This month, Brant One wants to put a community spotlight on a local teacher and inspiration who is retiring from his long beloved position as a drama director, mentor, and educator.
May’s Community Spotlight is on Ralph Adkins, the drama director at Albuquerque High School.
Ralph Adkins has been at Albuquerque High School (AHS) for 25 years, and been a teacher with Albuquerque Public Schools for 44 years. He has mentored and taught hundreds of students that have walked through his classroom, and in that time, built up one of the most unique high school theatre programs in the country. On Saturday, May 16, the AHS hosted a Theatre Banquet. It was organized by students, alumni, and all those touched by the unique place and program Adkins created, and honored his 25 year tenure.
Drama Director at Albuquerque High School
Ralph Adkins came to Albuquerque High School in 2001. Before him, the program was struggling: they had gone through two different drama teachers in one school year. However, Adkins had been teaching drama for a long time already, and he was excited to work with high schoolers, in a real proscenium theatre.
“I remember the first couple years I was here, it was so unique to me, to have a real theatre, not perform in a multipurpose room or a small gymnasium,” Adkins remarked during a speech at the banquet event.
In his time at Albuquerque High, Mr. Adkins created a place where students ran the show. He taught drama classes that encouraged students to take on leadership roles, setting the bar high for productions and performances, knowing that his students would meet it. In his speech, Adkins explained that his goal was always to give students the opportunity to be creative, to give them a voice, and to break barriers: “I’ve told these guys for the last many years that my job is to open doors, their job is to go through them.”
The theatre program at Albuquerque High School is primarily run by International Thespian Troupe 1775, sponsored by Ralph Adkins himself. Under his mentorship, students learned the value of the art of theatre. They learned to collaborate with each other, help one another, and make their creative visions a reality.
Most productions put on in the AHS performing arts center have been student directed, due to the way that Adkins organized his theatrical season. With students running the show, sometimes a production would be on the edgy side; “Once released, you cannot tether the beast,” Adkins said to his audience at the banquet, and was met with laughter from the crowd full of thespians and alumni, friends and family. “You made the theatre remarkable. All I did was let you.”
A Bittersweet Goodbye
Everyone who gathered to celebrate Mr. Adkins was sad to see him go, and eager to thank him for his hard work. Former thespians awarded Mr. Adkins plaque to hang in the theatre, to honor his love, patience, and influence in the theatre program.
After a well-put together ceremony, filled with thank-yous, speeches, and performances from current students and alumni, the teacher sat on stage under a spotlight. The lights in the house dimmed, and Adkins held a candle, to uphold a tradition that the thespian troupe at Albuquerque High has done for years: senior thespians will give a speech at the end of the year, and then blow out their candle to symbolize their time in the theater coming to an end.
“I’m going to blow my candle out,” Adkins said. “And I’m going to say goodbye to Troupe 1775, and I want to say goodbye to this wonderful building, and I’m going to say goodbye to Albuquerque High School. It’s been wonderful.”
Do you know someone who deserves a spotlight? Let us know! Email [email protected] or complete our form to nominate a Community Leader for Spotlight.