Tipton is the Theatre and Drama teacher/director at Banks County High School and is in her first year of teaching after graduating with her Drama Education degree last May. While new to the classroom, she brings meaningful experience from years as an assistant director at North Hall High School.
"Before I started teaching, I did a lot of assistant directing, similar to assistant coaching, at North Hall High School, so I feel like I was very immersed in education before I graduated and always knew teaching was my goal," Tipton said.
For Tipton, theatre is personal, and her vision goes far beyond the stage. "Theatre really helped me become the person I am today. I want this program to create students who are well-rounded, responsible, creative, and empathetic," she shared.
She hopes BCHS Theatre continues to grow into something the whole community looks forward to, including families without students performing.
"I want theatre in Banks County to be a community event. I hope that we get to the point where the community is excited to come see the shows even if they don't have a kid on stage," Tipton said.
She also wants the theatre program to be a true melting pot of students from across BCHS. Tipton hopes to see basketball players, cheerleaders, band students, art students, FFA members, football players, and many more working side by side toward a common goal. She believes theatre gives students the chance to meet new people, step outside their comfort zones, and try something they may never have considered.
Although student involvement was limited at the beginning of the school year, it has increased as the new semester begins at BCHS.
"We started with very few students wanting to participate. It took a lot of dance workshops, club days, and my convincing them to give it a shot, but our numbers have certainly grown after students watching our first shows and participating in events," Tipton explained.
She also noted that some of the students who are now the most passionate about theatre were not initially excited.
"My students who are now the biggest theatre enthusiasts told me that they wanted to move out of my class on the first day of school. Now they love it. That's the beauty of trying something new," she said.
Currently, Tipton has about 50 students across her theatre classes, where students perform short scenes and study theatre history, vocabulary, and foundational theatre concepts. Rehearsals for productions take place after school, allowing students who are not enrolled in theatre classes to participate in shows as well. For the first play of the year, BCHS Theatre featured a cast of five students and a backstage crew of 34. The second performance, the Cabaret, featured a cast of 24 students (excluding teachers) and a crew of six. Tipton emphasized that every production varies based on the show's needs, and the next production will offer even more opportunities for students.
Reflecting on the year, Tipton said she is proud of every step forward, both big and small. One of the biggest highlights was the One Act competition, where BCHS placed second at the regional level and won the best set award. Tipton shared that many of her students were new to One Act and did not know what the experience entailed before rehearsals began. She described the competition as intense and demanding, requiring students to load everything into a truck, arrive early, perform at an unfamiliar school, and quickly set up their production before performing for judges. Despite competing against schools with long-established theatre programs and students planning to pursue theatre in college, BCHS students rose to the challenge. Tipton said the experience was rewarding because of the growth she saw in her students and their determination in the face of nerves and pressure.
Another major highlight this year was the Cabaret, which drew more than 200 attendees and featured approximately 10 teachers performing alongside students. Tipton said the Cabaret felt like a turning point and the beginning of the community connection she hopes to continue building through theatre. She shared that everyone enjoyed the show and that it helped strengthen the program's visibility and excitement across the school and community.
As the program continues to grow, Tipton said one of the biggest areas for continued development is increasing student involvement. It takes a large number of students to produce a show, and while interest is rising, many of her current seniors will soon graduate. Looking ahead, Tipton is excited about expanding opportunities for BCHS Theatre, including additional competitions and leadership experiences for students. She is currently working on chartering a thespian troupe for the school, which would allow students to participate in the theatre honors society, earn graduation cords, and attend the Thespian Conference in Columbus.
"All of my students are amazing. There are so many who have helped me accomplish this year's goals; all of them could be recognized," she adds.
Several standouts include Jackie McCain and Kimber Cummings, Eden Bless, and Harper Steele. Cindy Flores Prado, Alana Wilkins, Destiny Hollie, and Olivia Maxwell.
"The cast of With Two Wings. Jackie and Kimber for their positive light, dedication, and love for others. Eden and Harper for their directability and impressive acting chops (they won individual acting awards for their performances). Cindy for her willingness to go all out, her commitment to involving others and building culture in the theatre department, her dedicated work ethic, and her attendance since falling in love with theatre. Alana for her beautiful voice, stage presence, and limitless potential. Destiny and Olivia are our incredible stage managers, who do so much to make our show happen. And also my third period. I have many students in my third period who were not initially excited about theatre, but they have become my most dedicated. And a special shout out to everyone involved in the Cabaret that had not done theatre before then, you were some of the most key players."
Tipton encourages students to join theatre because it offers an experience many people do not get to try once they are older. She believes students should take advantage of opportunities while they have them, try something new, and make memories they will not forget. She also said theatre develops critical thinking, confidence, and teamwork, while teaching students practical skills such as sewing, lighting, sound, marketing, painting, communication, and public speaking. She noted that theatre involvement supports students beyond the stage and can positively impact academics and leadership.
BCHS Theatre's next big production will be Disney's The Little Mermaid, performing April 23 through April 26, with shows Thursday through Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Tipton describes the musical as nostalgic, upbeat, and immersive. She is excited to see students rise to the challenge of producing a well-known show that requires a large cast and a strong crew.
All 3rd-12th-grade students from Banks County Schools are encouraged to audition for roles. Auditions are January 21 from 3:45-5:15 at the BCHS auditorium. 7th and 8th-grade students can also attend on January 21. Audition information and questions are invited to email Gracie Tipton at [email protected].