The Visual and Performing Arts Academy welcomed a new theatre teacher this year, Mr. Paul Shaffer. He has over 20 years of experience teaching theatre and brings a new perspective to VPAA theatre students in their 9th, 10th, and 12th grade years.
Despite only being here for a few months, Shaffer loves the community; he has been in the theatre world for years.
“I love everything about theatre,” said Shaffer. “I get the most joy out of directing, and building/painting is more of a relaxing activity for me.”
He’s coming to us from Texas but is quickly making a home here and building relationships with students.
“I like that he is very lenient on his methods and that he gives us a lot of freedom,” said senior Reese Williams. “He does not hold back on challenging an answer to make it better.”
The way he teaches is not only appealing to seniors but to underclassmen as well.
“I’d say his teaching method is very abstract in the sorts of exercises we do,” said sophomore Dylan-Jaymes Kleber. “ It gets me out of my comfort zone and helps me to determine what’s helpful rather than repeating the same things.”
Shaffer will be directing his first show at Salem in the spring. He is “really looking forward to Eurydice, to see what we can create together.”
