Michael Leard: A Dessert Theater Leader

By Samantha Larson
​
     An extrovert is someone who is outgoing, expressive, and enthusiastic. Extroverts do well in social situations, and are generally assertive and friendly people. Michael Leard is your perfect example of a extrovert.

     Leard has been in theater classes for many years. Many students in these classes have watched him prance around the stage playing improv games, rehearsing monologues, and taking on roles. He’s excitable, comedic, and talks really really fast.

     Leard was elected to be a Desert Theater leader for six period’s show. Desert Theater is a performance put on every year by the advanced theater classes. It encompasses a multitude of skits taken from Saturday Night Live, Studio C, and sometimes original scenes created by the students. Everyone in the class has multiple roles to play and responsibilities to uphold. Leard is a leader along with Jess Foster. When asked about what the exact roles of a Desert Theater leader might be, he said,“We pick out the scenes that we like from the ‘yes’ pile and assign who gets what roles and then we decided when it goes into the show and basically we set the whole show up.”

     It's a lot of responsibility. Leard and Foster (with guidance from Ms. Sharp) construct the whole show - for the most part. All of the Desert Theater scenes are brought in by students and together the leaders and the students sift through the scenes and choose the best ones.
​
     In the classroom, Leard may seem like theater is his biggest passion, however, he's actually very interested in aeronautical science. He's planning to major in the field for college. It's a fascinating passion that many high school students don't carry interest in. Leard, however, is very devoted to aeronautical science, and I feel sure he will find success and wonder in the field. He’s very skilled at the art of becoming a character, and not letting what others think of him obstruct his performances.

     In theater class, something that stands out about Leard, is his lack of fear. A large reason why many high school students don't join theater is because of stage fright. It's a very valid fear, and can definitely throw a wrench in your performance. When asked about he he overcomes stage-fright, he talked about an age old trick.

     “I had stage fright in elementary school, and I was taught to imagine everyone naked. It’d make you laugh, and think ‘they're weirder looking than I am’.”

     For introverts, this would just make them uncomfortable, however it’s easy to see how well this notion would work within the mind of a extrovert. To those who struggle with stage fright, this may seem silly, but listen to Leard. He has a lot of experience with stage fright. He's been in a total of eleven plays.

     Sixth period’s Desert Theater was on April 27th, and it was very successful. Despite a few hitches (like the fire alarm going off mid-scene) it was a riot. Leard was definitely a prominent force within the show, with scenes like Ew!, The Color Song, and  Mafia. It would be enjoyable to anyone to witness this extroverted drama kid prance around the Glenelg stage.

---