment with the stage when I started high school. And when I finally acted, I really liked it. And here I am. The hardest part is the lack of time. There is so little of it, to put everything together. And, at the end, we always get it done, we always do a great job. Not without stress, though.

EPILOGUE

JENNY AND CONRAD:
What we love about this opportunity at JM are the many relationships we’re able to create. All of us get close, and once it’s all done and over with we’ll go into the future, and we’ll get to keep our friends.

CONRAD:
I’m a very active person. I participate in sports. During theater season, I find myself really busy.

JENNY:
Me too! When fall rolls around, and it’s time to stage our school’s musical I still have my school duties and my job to keep up with.

JENNY AND CONRAD:
As far as theater goes, we have our priorities straight: the little extra time we’ve got left, we give it to the stage. It is by far our favorite thing to do.

Go See This: Scene x Scene at Jordan Matthews High School

What: Scene x Scene
When: Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 7 p.m.
Where: Jordan Matthews High School Auditorium, 910 East Cardinal Street, Siler City, NC
What will it cost me:  Admission is free
Accessible?  Yes
Parking: Free and plentiful

Your 2019 Go See This sponsor. Visit them on Grant Drive.

Related

By Luis Melodelgado | Filed Under: Go See This | Tagged With: Go See This, Jordan-Matthews, rose pate, scene x scene, Siler City

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