Practice what you teach

Destrehan theater teachers to appear in Le Petit’s “Peter and the Starcatchers”

Lucas Harms’ day starts at 4 a.m., just before his 2-year-old son, Leo, wakes up. He’ll go to work at Hahnville High School, where he’s been the theater teacher for seven years. These days, he won’t get in bed until midnight, after practicing his role for Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre’s production of “Peter and the Starcatcher,” which opens Thursday, Nov. 7

“I just showed [my students] a picture of me in a mermaid costume,” Harms laughs, “[every actor in the show] plays a mermaid at some point in the show.”

Harms is not the only St. Charles Parish educator with a role in the upcoming production. Ashley Santos, a talented theater teacher who splits her time between the Ethel Schoeffner Elementary and Harry M. Hurst Middle Schools’ talented theater programs, will also appear in the play as Molly.

At 34 years old, Santos is playing the only female in the play, a 13-year-old girl. She describes the role as one of her most physical in her acting career, and admits to taking  some of her inspiration from her daily life.

“It’s great fun,” Santos laughs. “I’m studying my students a lot more than they probably realize.”

Neither of the two actors can afford to go into these projects half-heartedly. Santos, whose first child will turn two in December, said the days can be incredibly long for a couple that works full-time jobs. Her husband, Michael Santos, also teaches and acts, serving as a theater teacher at Delgado Community College.

“We both can’t work [a play] at the same time,” Santos said.She said her husband finished a production of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” only a week before rehearsals began for “Starcatchers.”

“Now he’s ‘Mr. Mom’ and I’m at rehearsals,” she said.Harms, who is also married to an actress, Megan Harms, echoes Santos.

“It’s a lot of tired days,” he said, “but we make it work because my wife is incredible and helps me do these things.”Adapted from a novel co-authored by Pulitzer-prize winning humor columnist Dave Barry and New York Times Bestselling author Ridley Pearson, “Starcatchers” tells the story of the days before Peter Pan became the inaugural lost boy of Neverland. In the play, an orphan Peter—played by Nick Stephens, who lives in Destrehan—goes on adventures with Santos’ character, Molly, protecting a magical treasure from pirates such as Harms’ character, Bill Slank.

Harms said his past work had him in more of a romeo role, such as playing John Hatfield in a retelling of the story of the Hatfield and McCoys.

“I guess as I’m getting older—and bigger—I can kinda play those villain roles,” said Harms of the role for which he asked by director Beau Bratcher to rehearse, “which is good, because it’s a lot of fun.”

In addition to worrying about the Le Petit production, both actors are putting together their own plays set to open shortly after “Starcatchers.”

Santos is putting together a production of “Alice in Wonderland” with her students. On rehearsal days for “Wonderland,” she said she typically gets a half hour break before she has to commute to her own rehearsals in New Orleans. She said that, with such production schedules, she only has the energy to do one to two shows a year as an actress.

Meanwhile, Harms said he is assisting his wife who is directing the Hahnville High School production of “Twelve Angry Men.” He said he spends his afternoons building the sets for that show, as well as making sure the couple’s two children are taken care of while his wife conducts rehearsals.

Harms said he saw the original production on Broadway and read the book. Though he said its geared towards a middle-school level, he is comfortable, and excited, to bring his four-year-old daughter to the Saturday showing.

Santos said she is sharing information on the show, particularly since this one is more age-appropriate than some of her past roles. She said it appeals to all ages.“It’s a little like a Disney movie,” Santos said. “The adults are going to catch things the kids don’t, but it’s so visually fun and interesting.”

With every actor playing multiple roles, Harms calls it one of the most “ensemble-driven” plays he has ever been a part of.

Editor’s Note: Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre is located on 616 St. Peter Street in New Orleans. Tickets cost between $30 and $50, with discounts available on certain days and for students. Visit www.lepetittheatre.com to learn more.