The Lawson Theatre at James Lawson High School makes its debut performance this month in the new Lawson Performing Arts Center (LPAC). The state-of-the-art facility seats about 500 and offers an exceptional experience for both performers and audience members. Jamie Emery, Lawson’s Theatre Director, says “We have all the things that you might see at TPAC.”
The design includes several Broadway specifications including a three-story fly system, backstage communication, and industry standard lighting and sound. “Lawson students have real-world, hands-on experience” explains Emery. “Any student coming through our performing arts program can confidently go into a work setting after graduation, and our performers get to experience what it feels like to be on a Broadway stage.”
Emery had a vision to grow the theatre program when she joined the Hillwood High School staff in 2019. “One of the first things I wanted to do was to institute a chapter of the International Thespian Society [ITS],” Emery explains. ITS is an honor society that recognizes students who excel in the theatre arts. “As it turns out,” Emery continues, “Hillwood originally chartered its troupe in 1991 and was one of the first 100 chapters in existence.”
The resources that the new facility offers will allow the theatre program to continue to grow and improve while preserving some of the traditions students enjoy at Hillwood. Emery says she was excited to learn that ITS allowed Lawson to keep Hillwood’s troupe number. “Which is why we are officially The Lawson Theatre, Troupe 89,” she explains.
The Lawson Theatre debuts this month with The SpongeBob Musical. “We wanted something fun and family-friendly for our inaugural production,” says Emery.
At the close of the fall production, students will begin auditioning and preparing for Chicago: Teen Edition which will run in early April and will be Troupe 89’s submission for TPAC’s Spotlight Awards, a program that celebrates Tennessee high school musical theatre.
“What really excites me the most about moving to the new space is how excited the community is,” Emery continues. “I was in awe of the number of people who have visited us during open houses.” Emery is hopeful that the excitement about the school and the facility will attract audiences and create a community tradition to enjoy all the performing arts at James Lawson High School.
“We have a unique thing happening here. Orchestra, modern, symphonic, marching bands, dance, choir, theatre. It’s truly the best team of teachers I’ve ever had the privilege to work with,” says Emery. “Words cannot express how grateful we are for this gift, and we hope that the work we do will give a little back to the community that made it happen.”
Additional information, including how to become a patron of Lawson Performing Arts, can be found at Lawson.Mnps.org.
Jamie Emery lives in Dickson with her husband Michael. In addition to raising their four children, Emery specialized her career in starting new high school programs in music, theatre, and broadcasting.