Get ready to show your Viking spirit—this year, the Mills drama team is welcoming a new member to its family! Mr. Hudelson will be joining the drama department as their new director.
After 15 years, Ms. Leung has sadly made the decision leave the drama department. During her time, she has been the drama director, teacher, and the producer of several Mills High School productions, such as last year’s Big Fish. Because of her degree in theater, Ms. Leung says that her inner drama nerd will always be a part of her; however, she has left the drama department in order to focus on teaching her AP Literature class. “I teach my students how to do basic accents when appropriate for the text…and direct them like drama students…it’ll always be with me,” she says.
Ms. Leung talks about how much she’ll miss her drama kids and the comforting environment they create. She will forever hold onto her memories with the drama department—from laughing until her stomach hurt, to seeing the end result produced by everyone’s hard work. She is excited to see where Mr. Hudelson takes the Mills theater kids.
Other than directing drama, Mr. Hudelson also teaches 9th grade English and the new 9th grade SAIL Academy. His extensive background of theater comes from his time on and off the stage. He was an actor in high school, and has dabbled in professional theater with the company Broadway By the Bay. “Some of my most recent roles include: Dan in Next to Normal, Monty/Frank, Sr. in Saturday Night Fever, and Thenardier in Les Miserables,” says Mr. Hudelson. He has directed many high school shows and has even been a producer at Capuchino High School. “I directed Alice In Wonderland for Capuchino and produced Grease and Footloose for them as well. At Serra High School, I directed Dead Man Walking, The Philadelphia Story, and Macbeth,” he elaborates.
Mr. Hudelson is excited to utilize new techniques that approach broader, more modern concepts. One change that he is implementing this year is developing themes within each production. This year’s plays, Cyrano and Beauty and the Beast have underlying themes about becoming one’s true self. Mr. Hudelson also spoke about strong female protagonist roles in the plays, stating that “…in Cyrano and Beauty & The Beast, the true heroes are not the male characters Cyrano and the Beast, but Roxane and Belle…they present refreshingly strong women.” He is enthusiastic about taking classic tales and putting a modern spin on them.
The drama department is thrilled to have Mr. Hudelson as their new director, and Ms. Leung is excited about what he will do with her kids. He has directed many high school shows, and has even been acting on stage himself. Ms. Leung is relieved to have found someone with experienced hands fill in her shoes. The Mills Thunderbolt wishes the drama team good luck in the upcoming year!
