Theatre Skills Help You Shine

The theatre skills you hone during your educational years teach you how to succeed in the workplace whether in theatre or not. Thespian alum Jenelle Riley was a proud member of Sprague High School’s Thespian Society in Salem, Oregon, for all four years of high school. We are happy to share Jenelle’s “Theatre at Work” story during Theatre in Our Schools Month 2022!

Jenelle Riley is a proud Thespian alum of International Thespian Society (ITS) Troupe 834 at Sprague High School in Salem, Oregon. She spent all four years of high school with the troupe and experienced the thrill of having the first play she wrote performed there!

Theatre skills shine anywhere!

Jenelle Riley is a screenwriter, actor, journalist, host, and producer. She is the winner of three Emmy Awards for producing and hosting PBS’ “Actors on Actors” series. She also regularly hosts Q&A conversations with talent for several outlets, primarily SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s “Conversations” series. She is an editor at Variety and the writer of the award-winning plays A Kind of Love Story and Jane Austen’s Emma Frankenstein, along with the films Warning Labels and Crazy Love. Clearly Jenelle’s theatre education prepared her to confidently work in many areas including journalism.

When we asked Jenelle what inspired her love of theatre she told us, “I think I always knew, even before I actually set foot on a stage, that I wanted to be involved in the arts. I grew up watching movies and devouring trivia about actors and movies. I started attending live theater at a very young age. I apparently wrote my first play when I was in third grade – I’m pretty sure the plot was lifted from an episode of Happy Days. I was anxious to get to high school, where I hoped I could be a part of these magical plays.”

Not only was Jenelle involved in the well-known plays Troupe 834 performed, she saw her first play make it into production there.

Theatre skills in action

We asked Jenelle what workshops or training helped her most and she said, “As a writer, having the opportunity to stage my own work, especially as a teenager, was invaluable in my evolution as a writer. Working with actors, seeing my words spoken, and getting immediate feedback, lit a fire in me that can’t be matched to this day.

“Not only did my high school give me that opportunity, but we staged a couple of my shows at the Oregon festival. That was the first time an audience wasn’t just friends and family.

“As a performer, my improv training has taught me how to compose myself in front of an audience and think on my feet.”

How to use theatre skills offstage

If you think you are the only one “acting” your way through certain situations outside of the theatre, listen to how Jenelle uses her theatre skills.

“My improve training has taught me how to compose myself in front of an audience and think on my feet,” Jenelle says. “Part of my job involves talking to celebrities I’m in complete awe of – and trying to pretend like I am not freaking out. That’s some of the best acting you’ve ever seen!

“And for live events, where I moderate Q&As in front of hundreds of people, I have learned my improvisational training has really set me apart. The “Yes, and…” strategy of improv has taught me to listen to others, roll with the punches and trust where the conversation is going.”

Jenelle jokes that one of the ways she uses theatre skills at work at Variety is that she’s good at pretending to pay attention in meetings. But in all seriousness, she says, “Every day I find myself grateful for a performance background when engaging with others. They say so much of acting is reacting, and I’ve learned how important it is when someone is speaking to make them feel heard. It sounds simple, but it’s absolutely the most important step.” ♦

Jenelle Riley is a screenwriter, actor, journalist, host, and producer. She is the winner of three Emmy Awards for producing and hosting PBS’ Actors on Actors series and regularly hosts Q&A conversations with talent for several outlets, primarily SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Conversations series. She is an editor at Variety and the writer of the award-winning plays. You can connect with her on Instagram @jenelleriley where she is also a proponent of: adopt, don’t shop.