SPECIAL FOCUS

When the Teacher Soars, the Program Takes Off

Storyteller Lucia Luckett-Kelly knows how to weave a good yarn and popularize a park district arts program

BY NANCY CHAMBERWN

In the past five years, the Arlington Heights Park District's drama program has experienced a boom.

"We have over 1,000 participants each session, so our program speaks for itself with classes operating at maximum numbers," says Barb Stelk, the district's cultural arts supervisor.

Last fall Stelk brought together the performing and visual fine art classes under the umbrella tide "Arlington Academy of the Arts." She says the Academy is a concept, not a place.

"It's a way to highlight our professional staff and our commitment to quality recreational experiences for students of all ages and ability levels in art, music, dance and drama," says Stelk.

Part of the Academy's success can be attributed to the charisma of storyteller Lucia Luckett-Kelly, and the following profile highlights her contributions to the district.

Lucio-Luckett-Kelly delights preschoolers with her stories for the Arlington Heights Playcenter classes.

Drama has long been a part of Lucia Luckett-Kelly's life. She remembers fondly her grade school drama teachers, the Evanston 65 theater class, and her parents' encouragement. She attended Lincoln University in Missouri to study theater and speech, but returned home to Evanston to get an associate of arts degree from Kendall College and then a bachelors degree in behavioral science from National Louis University. At the same time she learned theater craft from the African-American theater group, Fleetwood Jourdain. Through her work at an interracial summer camp, Lucia heard about a job with the Northbrook Park District as assistant director of children's theater and six years ago she joined the Arlington Heights Park District. "I thought it would be a temporary position until I found a teaching job," said Luckett-Kelly.

While waiting for that teaching job, the park district drama program took off. Luckett-Kelly inherited a drama class that used improvisation but no costumes or scenery. She helped generate more interest in a struggling readers theater class.

"The biggest problem is getting kids to participate without feeling self-conscious," says Luckett-Kelly.

"On the first day of a summer class with three to five-year-olds,

July/August 1997 /31

"I tell stories from my heart, hoping to involve my audience and when I know they're with me, I feel like I can fly!" — LUCIA Luckett-Kelly

no one moved. Once I discovered props' they loosened up and let their imaginations soar."

She has successfully used the prop technique to get students talking about something and then using their imaginations to create situations they can act out. With the preschoolers it's like "show and tell." With older students, she uses household items to spark their creativity. Lucia also teaches movement by playing games. It's a nonthreatening way to draw out self-conscious students.

Now she teaches four different types of drama classes:
Playtime Theater for 3-year-olds; Creative Play Acting for ages 4 to 6; Youth Acting for ages 7 to 9; and Performance Workshop for ages 10 to 16.

Last year Luckett-Kelly and the dance coordinator offered Performance Theatre, a summer workshop featuring drama, music and dance. It was a hit and will play again in the summer of 1997.

Since the district's reorganization of the arts classes into one section (The Academy), more people are aware that the park district offers drama classes. Each session many of the "regulars" return along with new students forcing teachers such as Luckett-Kelly to find new ways of approaching the material.

Instructor lucid luckett-Kelly (center) performs with her drama classes at Arlington Heights Kids Expo.

Her talent is not confined to drama instruction. She also teaches the American Red Cross certified baby sitting class, Discoveries of Life (preschool class exploring the five senses), It's Easy Being Green (environmental awareness through craft and story); tot craft classes and a new offering for parents and their two- and three-year-olds called Tickle Toodle Doo (creative activities involving make-believe). Residents have remarked to Luckett-Kelly, "Your name is all over the brochure!" Although she's serious about her instruction and insists on discipline, Luckett-Kelly does not expect that her students will become professional actors. She encourages their participation in drama for the other benefits. "It helps a shy child to be able to stand up in class and speak," she says.

"The interaction with other class members promotes sharing and team work. I encourage everyone to leave bad attitudes at the door and to work together."

Luckett-Kelly's goals in her drama classes are to motivate the students to communicate without fear, to be able to think creatively, to feel good about themselves and to leave the class feeling happy.

"I start with a plan, but implement and improvise as needed," she says.

She got the parents involved by asking them to create scenery and costumes-making drama class a family affair. The parents have been very supportive and the addition of costumes and scenery appeals to the budding actors. They look forward to the final class performance when friends and family get to see the results of their creative labor. Her combined drama class performed at the Kids World Expo held at the Arlington International Race Track in February.

"With Lucia's expertise, she was able to direct the students in only two classes to perform at the Expo," says Stelk.

"Lucia has been given the gift of teaching and she's using it to the fullest."

In addition to her interest in drama, Luckett Kelly's is a skilled storyteller. She's performed for many groups, tailoring the stories to the age and experience of her audience. Her favorite stories usually include animals and worldwide locations.

"I tell stories from my heart, hoping to involve my audience and when I know they're with me, I feel like I can fly!" 

NANCY CHAMBERlAIN
is the communications supervisor for the Arlington Heights Park District.

32/ Illinois Parks and Recreation