The Texas Educational Theatre Association (TxETA) recently held its 75th anniversary conference at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas, where hundreds of theatre teachers from across the state gathered to learn from others in numerous sessions, shop for theatre supplies in the exhibit hall, make new theatre teacher friends, and visit with former theatre friends.
As the close of the conference came near, a banquet was held for attendees who were to be honored in the convocation of all members. Melanie Smith of Richland Springs was one of those honored. Out of the hundreds of members, eight members received awards.
Melanie Smith of Richland Springs was one of the elite eight to receive an award. She was honored with the theatre teacher “Emeritus” award. In her acceptance speech, Smith recalled her mother taking her to a movie in Bay City to see the 1935 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. At 15 years old, Mickey Rooney performed as Puck in the play, and Smith was smitten not only with Rooney but with theatre. She ended her speech by stating, “The real purpose of teaching theater is to share the magic with young people, and when we do that, our students are all winners.”
Smith has taught theatre and coached U.I.L events at all levels of the Richland Springs schools. She taught full time at RSHS for 28 years, and after her retirement in 1995, she continued to direct the One Act Play for contest for three more years. Today, Smith continues her involvement and love for theatre as a volunteer assistant to the Richland Springs theatre director.