- This year, Hickory High School’s drama department welcomes a new face to the directors chair: Miss Bachelor, a former student turned passionate theatre educator. I had the pleasure of sitting down with her last week. I began with asking how it’s been teaching drama for the first time this year. She replied, “Amazing and terrifying because it is new. There are a lot of kids in this class, it hasn’t been 1-5 of the same theatre classes in over a decade. There’s more work that drama 1’s typically do as they start learning, so picking what everyone needs to be successful on the show is important.” She added, “Marla Wood was here for over 25 years, and it’s kind of intimidating trying to fill her shoes with the kids who worked for her, and also starting to graze my own path.” On the topic of her personal life Miss Bachelor shared that she is married to her fabulous husband, who also happens to be Marla Wood’s son, making Marla mother in law. “I have three beautiful stepdaughters,” she said. “One of them is Sara who also does theatre here. I have a seven year old named Everly, who’s already been in several productions. She started doing ensemble at just four years old.” When asked why she chose to work at Hickory High school, Miss Bachelor explained, “I’m a graduate from Hickory. Marla was my teacher and the one who inspired me. She solidified my decision – theatre had to be a part of my life! I couldn’t think of any other place than the school and stage that I had learned it on.” She has always wanted to work in the theatre department and had known since high school theatre was going to be it, one way or another: “I am very happy being able to do community theatre all over Hampton Roads and share my knowledge with students. I volunteered with Marla in 2010, throughout over a decade, knowing one day she will retire and I’d be ready.” On how she got the opportunity, she said, “Theatre jobs are rare, so when this one opened up, I stepped in.” When asked what her favorite part of the musical was, she responded, “The concept of Beetlejuice, I loved the movie as a kid. It’s a kind of way of blending nostalgia from a movie that came out in the late 80’s and now it’s evolved; it’s a new generation of students who get to love and discover Beetlejuice, who is so funny and entertaining.” I asked if she planned to stay at Hickory for a while. Her response was clear. “I’m staying here until I retire.” As for her favorite character in Beetlejuice she explained, “I don’t know if I have a favorite, because one character can’t stand alone; they each have a counterpart they rely on. The chemistry between the characters defines them, you can’t have one without the other.” If she could pick one play to do here at Hickory with no restrictions she said, “Back to the Future: The Musical. Or Les Misérables—if it didn’t require 15 million boys,” she laughed. She then mentioned Carrie: The Musical, which she directed in the fall of 2022. On a lighter note, I asked if she had any pets. “Yes, I have a cat named Clarabell. I wanted to name her Bumblerina, but my husband vetoed it.” Finally, I asked if she had ever directed a play before this year. “Yes,” she said. “I directed Carrie: The Musical on my own, and for the past 10 years, I’ve helped co-direct musicals alongside Marla.” This winter’s musical is Beetlejuice. Don’t miss opening night December 11th. Break a leg, Miss Bachelor, we can’t wait to see where this new act takes you.
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Taking the stage: Miss Bachelor’s first year leading drama at Hickory
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Gabby Pena, Op Ed Columnist
Gabrielle Pena is currently a junior. Gabby enjoys writing and has done consistently well in English. She helps ensure spelling is always adequate with publishing newsletters. She’s also had some experience in writing journal entries, joining the newspaper club, and taking a writers workshop class.