When the curtains closed on last year’s teachers, the Seminole High School arts community said goodbye to Mrs. Tiffany Ortiz and Ms. Dalys Parkhurst. This year, the Theatre and Chorus departments include two new faces: Ms. Rebecca Curran and Ms. Jaime Poss. As alumni from Harvard University and SHS, respectively, these teachers have come a long way, bringing a new take to our performing arts.

In August, the Seminole High School Theatre Company welcomed Ms. Curran. Without a moment to spare, Ms. Curran began teaching Acting Levels 1 through 4 and IB Theatre, coaching SHS’s award winning thespians, and directing the fall school play. Fresh out of Harvard University’s School of Theatre, Ms. Curran is certainly more than qualified.

“I did my undergrad at Florida State in theater, and then I did my master’s degree in dramaturgy at Harvard. I was [also] a teaching assistant and staff assistant at Harvard,” said Ms. Curran.

Inspired by her experiences at graduate school, Ms. Curran has some big ideas for the theatre company. As the new acting teacher, coach, and director, she has many hats to wear and lots to work on.

“I think there’s always room to improve. So I’m trying to find those areas that maybe didn’t get as much attention before that I can help grow. I’m seeing a lot of the tech departments where I think there’s a lot of opportunity for growth and people don’t realize how many resources they have and how much they could do,” said Ms. Curran.

This fall, the must-see play the Importance of Being Earnest will be Ms. Curran’s direction debut at SHS. Ms. Curran and her students’ hard work will debut on Oct. 19, 20 and 21 at the Karen W. Coleman Performing Arts Theatre, marking Seminole’s opening production of the new school year.

SHS’s Chorus department has also undergone substantial new change. Filling the shoes of Mrs. Parkhurst, Ms. Poss, an intern from the 2017-2018 school year, has become the head of the department.

Like Ms. Curran, Ms. Poss came straight from college with a degree in music education from Stetson University. Having observed the Chorus department for a year, Poss has extensive plans for a bigger and better company.

“I do want to make [the Chorus Department] bigger. That’s always a goal: just to grow the program [and] definitely grow some of our [branches]. We have a show choir, but I’m thinking of maybe [adding] gospel choir. So I want to make sure that we keep growing and achieving,” said Poss.

This season, the curtain now opens to some new and exciting productions. On Oct. 19 SHS’s production of  the Importance of Being Earnest premiers, and on Dec. 14 the SHS Chorus Company will have its first concert.