| Kim
Frei, Summit's drama queen
Kim Frei, directing Summit Academy’s spring play, The Anatomy of Comedy, hopes to bring more good times to the Camas Prairie. Often known as her role in basketball, Kim Frei finds drama a highly rewarding enterprise. “It builds student confidence,” said Kim. “The students continue to amaze me.” 2015 will be her sixth year as head drama director for the spring production. Her days of assisting began with Carrie (Ruane) Goeckner, the previous arts director. Frei’s past productions have been The Matchmaker, Arsenic and Old Lace and Shakespearian spin-offs of The Taming of the Shrew (“Take the Shrew with You”) and Much To Do About Nothing (“Much To Do About Napoleon”). Although she enjoys all past performances, she especially remembers the dancing in The Matchmaker and the energy in The Taming of the Shrew. Kim Frei sees drama performances as highly beneficial. For increasing concentration, she encourages students to learn their lines so well that they become ‘second-nature.’ For capturing characters’ emotions and thoughts, students are encouraged to temporarily transfer the scripted words into their own language. As students participate in each performance, Kim Frei observes how students gain confidence in their public self-presence. Students also obtain wider vision for completing group projects with unity and cooperation. This year’s program is a compilation of three one act plays from three different Broadway productions. The three acts represent three unique genres of modern comedy: a spoof (a humorous parody), a farce (a wild plot with exaggerated effect) and improvisation (a scene put together with limited time preparations; i.e. ‘off the cuff’). The notion of compiling three plays into a single production began years ago. After viewing the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon, Kim saw the great value of casting the same students for different roles. Performances for The Anatomy of Comedy are all held at the Summit Academy gym on April 30, 7pm; May 1, 7pm; May 2, 4pm, and May 3, 7pm. The public is welcome to this uplifting event. Cost for admission is: Preschool—Free Kindergarten to 12th Grade—$3.00 Adults—$5.00 Family Pass—$20.00 Family Pass (2 or 3 shows)—$30.00Family Pass (all 4 shows)—$35.00
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