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Snyder High School seniors Ethan Gowin (right) and Ian Row performed in this semester’s one-act play, Macbeth. The production was a 1920s New Orleans version of William Shakespeare’s play.
When Ethan Gowin began acting in second grade, it quickly took on a major role in his life.
Since that time, the Snyder High School senior has developed a love and passion for acting and hopes to make a career out of it.
“I started acting in second grade at the theater camp that I’m a counselor at now,” he said. “Brett Robertson was my best friend and told me to do theater camp, so I decided to try it out. I caught the bug and fell in love with it.”
Over the years, Gowin has taken part in multiple productions, both at the Ritz Community Theatre and Snyder ISD.
Though both theater platforms are for the community, Gowin said there are major differences between performing at school and at The Ritz.
“Ritz productions are more relaxed,” he said. “The Ritz involves more community participation. But there’s something about the productions at the school that seem more professional. What we have here (at SHS) is unique. The level that (theater teacher) Craig Robertson holds us to helps to train us up in theater.”
One of Gowin’s most treasured experiences in theater is working with the people.
“I feel like all I do is learn how to understand people more and more in learning about and understanding characters and in working with other actors,” he said. “It’s really enlightening to work with other people and see how they work together.”
Gowin said that he will miss “the family bond and close-knitness” of his SHS theater family once he graduates.
“We became each other’s everything, and it really transcends professionalism,” Gowin said. “In college, I think that professionalism probably takes a higher seat. At Snyder High School, we strive to teach theater and art, but we also strive to love each other and be a support system.”
Gowin will attend Oklahoma City University in the fall on an acting scholarship.
“I’m going to school for acting, but I also want to try for the musical theater program, which includes singing, dancing and acting,” he said. “I love the musical theater crowd, but I feel like I belong in acting.”
Moving forward, Gowin plans to work hard and achieve the goals he sets for himself.
“Nothing in this world has ever been accomplished by taking a back seat or waiting until tomorrow,” he said.