“So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye…”

Drama Club sponsor and English teacher Scott Tarzwell has decided to step away from directing theatrical productions in the future while remaining committed to teaching English.  

Tarzwell has loved theater since he was a senior in high school. His inspiration sparked when his high school play needed a fill-in. Tarzwell stepped in after one of his friends had gotten sick and asked Tarzwell to play the part for him. Tarzwell’s passion for theater grew, and he’s been a theater buff ever since.

“I just love watching all of the hard work into an experience and the level of excitement that can be felt on stage, backstage, and the audience,” Tarzwell said. 

While teaching English at Quince Orchard High School, Tarzwell eventually took over the theater program before being hired at Watkins Mill High School. There, he took over sponsorship of the Drama Club alongside English teacher Jamaly Allen. 

As a sponsor of the Drama Club, Tarzwell organizes meetings for the students. He creates topics to be discussed, spreads the word to get people to come to the school plays, listens to student ideas, and looks out for theater-passionate students and all of the theater community. “The creation of the plays is such a long process. I usually look at different scripts based on my interest,” Tarzwell said.

Tarzwell’s very first show he directed at Watkins Mill was back in 2013 when the Drama Club performed a musical called Schoolhouse Rock and even moved on to other projects forward, like The Laramie Project, and She Kills Monsters. The Drama Club usually does a play during the fall season and a spring musical in the spring personally, and in each one, Tarzwell takes on the mantle of making the fall play work.

“It was wonderful because we busied in elementary school in elementary schools for the performance and even had a Q&A with the students and actors,” said Tarzwell.

Students who participate in the Drama Club must attend practice after school from Monday to Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. Students are also free to join the hardcore theater students who enjoy it and plan to continue learning and practicing theater. The Drama Club usually starts with a school fall play in the O’Shea Theater’s auditorium, followed by a spring musical directed by Jamaly Allen.

Tarzwell said he’d be leaving the Watkins Mill theater because “It is very time-consuming after school, and I am exploring other opportunities. I don’t want my other opportunities to interfere and take away [my] time. I think it’s time for me to step back.” 

After Tarzwell leaves, Watkins Mill will stick to the Head of Directors and the staff. If there are no new theater teachers, Allen will remain the sponsor. 

“It will be determined probably next year on staffing and who is hired, or whether Mr. Allen and his role will have another person to direct alongside him if Mr. Allen himself will take on both shows,” Tarzwell said.

Tarzwell hasn’t decided when he’ll be leaving. He will still teach English and sponsor the Drama Club, but he’ll be backing down from the plays. Good luck to him on his journey!