Tag: high-school

TEACHER, TEACH

A World Premiere

Presented by HATTheatre

At: HATTheatre, 1124 Westbriar Dr., Richmond, VA 23238

Performances: June 20, 22, 27, 29, 2025

Ticket Prices: $30 General Admission. $25 Seniors/Students/Military. $20 Youth up  to 17.

Info: 804-343-6364  or https://hattheatre.org

There were only four opportunities to see the world premiere of Randy Wright’s delightful little gem, Teacher, Teach, a one-woman show performed by Jacqueline Jones.

Set in the auditorium of Tranquility Middle School, where Mrs. Web is saying good-bye to her colleagues and her teaching career, Teacher, Teach pays homage to all who, like Mrs. Web, didn’t go to college just to get rich, but to become a problem solver – a teacher.

On entering the theater, there was free coffee and cake available, as well as a souvenir: a replica of the Liberty Bill – a student-led effort to have an abridged version of the US Constitution placed on the back of one-dollar bills.

Mrs. Web, dressed in the sort of two-piece pants outfit common to many veteran teachers of a certain era, and fortified with a glass of “ginger ale” that looked suspiciously like brown liquor shared her decades of wit and wisdom.

Among them: it’s important to develop a strong vocabulary and have written goals; a quote from Mark Twain – “The two most important days in your life are the day you’re born and the day you find out why.” There were many anecdotes, but one of the most memorable was the story of a young student names Averett whose presentation led to changing the name of the school, which had originally been named for the Vice President of the Confederate States of America, Alexander Stephens, to Tranquility Middle School.

Like the playwright, I, too, am a veteran of thirty or more years of teaching in public schools, and I can attest to the authenticity of these stories. Teacher, Teach would make any teacher or former teacher laugh, cry, nod one’s head in agreement, and reminisce. Every anecdote, every word rings true, and Jackie Goldberg Jones is the perfect vehicle to deliver this treasure.

P.S. – I hope HATTheatre brings this one back – with plenty of advanced notice – so more theatergoers and teachers and former teachers and people who ever had a teacher can get a chance to see this.

———-

Julinda D. Lewis is a dancer, teacher, and writer who was born in Brooklyn, NY and now lives in Eastern Henrico County. When not writing about theater, she teaches dance history at VCU and low impact dance fitness classes to seasoned movers like herself and occasionally performs.

———-

TEACHER, TEACH

Written by Randy Wright

Directed by Frank Foster

Cast

Jacqueline Jones as Mrs. Web

Introduction by Randy Wright

Creative Design Team

Direction by Frank Foster

Stage Management & Lighting by Scott Bryan

Costuming by Jacqueline Jones

House Management by Vickie L. Scallion

Dates

June 20 & 27 at 7:30PM

June 22 & 29 at 2:00PM

Ticket Information

Ticket Prices: $30 General Admission. $25 Seniors/Students/Military. $20 Youth up to 17

Info: 804-343-6364  or https://hattheatre.org

Setting:

Tranquility Middle School Auditorium, directly after school, the present day

Run Time

Approximately 80 minutes with no intermission

Photo Credits: N/A