Naomi Tsuang
News Editor
Mira Costa Technical Theatre head Cary Jordahl became the Drama Department’s Executive Director at the beginning of this school year.
Costa’s administration replaced Drama teacher Carol Mathews due to undisclosed reasons.
“I’m looking forward to having more opportunities to work with Mr. Jordahl, along with the rest of the student leadership,” Drama Department President and senior Noah Geller said. “He’ll be more involved with the drama side of things, and as such we will be interacting with him much more closely than in the past.”
Mathews will continue to be the Drama teacher and teach the Drama classes, but will not be involved in the extracurricular component of Drama, which includes the two fall productions, spring musical and school competitions. Mathews had been Costa’s Drama Director and teacher for the past 27 years.
“Please note it is a Union issue and going through the Grievance Process,” Mathews said. “[The director change] was not a wanted or expected change. That is all I can comment right now.”
Jordahl has been involved with Drama productions at Costa since 2010 and has taken part in directing the past seven productions. In addition to continuing as Costa’s Tech Department head, which includes managing stage lighting, sound and stage management, Jordahl will now be in charge of all drama productions this year.
“My goal is to provide students with as many quality and educational theatrical experiences,” Jordahl said. “That is the mission between the Mira Costa Drama boosters and myself. We try to provide structure and organization so we can pull off a quality production and students can experience what it is like to be involved in case they have a desire to attend a university in the future and study [drama].”
Jordahl plans on making minor changes to the department, such as announcing shows for the next year several months earlier, so students have more time to prepare for auditions. Most of the changes have to do with preparation and will not be major, Jordahl said.
“The changes will give us the chance to fine tune certain parts of the Drama and Tech departments and iron out some kinks,” Geller said. “I’m excited to see the Drama and Tech departments come together a bit more this year; we are working to make them more united outside of our interactions during the shows.”
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