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As the fall play rolls around, new interim theater director Jon Ferguson will take lead. Though the new role came as a surprise and an abrupt change, Ferguson has many ideas for the production and is excited to build connections with students while still maintaining the legacy of the previous director.
Ferguson has worked as an experienced theater director for many years and holds a passion for the arts. He is also a parent to a student at SPA, so when the job application popped up, he jumped at the opportunity. “I felt very strongly that I could help and that I really wanted to help,” Ferguson said. “I really, really love this school… so I wanted to give back at a time that they needed somebody quickly.”
Ferguson has been in the arts the majority of his life. Growing up, Ferguson’s school didn’t have a theater program, so instead, he took speech class and attended many theater productions outside of school. At the age of 18, he studied theater in England and since then has been a freelance theater director and artist.
“[Not having] a creative outlet in high school was very hard for me. I had no way to express whatever this creative thing was,” Ferguson said. This experience created his goal of teaching: to make a space where students feel confident enough to express themselves.
Stepping in mid-production wouldn’t seem like an easy task, but for Ferguson, it hasn’t been too hard. He’s been able to adapt to the change, quickly build relationships with students and get the set of the play to go on the right path. Being a theater director and teacher his whole life has taught him how to be flexible and adapt to change. For him, the most rewarding part of the role so far has been bonding with students. “I’ve seen them smiling and saying things like, ‘this is cool,’ ‘this is fun,’” which he said has been an exciting way to show the connection they’ve been able to build.
The student actor perspective isn’t much different from Ferguson’s. Sophomore Kieran Ahearne-Kroll says that “It’s actually been a lot of fun. He has a lot of new ideas that I’ve never considered.” The students created mood boards for their characters to map out what they wear and who they are, as a way to deepen their understanding of their role, which was one of the new ideas Ferguson has introduced.
Ferguson has a more collaborative approach to the play. “I try to create an environment that’s really open to everyone’s ideas and suggestions,” Ferguson said. He describes his directing style as less telling people what to do and more getting input from the performers. He believes this produces a more fun and exciting environment where actors feel like they’re having a good time, which is the most important aspect of performing for Ferguson.
The sudden change of directors has been challenging for students, but they have built a new connection with Ferguson that has made it a smooth transition. “It was abrupt, … and the first day was pretty challenging, just to get used to the new energy … we haven’t had much clashing of ideas, so that’s been pretty good,” Ahearne-Kroll said.
As Ferguson navigates his new role, both he and the students have built connections and worked together to create a stable environment that will likely lead to a well-executed production.
