001We are back everybody with our special guest Mr. Road Armor. Um M this is Mr. Road Armor's last year of theater and teaching. Um just got a few questions for him. Um when did you kind of start doing theater and like kind of what drew you into it? Um when growing up? >> Uh I my first interest was probably in middle or in elementary school and I don't know if maybe just doing like a school play kind of sparked that interest. I also remember uh my parents taking us to a dinner theater and I really falling in love with theater. And then when I got into um like fourth, fifth grade, I think maybe fifth grade, I just started getting more interested. Had a theater teacher that really kind of inspired me and uh just
002kind of continued from there. >> And that theater teacher would is that someone you kind of uh look up to? >> Yeah, her name is Mrs. Middleton and she had she was um she expected excellence, but she was very caring, very sweet. She she took the time to make sure that you guys were that the cast was understanding what was going on. And um I think she really sparked my vision of what I wanted to be like as a uh theater teacher. >> And so you say that you model kind of the way you teach in a classroom and the way you teach um in the auditorium kind of uh after her. >> Yes, definitely. For if from the theater standpoint, Mrs. Milton is my influence. >> Yeah. Um, out of the many plays you
003may have and many of the musicals you've been a part of or may have uh taught, what was kind of your favorite one? >> Uh, that's hard to say. Um, I Our Town was one that I was in when I was in high school. I played Editor Webb and then 20 years ago I directed it here at Clearwater. It was one of our first plays on the um the new school stage here. So, it's been one that's just been a uh one that I've been very close to. I've really um liked. Uh but there's some other other shows that have been just very ensemble cast. And I think that's what I like about uh theaters when we have the ensemble cast. Everyone works together and uh puts together their the productions. So, >> um and
004then hearing from our uh two theater kids over there, um their kind of most stressful week is tech week. Would you agree with that? That's it's probably the most stressful. Uh tech week, production week can be very stressful. We uh we're running through the full show for four uh dress rehearsals before performance, making sure that we get all of the uh technical elements put together. So adding in lights, adding in sound effects, adding in mics. So it just it's a lot to try to pull everything together, but uh it's exciting to see what happens from Monday night of production week to performances on the weekend. >> Yeah. And uh new being new to this, this is my first play um and maybe my only I don't know what will happen uh next year at Bethl,
005but um I'd say um I definitely am enjoying it. I enjoy practices a lot and I'm enjoying the play um Our Town by Thor Wilder. Um and just have even just four lines, just having just four lines and still like being able to have a voice and be a part of it um is pretty cool. And it's definitely something that I think I should have gotten to a little sooner. >> I I hear that quite often from some seniors that all of a sudden they get in involved in a show their senior year and they said, "Oh, I don't know why I didn't do this earlier. I really enjoy it." But that's why I enjoy seeing people that come from different aspects, different um areas of school. They've got different friends friend groups, different activities
006they're involved with, but then come together in the theater and we're just a family. >> Yeah. Um I definitely realize it with me because usually the um kind of my friend groups in there. I mean, I'm usually around different friend groups usually, but my main that I kind of grew up with aren't into theater and stuff. So, I kind of was like, uh, when you came up with the idea after I won CHS, I was like, my dad was very excited for that idea cuz he was a theater major. And then I was thinking, I'm like, oh, Anna's the lead role. She's my girlfriend. You know, I kind of just want to do it for them, too. And, um, kind of try something and do it for me a little bit. Um, and try something
007new. And I think it's just been a great experience. So, I'm excited to perform this week. >> It's It's fun to have people kind of step out of their comfort zone and try something new. And whether it's something that's longterm or not, it's just definitely an experience that you have and you never know when that might pop up again. So, >> yeah, it's definitely a feeling that I think everyone should uh encounter once in a while. Not even just once in a lifetime. I think they should do it >> um a few times a year because it's just like it kind of just changes your perspective and uh you get to be around a different type of family and maybe even uh become a part of a new family. Um, but with it being your
008uh last year, what is it you uh think you're going to miss the most? >> Um, I I enjoy the students. I I've always said I've been blessed with the students I've had here at Clearwater. Um, because they they come together. They are like a family. Um, they're supportive of each other. So, I'm going to miss that. I I love working with the students. I love seeing uh things uh develop on stage. I mean, there's times we're like, "Oh, is this show ever going to come together?" And then all of a sudden just to see what the students can come up with, it just makes me so proud as a as a director to to see what they come up with. So >> yeah. Um, what is your would you say you'd prefer to direct
009or prefer to be in? >> That's a good question. Um, I think at this point I've kind of settled more into the directing role, but I do enjoy still that idea of being in a show. And uh there may be some possibilities after I uh retire that maybe I can do a little bit more community theater or do something along those lines where I get to do develop my acting skills again. >> Yeah. And I mean in this play you do have a little bit a little part um and get to speak a little bit and kind of uh um get to be on stage like uh you were in the past and like you said uh um after retiring like what what does retirement look like for you? >> Um I'm not really sure
010at this point. I I'm not done doing something. I'm going to stay involved and as much as I can, I'll come back and support and help the students here. Uh I want to be at their activities, uh support them, but um I think I've got some other directions I'm going to be going as well and maybe doing a little bit more volunteering or some things ministry related, but there's just a lot of openings for me. So, >> yeah. Um and kind of uh this decision, it's I mean it's it's a huge decision for every single person when they uh get to their older age. like what what is kind of like the thing that kind of drew you towards oh I think this is my time like what was that final like >> I think
011several factors went into it um one this is year 30 for me uh teaching and before that I did eight years of college admissions so um I'm at that point where I can go in a different direction and look at uh other changes um I think my uh my mother with some health issues it would be nice to be able to have a little more time to to to help her out and she lives in Colorado. So, I'm going to stay here in Kansas, but I might make more trips to Colorado to help my mom uh help my sister take care of my mom. So, yeah, there's those. And then, um >> just seeing uh I I feel like >> uh it's time to just kind of simplify and try new things. So, >> yeah.
012So, it's just more of a retiring uh from being a teacher in different aspects and just uh kind of just a new chapter in your life. >> Exactly. >> So, it's not you're not flat out retiring. you're just not going to sit in a recliner and watch sports. >> I would drive myself crazy if I did that. >> Uh but it's just retiring from the teaching aspect and kind of uh living Road Armor's life. >> Yes. >> So um but um what's one of like a very special moment uh being in a play and a very special moment being a teacher or directing one? >> Um I I I was kind of thinking back about some of this. There was one opportunity when uh my wife and I got to be in a show together
013and our characters were bantering back and forth and it was just it was fun. We we hadn't really had a chance to do theater together before. Um I had seen her in shows but I was had a career so I wasn't involved with the production so and then she watched me direct shows. So that was a chance when we got to work together on on that. Um, there was times when uh I had students um so close-knit that when the show ends, I mean, it's just it's it's sad. It's uh they want to bond. They're like, "We can't let this end." And it's it's kind of bittersweet when that happens. Um it's great because of the bonds that have been made. um knowing that you guys have that the cast has created something, but uh
014a little bit of sadness uh when it's time to to depart and we don't have practices anymore. So, >> yeah. Um well, I really appreciate your time and I uh I am excited for my first performance here in Clear Water uh this weekend and I hope you're excited, but you know, it's going to be a little bit of a bittersweet moment like you said. Um but um yeah, thank you for coming on and uh thank you for all the energy and all the teaching and everything you've put into these kids the many years you've been doing it um here at Clear Water and thank you for everything you've given to Clear Water. Um and uh like you said, we're going to continue to see you and continue to be part of the community. So thank
015you >> and thank you for coming on. >> Um come check out Our Town by Thornton Wilder directed by Mr. Road Armor right here um this weekend uh in the Clearwater Auditorium. $5 to get in. It is 700 p.m. Saturday and >> 2:30 >> Sunday. Um, come check it out. Thank you for watching.