At South, the Fine Arts Department is a home for many students, including junior Mia Hermann, sophomore Peter Loghran, and sophomore Madeline Preston. The sense of community in the Fine Arts Department is like no other, Hermann said. Despite the time-consuming nature of a theater production, Hermann values rehearsals because of the connections she makes with her peers.

“Rehearsals [for the fall play] were every day after school, so that ate into time to do homework, but I would rather go to rehearsal than miss rehearsal for something else [because of my friends],” Hermann said.

Hermann, Drama Club President, plays roles in various productions put on by South every year. Out of her experiences in theater, her favorite memory was during her freshman year, when she played a centipede in the spring play “James and the Giant Peach”.

“[“James and the Giant Peach”] was fun because I got to be overdramatic [playing] the centipede,” Hermann said. “I was also the only freshman of the main cast, so [I learned] a lot from the juniors and seniors.”

Preston is a member of Bel Canto, Chamber Singers, and was in the fall play. Preston described theater as an activity she will never regret taking part in. Her interest in performing arts began at a young age because of her parents having careers in the arts, stated Preston.

“I have been around [performance] my whole life,” Preston said. “My parents were singers so they have offered me advice for shows and auditions.”

Loughran, involved in Pep Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Glenbrook Symphony Orchestra (GSO), and this year’s fall play, found that meeting new people in the Fine Arts Department allowed him to further develop his skills and relationships.

“There are so many talented people in the [Fine Arts Department],” Loughran said. “Meeting them gave [me] a chance to further [my] ability and knowledge in music and art and meet others [with the same interests].”