Since she has been involved in theater for a long time, it is no shock that senior Julie Lemon is a huge part of the drama department.

Lemon’s theater life began when she was in the sixth grade. Since then, she has been in a total of 10 productions.

Lemon is also the president of Kearsley’s chapter of The International Thespian Society (ITS).

ITS is the Educational Theater Association’s student honorary organization. ITS recognizes the achievements of high school and middle school theater students.

This is not where Lemon started, however.

One of her first plays in middle school was “Romeo and Harriet,” where she played the nurse.

Ever since then, Lemon has become more involved in the drama department.

In her first year in high school theater she was the only freshman with a speaking role in Kearsley’s production of “Little Women.”

Lemon was proud to be the only freshman with a speaking role, but  she did not care much for the play.

“I was pretty much forced to be in that play,” Lemon said. “If it wasn’t for Sarah Karram and my love for theater, I probably would not have done it.”

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If it wasn’t for Sarah Karram and my love for theater, I probably would not have done it (my first high school play).

— Julie Lemon, senior

Lemon has never had a production that she regrets being in or being a part of.

“I have had some I like more than others, but I do not regret ever doing one.” Julie said. “If anything, they were good learning experiences.”

Following “Little Women,” Lemon has also been a part of the following Kearsley productions: “Just Another High School Play,” “Murder by the Book,” “Alice @ Wonderland,” “Drop Dead, Juliet,” “A Midsummer Nights Dream,” and the latest Kearsley drama department success “Mmmbeth.”

In “Mmmbeth,” Lemon was both a lead role and student director. For her first time directing, she did an awesome job, according to the cast members and the audience members who saw the show.

Camille Clarambeau, junior, played the lead role of Lady Mmmbeth in the production.

“Julie had a hard time connecting with the cast as a director instead of just being an actor, but throughout the play she found a happy medium and became an excellent student director, along with castmate,” Clarambeau said. “Julie has amazing acting and people skills which made her an awesome student director.”

Senior Taylor Stockton, who also played as a lead in “Mmmbeth,” liked Lemon as a student director as well.

“Julie knew exactly how to help people with their struggles on stage, which made her an excellent director and castmate,” Stockton said.

With the cast reactions this positive, it is hard to imagine that audience members would feel any different about “Mmmbeth.”

Frank Sproule, junior, attended the production and thought fondly of it.

“I think all the actors did very well and fit their roles nicely, but the main actors really shined above the rest,” Sproule said.

The play was a success, and the actors did well, but it would not have come anywhere close if it was not for Lemon’s directing skills.

Mr. John Hall, play director, knew that Lemon was going to do a great job.

“Julie is the perfect student director,” Hall said. “She is motivated and just has a genuine love and talent for theater that most professionals would strive to have.”

Lemon will be doing an independent study with Hall this year for advanced theater.

Plans for the advanced theater class include writing her own play, surveying classical plays, and developing plans for the next drama club production.

“I will not be directing the next play but I will be producing it,” Lemon said. “Part of this class is going to be me putting this next play together.”