Standing Ovation: Debutant Director Dares to Dream

5/8/2025

Severn junior Ethan Cooke got a turn in the director's chair when he produced this year's Upper School Spring Showcase.

The smaller and more intimate production provides Dramatic Arts students the opportunity to get involved with low-tech, short form pieces after the main season ends in February. Taking the reins from US Theatre Director Dr. Elizabeth Patterson, Cooke conducted auditions, ran rehearsals, and experienced first-hand what it’s like to put together a show.

Cooke's first challenge in putting on the Spring Showcase was learning to lead and direct his peers.

"You must be a bit forceful as a director to get your vision across," said Cooke. "We see each other as equals, which made it difficult to be stern to my classmates to make my point."

Despite having to navigate that new dynamic, Cooke thoroughly enjoyed the process. Taking inspiration from Dr. Patterson's directing practices, Cooke -- with help from classmate Fletcher Warner '26 -- choreographed, blocked, and put into motion three separate pieces for the showcase. These included:

Annnd Scene a mini murder mystery where the interrogation is an improv performance.

21 Chump Street, a Lin-Manuel Miranda produced 14-minute play based on a real story reported on the NPR show This American Life.

Commencement, a play built around two girls who are about to graduate high school.

Watching a student emulate her teachings was a meaningful moment for Dr. Patterson.

"It was like looking in a funhouse mirror," said Dr. Patterson. "Seeing my practices mirrored back to me. It's what any teacher wants. To see their student take what they've given them and blow it up into something their own."

Cooke is interested in exploring directing as a career path, which is ultimately what spurred his interest in leading the recent showcase. "I was talking to my college counselor and told them I felt a pull towards direction," said Cooke. "It was enlightening to get this intimate insight into a director's mindset."

Much of what Cooke experienced during this show was built around a collaborative brick-by-brick mindset, something Dr. Patterson teaches in her classes. The idea is that acting is a cumulation of multiple talents from multiple people rather than just one person's distinct vision.

This unique experience of leading his peers and developing his vision has given Cooke a platform to build from. He and Warner have both been accepted into the Van Eney '09 Fellows Program and will work together over the next year to write, compose, and direct a full-length musical as their project.

"We have a story concept and are going to get to writing it," said Cooke. "We plan to debut it next April, around the same time as the showcase."

Inspired by his debut, Cooke will continue to grow and develop as a director. Along with the musical, Cooke has plans to direct a few music videos over the summer. While he isn't sure if he will stick with theater or venture into the arena of film, the experience he has gained at Severn is helping him to build his skills and discover what he has to offer the wider arts community.

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