Every school plays with the tension between common, or shared curriculum (to graduate from from Proctor, you need to complete 12 trimesters English, 9 trimesters science, 9 math, 8 social science, etc.) and opportunities for specialization. On the continuum of prep schools, Proctor has protected a huge domain for students to pursue individual passions. The better this is understood by the public, the better for all, because we always want to attract more students who are ready to evolve as true individuals. Example: every winter term, students who have demonstrated aptitude for theater science are given the reigns to direct the production of their choice. This winter, three such talents directed two extraordinary plays. Last week, under the Direction of Jamie Thompson and Elizabeth Lamb, one troupe pulled off a powerful interpretation of David Aurburn's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning Proof. Elizabeth comments, "Catherine's mother Roberta was a highly esteemed mathematician at the University of Chicago. It is now the eve of her twenty-fifth birthday, and a week after her mother's death. Catherine deals with having to prove to her sister and friend (Claire and Hal) that she did not inherit her mother's schizophrenia, and indeed is a talented mathematician who had written a groundbreaking proof.Throughout the play, Catherine finds inner strength to bring herself to believe that she is not ill, and has in fact written an amazing proof."

The role of Hal and Catherine were played with passion and focus by Adam VanDusen and Lauren Harris:

Jamie Thompson adds, "It is not everyday that a student has the chance to direct an award winning play, especially when it was the first time that the play has ever been done at a high school. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such amazing actors and the people that made the show a success. I'm honored that Proctor has given me the opportunity to do this project." Elizabeth adds, "Proctor is a school that is at the cutting edge of performing arts, and constantly pushing the limits of the ordinary and mundane reputation of high school drama. All of the people involved have been amazing to work with. "

This weekend, another student troupe under the direction of Kyler Taustin is showing Steve Martin's hilarious and surreal Picasso at the Lapin Agile, a toast to the Twentieth Century (across a space-time continuum) by Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, a couple of Picasso's lovers, and including a surprise visitor from mid-century: Elvis. From the playbill: "Martin creates an intellectual shootout between art and science using these two men who consider their work perfect masterpieces of beauty and worldly significance."

The acting, directing and sets for these performances are testimony to what student artists can pull off when given permission, encouragement and support.

Kyler writes, "...after I took the time to think about the underlying intensions of the playwright, I could not dream of of any other show to be my first directing experience." We can bet that it will not be your last, Kyler, Jamie and Elizabeth. Congratulations to you all!