Character one – Luke – he’s a ninth grader who came in with a good possibility. One of the first times I encountered him was in early rehearsals for a production. He came in, delivered his line and then exited, not being nearby for his next entrance. I asked where he was and a couple of students spoke out. He is okay, just needs to be alone. He does that to avoid blowing up. Being one that doesn’t let things go, I went on a search until I found him crouched under a counter. Approaching him gently I asked how he was doing. He didn’t respond. I finally said y’know Luke, you are very good and I want you back on that stage. I said he’s a 9th grader and is going to be a fixture in this program through graduation. He later returned to rehearsal and continued to polish his character with talent and effort. Over the next three years, Luke excelled in everything he did on stage, finally finishing with a solid performance of the banker/father in Mary Poppins. I was completely satisfied by his performance, and witnessed on stage a person with discipline and passion do what he loved best in a theatre setting. Later on he attended a Broadway play with classmates, and at intermission, he stood up and exclaimed, that play is about me. A wonderful moment for a fabulous reckoning for a young man that criticized his every move.