Mrs. Pratt: A Beam of Light for the Drama Program
Sabrina Pratt has been everywhere in the realm of theater. From Second City in Chicago, performing in improv shows, to starting Central Coast Comedy in SLO, Pratt finds herself at MBHS’s theater program. Pratt is an artistic director, acting coach, writer, comedian, and most important of all to the students of MBHS; a person who brings excitement and love to the theater program.
In high school, Pratt participated in mock trial to get close to anything relating to acting since her high school had no drama program. Pratt said, “My friends and I would do the ‘Monty Python’ skits at lunch. It was super fun for us, but not for everyone else. If you love theater you're gonna figure out a way to do it one way or another.” After graduating from high school, Pratt went to Winthrop University, a school in South Carolina, studying theater education and getting her K-12 teaching credential. “From a really young age I knew I wanted to be a drama teacher,” Pratt said, and so she did. Pratt has worked in middle schools as well as high schools to share her love of the arts.
After the previous MBHS drama director left, the program was left uncertain as to what they'd do without an advisor for the club - until Mrs. Pratt. Emerson Jacqauy, the director of the program's fall play, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” said, “She has brought a sense of family to the club, and just this good and hopeful energy.” Pratt’s collaborative sense of directing and warm energy has truly brought together the members of the club, as seen in their weekly meetings with each other and constant communication on all things tech and crew. “I sometimes say that watching theater is like watching a duck swim on water- hopefully to the audience it looks all smooth and peaceful but under the water [behind the scenes] there are people working really hard to make it appear that way,” Pratt said.
When asking Pratt why she loves theater, she said, “Being a part of telling stories that people feel like they live - there is something so beautiful and magical about live theater that you don't get from movies or TV.” When you see Pratt working with Jacquay and her fellow advisor Erin Davis, you really see that she cares so deeply about whatever she’s doing. “It's a lot of moving parts- doing high school theater- but it is so so worth it when everything comes together, the curtains open and it's show time!” she said.
Pratt urges each and every student to join the MBHS drama program, “Sometimes nerves keep people from trying new things,” and that, “If someone is curious about theater, come out and try it, you might just find yourself loving it.”