Forest Hills — David Howard stands off to the side of the stage at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center watching as a group of young thespians move set pieces.
“The best part about this is once the show opens, it becomes all student run,” Howard said. “It’s fun to see the kids take over the lights, the sound and the stage management.”
The June performance of “Newsies” marked the 20th anniversary for the Forest Hills Summer Stock program and also the end of Howard’s 33-year career as a teacher and theater director for Forest Hills Northern High School and Summer Stock, which he helped start.
For his work, Howard was awarded the district’s Ben Emdin Guiding Principles in Action Award, which is given to an individual who has made a long-term commitment and impact to the Forest Hills Public Schools.
“He is just a really great guy,” said 2024 Northern High graduate Zach Meyers, who served as stage manager for “Newsies.” Zach said he was in a number of Howard’s classes and worked with him on several school productions.
“He is just funny,” Zach said. “Everybody just likes him. He is part of the reason I keep coming back to help.”
‘A Place to Be’
A 1986 Grand Rapids Central High graduate, Howard attended Grand Rapids Community College and then transferred to Western Michigan University where he earned a bachelor’s in English with a minor in communication arts.
“So, originally I was going to be a DJ and decided that I wanted to make a difference,” said Howard during a recorded acceptance speech for the Ben Emdin Award.
Howard knew he was good at working with students because of the various youth programs he helped with, he said. He came to Forest Hills Northern as a student teacher where he assisted in directing “The Sound of Music” and started building relationships with students.
“I found out that was my gift — talking to kids, getting them involved and trying to help them find their safe space and their home,” he said. “So that is probably what I’m most proud of: giving kids a place to be and to celebrate who they are, what they’ve done, and just most importantly, let them be them.”
He started his education career at Forest Hills Central High School and eventually taught at all three of the district’s high schools. Howard spent most of his career at Forest Hills Northern where he taught broadcasting, media communications, tech theater, English 12 and musical theater along with directing the plays and musicals.
During his time at Forest Hills, Howard has directed 70 musicals and dozens of plays and other productions including the Northern High newscast, FHNTV. His impact on the district and Northern High School was celebrated at May tribute honoring Howard that featured both current and past students, some who are or have performed on Broadway.
A Student-run Endeavor
In the early 2000s, shortly after the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center was completed, Howard was approached about directing a high school summer stock production and the fun began.
Over two decades he refined the program to an 18-day session that starts after the school year ends with three days of performances at the end of June. The program is open to all Forest Hills high school students from ninth grade to outgoing seniors. If a student earns a role, they pay a participation fee and receive an elective credit for participation.
“I would have graduated with a higher GPA if I had had the A from this class at the time,” said 2024 Northern High graduate Brandon Baum with a laugh. Brandon played Jack Kelly, the charismatic leader of the newsboys.
Stagehands are all volunteers, said Zach, who oversees the stage crew. They come in about a week before the show to get assignments and practice with the cast, he said.
“It is something that I have enjoyed,” said Zach, who plans to attend Montana State University in the fall to study business management and Spanish. “I enjoy talking to everybody and there are always new and different people to meet.”
While rehearsals are intense, six-hours a day, Howard said he has been impressed with how students have made Summer Stock their own.
“They have special days where they dress up based on a theme (such as ‘Dress Up as Mr. Howard’) and they have pool parties and get-togethers in the evening,” Howard said. “It’s fun to see the three different schools come together and the students be so supportive of each other.”
That support extends beyond the three weeks of Summer Stock, said Noor Hassan, who will be a senior at Eastern High School and played ambitious young reporter Katherine Plummer. Students attend each other’s shows during the school year because of the bonds they have developed.
Broadway-style Shows
Getting into Summer Stock is competitive. More than 100 students auditioned for the 2024 Summer Stock program, with the group narrowed down to a cast of 59. Student actors are also expected to help with promotions and are required to sell at least one ad for the program.
Howard said he always tried to pick a show students want to perform and “Newsies,” which the FH Summer Stock also presented a few years ago, is a student favorite.
Brandon played young newsboy, Les, in the previous production. When he heard Summer Stock was performing “Newsies” again, he jumped at the opportunity to audition, landing the lead role.
“The great thing for me is that during the school year, I couldn’t participate in the fall theater production because of sports and the spring musical because of hockey, so this gives me the opportunity to participate in theater,” said Brandon, who plans to attend Taylor University to study computer science and digital media.
Noor said she plans to pursue musical theater after graduating which requires auditioning for college programs.
“Due to the intensity of the program, it has helped to tighten up my skills,” she said. “Even though it is insane that we put on a Broadway-style show in less than three weeks, we still have a great time.”
The fun is evident as students laugh and cheer for each other as they move through dance routines.
Forest Hills Fine Arts Manager Jeremy Cox said it has been a pleasure working with Howard and seeing him bring out the best in the students both on stage and behind the scenes.
“Dave is a very cool, collective guy who cares a lot for the kids,” Cox said. “He has a lot of fun with the kids and they have a lot of fun because they are here.”
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