Scurry County students continue acting at Western Texas College

Snyder is known for being something of a launching pad for acting careers. It has produced some well-known stars, including Dickie Jones, Powers Boothe, Barry Tubb and Kevin Alejandro.
The acting bug leaves many Scurry County students once they graduate high school. But this year, Western Texas College theatre director Ray Newton has seen a record-number of local students on his cast list.
“This is the most I have ever had,” he said of the performers from Snyder, adding the theater programs at Snyder, Hermleigh and Ira are among the best in the region.
Sophomore Joseph Long said having cast mates from Snyder and Ira will help the department in the future. 
“There is no other theater program like this. Newtie (Newton’s nickname by the students) educates you to get to the next step. Seeing the local kids coming here, from a sports heavy county, is great. This is beautiful to see and I hope it continues.”
Two of the newest members of the department are freshmen Sage Waltz of Ira and Caitlyn Tiller of Snyder.
Waltz said acting helped pull her out of a shyness phase and she is now considering a career of teaching high school theater.
“I was timid about joining, but everyone welcomed me. Coming here, I have learned there is a lot of work to do behind the scenes,” she said after moving set pieces. “You have to put in a lot more work.”
Tiller said she left acting after graduating in the spring of 2018, but she was drawn back after enrolling at WTC.
“I had been acting my whole life. I wanted to branch out at college, but theater pulled me back in,” she said. “There is a real since of community here.”
Snyder’s Ian Row is no stranger to the stage, but for the department’s next production he is putting on his director’s hat. Newton’s cast will stage student-led productions next week. Row said after graduating from WTC he wants to focus on theater credits in order to earn a degree.
But the experience of directing classmates is something he has enjoyed.
“This is a good experience for me,” he said. “I am getting to learn the different aspects of the theater. That is something that will help me down the road.”
Freshman Chris Dickinson, also of Snyder, said he likes to work behind-the-scenes, especially operating the sound system, which he did in high school. Now he is also taking to the stage. He said other cast members helped him make the transition.
“There is a real sense of community for us,” he said. “This is a great way to keep in touch with some of your friends and make new ones.”
Snyder’s Anthony Galindo, who is a sophomore, said the support Snyder and Scurry County schools provide their theater programs is important. He has seen Row and Waltz perform in high school and said both have improved their talents in college.
He credited the students’ acting improvement back to Newton.
“He is a real actor’s director,” he said.
With a cast filled with local talent, the performers hope more community members attend their productions. Two plays are performed each semester, including next week’s yet-to-be-titled student-directed show.
“I have noticed some people from Snyder coming out to watch the shows. It is great to receive the community support,” Row said.