Lorelei Wernecke is the new theatre teacher this year after Samuel Rosenfield stepped down. Before taking the position, Wernecke was a guest director for the play “Our Town,” which theatre performed last year.

Wernecke, who is a former wolf, was heavily involved in the department back when she was in school. She graduated from Illinois State University and has been student teaching since her freshman year of college. Wernecke has also worked on directing musicals such as “Fun Home” and “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

According to Director of Fine and Applied Arts Patti-Anne Ford, Wernecke is a key staff member this year, as she teaches theatre classes and Arts Appreciation: a class she once took as a student at West.

“I just think she brings that factor that we are looking for in somebody who is the face of the program and has to run a really incredible curricular program as well as extracurricular. So it’s not for the faint of heart and she definitely has the heart of a lion,” Ford said.

It’s not only Ford who thinks Wernecke is a great addition to staff. The students in her department and classes have welcomed her warmly. One student, who worked with her on “Our Town” and is currently enrolled in play productions thinks she is a positive addition to the staff here.

“I really like Ms. Wernecke. She just has this very positive energy anytime I enter a space with her and she also is someone that you can be yourself around,” senior Emma Shimon said. 

According to Wernecke, she is interested in getting more clubs involved with theatre and opening up the space to give them an opportunity to showcase themselves. Her current project, the second show of the year, will require the help of many cultural clubs as the show focus on immigration. The goal is to give students a chance to share their experiences in a new light.

“I want us to be more collaborative. Theatre applies everywhere. It’s not just the arts and I think that gets lost a lot of the time,” Wernecke said.

These changes and new opportunities to the department will take place with the support of the students, Ford, and Wernecke’s efforts this year.