Theater Scene
Janathan Caro
practicing his role
in Macbeth with Lily
Robeson, Katie Bell
and Felicity Hochholter.
Below: Jonathan
discusses his part with
Andrew Cummings.
Saving Live Oak Drama Guild
For The Love
Of Theater
Written By Amy McElroy
A
fter Live Oak High School failed to hire a theater instructor
in 2013, Spanish teacher Yoana Ware persuaded alumnus
Andrew Cummings and his mother, Janell Cummings, to
help save Live Oak Drama Guild. Both Janell and Andrew
had continued their dedication to the theater program after Andrew’s
graduation, designing and building sets, working lights and sound
and backstage on his younger brothers’ productions. Andrew even
designed the sets while he studied theater and microbiology at
University of California, Berkeley. Ware—a Live Oak graduate who
studied opera at San Jose State—offered to sponsor the after-school
drama club, if Janell and Andrew would join the team.
After graduation from college, Andrew started a theater company,
and was pursuing directing and scenic design throughout the Bay
Area, while working a day job as a graphic designer at Rebecca’s
Portraits in Morgan Hill. During this time, Andrew began working
after school at Live Oak with Ware, co-directing Arsenic and Old
Lace with Janell and then directed Beauty and the Beast continuing
to working with Janell’s support.
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
Soon after, Andrew received a call from the Assistant Principal,
Auri Yabrudy, offering him a job teaching biology and running the
after-school drama program with assistance from Ware and his
mother, Janell on a volunteer basis. Andrew finished up his design
and directing jobs and started teaching in the fall. Now in his fourth
year at Live Oak, he’s teaching English, added a drama course, and
has expanded the after-school program, planning three shows for
this year. Ware who still assists as an integral part of the theater
program, often serving as producer and vocal coach, happens to
be on maternity leave with a new baby boy.
Carrying On Mr. K’s Legacy
One thing Andrew, Janell and Ware all share is the vision retired
teacher Bill Kilipstine, or “Mr. K.,” as he is known, had for the
program. Andrew says Ware’s memories of participating in the
strong theater program at Live Oak with Mr. K is what motivated
Ware to sponsor the program when the administration hadn’t hired
a theater faculty member. And Janell was there volunteering even
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
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