Words by Cooper Kirkpatrick | Image by Ryan McGill
Pamela Brown was one of the most influential figures at Jasper High School—then known as Walker High School—in the mid to late 2000s. Many of her former students recall how she created a welcoming space for those who didn’t always fit in elsewhere or struggled to find passion in academics or athletics. That space was none other than the school’s theatre program.
While also teaching Honors English, Brown laid the foundation for today’s theatre program. Her contributions extended beyond the school, shaping Jasper’s community theatre scene as well. She provided a place where students could explore their potential as performers on stage or technicians behind the scenes while challenging them to grow as individuals.
Brown passed away in October 2011 at the age of 61, and her loss was deeply felt across the school and community. But her legacy endures today as the school’s theatre now bears her name, officially known as “The Pam Brown Theatre.”
One of the students inspired by Brown’s work was Gunter Wisdom, now the head of the JHS theatre program. He vividly remembers attending productions directed by Brown when he was a student.
“There was a kind of air about the theatre when you went to see one of her shows,” Wisdom recalls. “It almost felt like you could feel the magic in the room.”
The quality of those productions, combined with Brown’s passion for theatre, contributed to Wisdom’s decision to pursue a career in the arts. After college, he returned to JHS as an English teacher and assisted David Sellers with set design and technical aspects of the theatre program. When former theatre director Faith Butler stepped down, he was asked to take on the position and gladly accepted.
Now, Wisdom hopes to both reinvigorate the magic of the theatre and expand the program’s scope, offering students new challenges and valuable skills. Like his predecessors, he recognizes each student’s unique talents and strives to help them realize their potential.
“It’s completely different seeing them in class where they’re the quiet kid, or maybe the academic kid,” he explains. “Then you put them on stage, throw a spotlight on them, and you see what they become. Usually, in those environments, they thrive, and you get to see an entirely different side of them.”
I’ve seen this transformation firsthand. I never found much interest in sports or other extracurriculars, but I’ve always been fascinated by storytelling and bringing characters and their stories to life. Acting, writing, and the entire creative process have intrigued me for as long as I can remember. The JHS theatre program has been an invaluable part of my experience, allowing me to perform in big and small roles, form friendships with incredible people, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
But this is just the beginning.
Wisdom envisions expanding the program to teach students the fundamentals of theatre and the more specialized aspects of production, like set design, props, stage direction, and more. This approach would create a richer learning environment and provide unique opportunities exclusive to JHS, making the program even more special.
The JHS theatre program is an integral part of the school, and under Wisdom’s leadership, it is sure to inspire and entertain for years to come. WL
