For Kennedi Cox, theatre is something that started as a bet with a friend in sixth grade. Both friends agreed to join their middle school show together. Although her friend dropped out, Cox stayed in the show, and ever since then, theatre has remained a constant in her life.
Cox began theatre by joining the costume crew, which opened the door for many more opportunities. As she became more involved in theatre, Cox began stage managing, something she has continued doing into high school.
Now, after stage managing multiple shows and musicals, she is directing a show of her own, Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring, showing Friday, November 3rd and 4th, at 7 PM in the Summer Creek black box theater.
At Summer Creek, student directed shows are made up of students in the “Advanced Theatre 3 and 4” seventh period class. This way, students are able to have additional rehearsal time during school.
Cox is part of the advanced class, and is thrilled to be directing Arsenic and Old Lace. She has always wanted to direct a show. “(It has) always been my dream,” she stated. “I’ve worked under my directors. I’ve assistant directed shows before and I love it. I love theatre, I love getting to create something, I love the whole process of it.”
Additionally, directing a show gives Cox further experience for her future in pursuing theatre education.
Cox has loved the opportunity and is learning a lot from directing:
“Honestly it was great… to see the amount that our directors do that we don’t always see. Even as a stage manager I see a lot of the process, but it was fun getting to figure out the problems and getting to create solutions. For some people that would probably freak them out because they’re responsible for the whole show, but for me, it was fun to get to pick the show, and to cast and put it together the way I wanted. To finally see it come to life is pretty cool.
However, all learning experiences have their obstacles and challenges. Cox describes directing as “nerve wracking”.
“(It) makes me want to pull my hair out at times, I’m not gonna lie,” she said.
One of the biggest challenges that Cox has faced while directing Arsenic and Old Lace has been the lack of males in the show. There were not enough male actors able to fit the roles in the show, so male technicians had to fill those spots
“I had to pull acting out of these techies and that was the biggest challenge,” Cox said. “Getting these people who are used to being techies and being quiet, and have never been on a stage before in their entire life. To get them on stage, and have emotion and be able to talk and be loud have projection. That was one of the biggest challenges, getting them out of their comfort zone, getting them to give me more, but they worked hard, they tried.”
However, all of the challenges and obstacles she has overcome while directing have taught her many lessons, and made the highlights that much better.
The best part of directing Arsenic and Old Lace for Cox has been working with her younger sister, Sophomore Bailey Cox, and Bailey Cox’s best friend, who are stage manager, and assistant stage managers in Arsenic and Old Lace respectively.
“I call them both my little sisters and getting to work with them, especially my senior year, is such a coming to Jesus moment. It’s like everything that we’ve been working towards and building up towards is coming together,” Cox smiles.
