Closing The Curtain

Thespian President Leaves Home In Theatre

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Kieren Garner

Troupe 6289’s Thespian president, senior Carson Burke, speaks to fellow thespians before rehearsals. “I decided to run for president because I appreciated what the department had done for me,” Burke said. “I knew how much I loved everyone there, and I knew that I wanted to give something back to them. Organizing things seemed like the best way to do that.”

Kieren Garner, Reporter
May 15, 2019

Five years and six shows later, Thespian Troupe 6289’s president, senior Carson Burke, is closing the final curtain of his theatre career as he gets ready to start his new chapter in college.

Burke, who first joined the theatre program in eighth grade, said he entered it for the people.

“Everyone is very nice and welcoming and it creates a really pleasant environment to be a part of,” Burke said. “I know that whatever is going on in my life, I have a community of people who love me and will help me out, which is something that most people don’t even know is possible to have. I have seen seven classes of wonderful, talented people come through our department and I’m grateful that I get to count myself among them.” 

Although Burke is the current president, he said that he started from the bottom. Since his first show, “The Bourgeois Gentleman,” in the seventh grade, Burke said that he has improved his skills and has become more confident.

“I did lights and I had no idea how to do anything and was very nervous,” Burke said. “Now I feel very confident in my abilities and know that whatever needs doing for a show, I can take care of it.”

Burke was elected to become troupe 6289’s president this year, which he said he ran for to give back to the department.

“

For me, it was never about the shows, it was about all of the lovely people I got to be around while I was in the shows.

— Carson Burke (12)

“I decided to run for president because I appreciated what the department had done for me,” Burke said. “I knew how much I loved everyone there, and I knew that I wanted to give something back to them. Organizing things seemed like the best way to do that.”

After high school, Burke plans on attending The University of Texas at Dallas to study psychology. According to Burke, even though he will be leaving this theatre community once he graduates, he wants to find an organization that means just as much to him.

“For me, it was never about the shows,” Burke said. “It was about all of the lovely people I got to be around while I was in the shows. In college, I’m going to make sure I find an organization that cares for me as much as I care for it. I know how important that is now because of our theatre department.”