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03/30/2016 08:30 AMWhen Jacqueline Munk was growing up in Chicago, she was very involved in theater. She worked on the plays at her high school, ushered at several local theaters, and became involved in small productions in the area. While she took a few theater classes in college, she concentrated on pursuing her teaching degree.
“For most of my life, some way or another, I’ve been involved in theater,” says Jacqueline.
Jacqueline spent 25 years of her career in the business field and when her husband’s job relocated the family to Connecticut, Jacqueline chose to be recertified in this state and got a job as a French teacher at North Haven Middle School. She enjoys teaching French and feels “we’re very privileged to have French in North Haven.” As a teacher in the school, Jacqueline became aware of the school’s Drama Coop.
“Once I became familiar with the program, I was very impressed and wanted to get involved,” says Jacqueline, who became the assistant director under Ed Handy for seven years. “When Ed retired, I took over. I learned quite a bit from him.”
For the past six years, Jacqueline has been the director of the school’s production with her first play as director being Cinderella. Some of her other favorites she has been involved with include Seussical, The Sound of Music, Shrek, Oliver, Fiddler on the Roof, and Annie. This year, though, she is excited to direct My Fair Lady, a play she remembers fondly from her high school days.
“I’ve always wanted to do this show and the committee I work with finally agreed,” says Jacqueline. “It’s always been one of my favorites and was the first show I worked on when I was in high school. I love the music and the storyline.”
The announcement of the show for the year is generally made in September and auditions were held in November. The 80-student cast and crew has been working on the show ever since. With the play quickly approaching—April 7 through 9—Jacqueline, the cast, the crew, and the many volunteers are busier than ever.
“It’s going well, the kids are learning their parts, and I’m pleased with the progression so far,” says Jacqueline, who also enjoys playing bridge, reading, walking, and traveling. “Being the director and putting on the show is very rewarding. North Haven really supports the arts and there’s a lot of enthusiasm and support for the arts in the North Haven school system.”
Jacqueline is quick to thank the massive number of volunteers who make the production possible. She notes that parents, high school students, and teachers volunteer for a number of needs, including building sets, selling tickets, designing and making costumes, and more. She says many students who graduate from the Drama Coop come back to the program to help or watch productions.
Some of the many volunteers include Susan Kulp (music director), Michelle Natalino (choreographer), and parent Maureen Munzner, who “makes sure each child has the perfect costume,” as well as Debbie Volaine (set design and backstage manager) and Linda Battalene (program design and house manager), who have worked with the Drama Coop from its inception 19 years ago.
Volaine’s and Battalene’s “children are out of college, yet they come back every year,” says Jacqueline, who has two sons and five grandchildren. “The program could not exist without support of the parents who volunteer countless hours behind the scenes.
“The program is able to flourish due to the support of adults who volunteer their time to ensure that the Drama Coop continues on for the children of North Haven,” adds Jacqueline. “Not all children are involved in sports and this program gives these children a venue to express themselves and demonstrate their talents.”
One of Jacqueline’s favorite parts of being a director is seeing the talents of the students involved grow over the years. She notes that two of this year’s leads for My Fair Lady started with her as 5th-graders in small parts.
“The growth of them and seeing them learn more every year is what I enjoy most,” says Jacqueline. “I also enjoy the community. I’ve made quite a few good friends here as the arts are a big part of the community.”
My Fair Lady is performed on Thursday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m. and Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9 at 7 p.m. at the North Haven Middle School (NHMS) auditorium. Tickets ($12) are reserved seats and available during lunch waves at NHMS, during rehearsals, or by emailing munk.jacqueline@north-haven.k12.ct.us.