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CountyLineFebruary2012www.CountyLineMagazine.net14ThepassionforthetheaterisfeltattherststepintothedramaclassroomatRiverTrailMiddleSchoolRTMS.OnewallhaspostersfromschoolperformancesandanotherhassignsfromBroadwayproductions.DramateacherEricBraggx19sinuenceradiatesthroughoutthespacewherestudentsexperienceagrowingappreciationforallfacetsoftheaterarts.ForErichispassionfortheaterbeganwhenhewasinelementaryschool.EricgrewupinElkhartIndianaandwasintroducedtothetheaterwhenhisthirdgradeclasswasin-vitedtothehighschoolx19sproductionofCharlottex19sWeb.x1cFromthemomentthecurtainopenedIwasmesmerizedbytheperformancex1dsharesEric.x1cTheabilitytotellastoryinfrontofaliveaudiencewassomethingIhadneverwitnessedbefore.x1dHevowedthatwhenhereachedhighschoolhewouldperformasanactoronthesamestage.Hisenthusiasmfortheaterwassteadfastthroughouthighschoolandcontinuedonincollege.Heearnedhisundergradu-atedegreefromBallStateUniversitywithamajorinElementaryEducationandaminorinTheatricalStudies.DuringhisstudentteachingEricrananafter-schooldramaprogram.Formanyofthestu-dentsitwastheirrstexposuretotheaterarts.MovingtoGeorgiaforhisrstteachingjobEricwasafthgradeteacheratCreekViewElemen-tarySchoolCVESinAlpharetta.Heexpandedtheafter-schooldramaclubteachingthemaboutthe-aterandputtingonproductions.Hisloveforsharingdramawithstudentsshowedinhisworkandhisproductionsearnedthesupportandattentionofthecommunity.HereceivedtheClassActAwardfromNBCNewsin2005forhisdevotiontodramaattheelementarylevel.AfterfouryearsatCVESErictransferredtoRTMStoteachdramafulltime.Theopportunitywasx1cadreamcometruex1dforhim.Forthepastveyearshehastaughttwodramaclassesateachgradeleveleducatingstudentsaboutvariousaspectsofdramaincludingthehistoryoflmandstage.x1cIfeelveryprivilegedtoworkwiththeseamazingstudentsandamreallyproudofthemx1dsaysEric.Heexpandedanexistingafter-schooldramaclubwherestudentswithaninterestinactingcandigdeeperintoper-forming.InhisrstyearasdramateacherEricwasalsobusycompletinghisMasterx19sdegreeinInstruc-tionalDesignfromGeorgiaStateUniversity.TherearetwodramaproductionseachyearatRT-MSx14amusicalinthefallandtheschooltalentshowinthespring.Ericleadsthedramainstructionandreliesonhiscreativeteamtoguidethestudentsinthemusicalportionoftheirperformances.Or-chestrateacherMattThomasenjoysthecombinedeffortoftheatricalproduction.x1cEricisgoodatdele-gatingandtruststhatthecreativeteamwilldotheirpart.Hehasanexpectationofexcellenceandthestudentsrisetotheoccasioneverytime.x1dChorusteacherLoriLahmannsharesMattx19srespectandadmiration.x1cEricisconstantlyenhancingthedramaprogramtomakeitthebestitcanbe.Thekidsjustlovehim.x1dAttheendofeveryschoolyearEricoffersthedra-mastudentsaeldtriptoNewYorkCity.Thefour-byKarenDuffyEricBraggworksonascenefromOnceonThisIslandwithcastmembersMaddieCantieTaranBeasleyDaryaHoseinandMcKenzieRivers.TheaterITx19SALLABOUT