Drama and Music at Weight Loss Boarding School in North Carolina

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They may not produce the next Jonas Brothers or Angelina Jolie, but two new electives at Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas give students creative outlets and potential lifelong pursuits toward a well-rounded education.

A music course with instruction in guitar, bass, drums, music theory and appreciation started in January, and a theater program began last fall. Students will earn credit for the programs, which replace electives in film and leadership.

Wellspring Academies in California and North Carolina offer a renowned approach to weight loss, fitness and a healthy lifestyle for children and young adults.

“We wanted to move in the experiential realm with phone number data the electives, where kids are creating something, having personal expression,” says academic director Billy Porter, who has experience with multiple instruments and will teach guitar and bass. Science and math teacher Liz Hillard, a trained drummer, will teach drums. The program can accommodate about 20 students, some of whom will use their own instruments.

“Interest is so high, we’re going to interview kids for a position in the class,” Porter says. “We’re looking for people who are dedicated and passionate and people who understand that in five minutes you’re not going to be Jimi Hendrix.”

Maybe not another Hendrix, but students will use a recording studio on campus, and performances will be included on Wellspring’s YouTube listing. The initial goal
is to perform during graduation weekend in June.

The music program will give students a long-term goal and an opportunity for teamwork. “It’s a chance for students to have a more relaxed atmosphere even though they’re going to have to produce results,” Porter says. “It gives them a creative investment, a creative outlet beyond the normal classroom outlet... It’ll give them a hobby, hopefully a lifelong hobby.”

The theater program may start a lasting hobby for some students. The class “really does have a lot of promise” and can give students an outlet “using that negative energy that we all get in a positive way,” teacher Lynne Warner says. “I really hope this gives them some self-confidence… to know they just got up in front of the class and recited a monologue.”

In addition to acting, students are involved with lighting, sets and other technical aspects of theater.

Students have performed Neil LaBute’s “Fat Pig” with more performances likely for the semester that begins in January. The play explores attitudes about overweight people through the eyes of a man, his friends and overweight girlfriend.

One character compares his overweight mother to a sumo wrestler and cow, remarks that make Wellspring kids laugh. And that’s part of the purpose. “Once you can laugh about it, then I think you can move on. There’s not that anger anymore and not that hurt,” Warner says. “That’s what social theater is. It forces you to talk about things you don’t want to talk about … I always want them to carry with them this experience. I don’t want them to get skinny and then forget. There’s always going to be overweight kids.”

Warner, who’s on a county task force to address childhood obesity, wants students to perform for audiences off campus and have them read about and perform their own life experiences.