Oak Forest HS's DeWitt Trains to be a Theatre Critic

Oak Forest High School student Mairead DeWitt goes to the Goodman Theatre every Saturday, rain or shine. She is part of prestigious program for 11th grade girls that nurtures female writers to be critics and to learn how to write professionally. This program, called the Cindy Bandle Young Critics program, is a joint venture between the Goodman Theatre and the Association for Women Journalists. Participants receive free theatre tickets and one-on-one mentoring from professional journalists.

Dewitt applied for the program on the urging of Hille Middle School teacher Mrs. Ryan. DeWitt said, “She had a daughter who did it. She thought I had talent and thought I would be a good fit for the program. I applied in October and found out that I had been selected in November.”

Oak Forest High School English teacher Ms. Maureen Wallace said about DeWitt, “Mairead is truly gifted at stating her opinion in a direct, clear, and educated manner. She has a way of changing your opinion on a subject after she tells you what she thinks about it. She always takes an opportunity, when presented, to give the class or an individual a different approach or side to a topic. Above all, she truly believes in her opinions and shows that passion when she expresses them.”

The program has some cool perks. For example, DeWitt gets to see all the major shows that the Goodman Theatre presents. After watching a show, DeWitt writes a review and submits the draft to her mentor who looks at it and then makes suggestions, which DeWitt takes under consideration as she writes her final draft of her review.

One of the plays DeWitt got to see was Rapture Blister Burn. DeWitt said she made the characters and the director squirm with some of her interview questions. She said, “I asked if they were feminist or had a feminist background.” None of the actors nor the director wanted to portray themselves as a feminist.

DeWitt, who is planning to go to DePaul in Chicago, would like to major in English or political science. “I love to manipulate the English language and have a lot of respect for how powerful the English language is,” she said.

After participating in this program, DeWitt can graduate to another program. DeWitt hopes to continue her association with the Goodman Theatre in the future.