Skyline College will once again have a dedicated drama class starting in the fall semester by Professor Kevin Simmers.

DRAMA 200 will be re-debuting in the fall semester. It is going to be taught by instructor Simmers, who currently teaches yoga, pilates and ballet.

“The class will take up to 45 [students],” wrote via email Donna Bestock, the dean of social science/ creative arts. “The recommended preparation is ENGL 846. There are no extra fees, just the usual units and book costs.”

It has been 30 years since Skyline has had a drama class. According to Bestock, Skyline College needs an acting class. She believes that though the theatre club and spring musicals have been great, it’ll be even better when the students can learn acting techniques.

“It’s fan-freakin’-tastic! It’s about time. It’s a great idea, good news for us,” said Professor Alan Ceccarelli, who teaches DRAMA 680, Technical Production/Stagecraft said.

Professor Simmers is very well-qualified for teaching the new class. He has earned several honors and distinctions throughout his lifetime.

“I’ve been in Skyline for 18 years,” said Simmers. “I left graduate school wanting to teach drama/ theatre. I have a master’s degree in drama with an emphasis in directing. I’ve also been an acting coach in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 25 years.”

His list of qualifications doesn’t end there. He has even been invited to teach acting abroad. Simmers has been invited to teach an “acting/movement” class at Goethe University, which is located in Frankfurt, Germany.

As you can see, professor Simmers is passionate about acting and drama as he shows when he added that he is “very excited for this class” and that “theatre is a great passion” of his.
Simmers spearheaded the new incarnation of the class. Drama has been the subject he’s been wanting to teach since he’s arrived in Skyline.

“I approached Donna Bestock. It’s something I’ve wanted for years to happen here,” said Simmers. “We’re really excited for this class and hope that it will be of great interest. The class will culminate in an evening of monologues and scenes, so the students will have an opportunity to perform in front of an audience.”

All the schools across the district had an acting class, but due to Proposition 13, which was a decrease in property tax, all the drama classes were consolidated to Cañada College. Proposition 13 was enacted in 1978. At the time, many schools relied on the property tax for funding. With decreased funding, the drama department at Skyline was a casualty of Proposition 13.

“This was one of several cost-cutting measure,” said Bestock. “So we had a theater, but no drama program. The situation has now improved enough so that we can add drama back to Skyline.”
The new drama class has tons of potential. For students who are interested in performing, but not in the musical, this is the perfect class for them to take up.

“We certainly have lots of students interested in drama,” said Bestock. “I think the class will be very successful.”

This article has been updated to fix AP style and where the prerequisite class was mistakenly listed as ENGL 836 when it was ENGL 846. 4/19/2013 1:29 p.m.