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Q&A with inspiring actor and English teacher Morgen Kyser

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By Gianna Jacobs / Staff Writer

Q: At what theater do you currently perform?

A: I’ve had the opportunity to work at a variety of theaters through the years–Theatre 8:15, Wolf Creek Players and Dynamics Community Theater have been my most recent.

Q: Are there any shows that you are in currently?

Pictured above, Morgen Kyser performs as the baker’s wife in “Into the Woods.” This production ran in 2019 at The Jackson Players Theater.

A: Since I began directing at SMFHS, I keep my acting to the summers. Directing three shows a school year alongside Mr. Hinman is a time consuming (but very fun and rewarding) gig, so I’m not in any shows currently. I am currently working on directing our upcoming production of Into the Woods! I encourage everyone to come check it out April 17-19.

Q: How does your experience as a theatre actor influence the way you teach English?

A: I always like to add a little theatrical flair to my teaching. For student birthdays, I encourage my classes to stand on chairs and belt out the birthday song; when reading a literary text, I like to use different character voices and inflections and when standing in front of the class at any given time, I like to try to be as engaging as I can be.

Q: What has been your favorite role to perform?

A: Oooo, what a mean question! Every role I’ve gotten to play has a special place in my heart. I guess I have to say getting to play Ariel in ‘Footloose’ was my favorite because it directly led to me becoming a director. It was the summer after my first year of teaching (at a different school), and some of my administrators came to see me perform. After the show, they asked me if I would like to run the school’s drama club and direct the school’s play. A castmate from that show also asked me if I would co-direct a show with him. I said yes to both and ended up directing two shows at one time, which was a wild thing to do for my directing debut! Fast forward a few years, and here I am now. Had I not had that role of Ariel, I’m not sure I’d even work at SMFHS, and that would be tragic because I love what I do and the people here so much!

Q: How do you prepare for a character on stage?

A: I’m a big believer that character’s motivation should drive them–I always ask myself, “What does this character want in this scene, and how are they going to try to get it?” I think the answers to those questions help with building the nuances of a character.

Q: What’s the biggest lesson theatre has taught you?

A: They say there are no small parts in theatre, and it is 100% true. Every single person matters. Theatre is a collaborative effort, and everyone contributes to creating something that is larger than the sum of its parts. I’ve been in leading roles, I’ve been in ensemble, I’ve run tech, I’ve moved a single bench in a production–every part I’ve ever played has mattered. This lesson is true of life, as well. Everyone matters. YOU matter. As my boy William Shakespeare once wrote, “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts.” The part you are playing right now is an important one, and the ones you’ll play throughout your life will be important, too.

Q: Do you get nervous before performing? If so, do you have any techniques to help?

A: Oh for sure! Fighting those nerves starts the second I get my script–being prepared is the best way to combat the nerves. I try to learn my lines and my blocking as soon as I can. When the nerves creep up, I can remind myself that I am prepared. There is also something to be said for the healing elements of a deep breath or two before stepping on stage.

Q: How does performing help you better understand the characters in plays you read for teaching?

A: Can I tell you a secret? I hate simply reading plays. To sit with a script and just read it in my head is so boring to me. I think plays are meant to be performed (or read aloud at the very least). Through my experience with performing, I find that I want to hear a character’s voice–I want to think about what inflections they would use when saying any given line. I also want to hear how different people interpret that character–there’s often not just one “right” way to do it. When I teach a play in class, I’ll assign roles to students, and it’s always neat to see how different students approach the same character. In one class, a student may be shouting Hamlet’s lines, where in another, they may be whispering. Theatre truly is an art, and art is driven by the artist.

Q: What advice would you give students interested in theatre or the arts?

A: DO IT! At the end of every show, Mr. Hinman and I ask seniors to give a speech at our cast parties, and so many of the students say the same thing: “I wish I had joined sooner!” There are so many opportunities to join at our school alone–we have Drama Club every Wednesday from 2:45-3:45 in the auditorium, there’s the All-Class Play in the fall (keep an eye out for auditions and crew applications around September), the Senior Class Play (for senior actors and all grade-levels of crew members) and the All-School Musical (watch for auditions and crew applications for the latter two around late November). When in doubt, reach out to Mr. Hinman or me (Ms. Kyser).

Q: What first made you fall in love with acting?

A: When I was four years old, I started dance classes. When I was nine, my parents told me I had to choose between dance or sports. I decided on the latter, but I missed dancing. I saw a flyer in my elementary school for auditions for a production of Babes in Toyland, so I tried out and the rest is history.

Q: Who was your biggest inspiration when you started performing?

A: My friends, hands down. I learned so much (and still learn so much) from my friends when acting with them. There’s something so special about collaborating with the people you love on a creative project.

Q: Was there a specific moment when you realized you wanted to pursue theatre seriously?

A: I think theatre pursued me, not the other way around. There were so many times in my life when I thought I would be done with theatre, but it always found me again and again. I’m a person of faith, and I truly believe every time theatre popped back up in my life it was God directing me to here and now.

Q: What was your very first role?

A: I had the esteemed role of Toy Soldier #25 (or something like that) in “Babes in Toyland” when I was 9 years old.

Q: How do you prepare for a new role?

A: Aside from attending rehearsals, I study. I quiz myself on my lines and my blocking, I dig into the character’s motivations and I read over the script often.

Q: What advice would you give students who are nervous about auditioning?

A:  Some of the best advice I’ve ever heard is to “do it scared.” Life is filled with opportunities that make us feel nervous or scared–we should never let that keep us from trying. We have big feelings about things because they matter. If you want to audition, go for it! If you want to fight off some of those nerves by being prepared, make sure you know what the expectations are for the audition so you can correctly prepare. Need to perform a monologue for the audition? Pick one that aligns with the character you’re auditioning for and start memorizing early. Not sure where to start? Reach out to the director(s), and ask for advice. Just don’t miss out on being a part of something you want to be a part of because of nerves–you’ll thank yourself for your bravery later. 

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American Heart Awareness

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By: Isabella Clark, Editor

  During the month of February, there are many events going on to spread awareness around the world. One important cause is American Heart Awareness.

      Heart disease is a cardiovascular disease which ultimately leads to death and takes over 800,000 lives in the U.S. per year.   Heart disease is a big part of people’s lives in today’s society–many people have relatives who have it and/or pass it along to their children. 

     Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. for both men and women. 

      In modern day, professionals try to  focus on preventing one in five heart-related deaths. They encourage having healthy life styles, diets, exercise and making sure they recognize warning signs. 

     The American Heart Association prompts people to do eight key heart measures for heart health: eat better, be active, quit tobacco, get a healthy sleep, manage weight, control cholesterol, control blood pressure and control blood sugar. 

     By doing all of these procedures, many people can stay  it will become more likely to keep people  on track for a healthy heart, and allow for  early symptoms of a heart disease to become noticeable. 

Photo Source:Lillias Cummings

          Some of the most common warning signs of a heart disease in today’s world are chest, neck, jaw or back pain as well as shortness of breath and fatigue. 

     In the early stages of a heart disease it is hard to figure out when to actually seek help. 

     If a person has any one of these factors then they are more likely to have or get a heart disease:high blood pressure, smoking, obesity and diabetes. 

     Having a heart disease can have a severe impact on a person’s life, each year there would be around 800,000 people who suffer from a heart attack in the U.S. 

     Throughout the years many people die from heart failure, and every 34 seconds there is a person dying from a heart disease. 

     During the first day of February, the American Heart Association encourages everyone to wear red to represent heart awareness. This is just a small way to show support for people struggling with the disease throughout this time. 

     Numbers show that heart disease affects more women than men, and it is more likely for women to have a heart disease than to have cancer. 

     While women have a  higher risk factor for having a heart condition, it is also common in  certain racial and ethnic groups,  and is often one of the biggest causes of death. 

        According to the American Heart Association, Roughly twenty million adults aged twenty and older have a heart disease. Older people are more likely to have a heart disease because they can’t take care of themselves as they would when they would be younger. 

     Heart disease can affect all  kinds of different people. It is a month where people can show respect to others, and to support people during their time of hardship.

Feature, Front/Home

A Child’s Need for Color

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By: Finley Messella, Copy Editor

 In recent years there has been social media trends revolving around the color beige; more specifically the lack of vibrant colors and how they impact a child’s development.

     Babies take in their surroundings as soon as they are born. They absorb things like sound and sights to help them learn about the world around them.

     While a neutral color scheme does not necessarily harm a child, it can affect the child’s overall brain simulation and engagement. 

     According to Children’s Wisconsin Medical Clinic, “A lack of stimuli can affect a child’s mood or behavior. In the long term impact their creativity and imagination, which is because of slow cognitive growth.”

     Color plays an important role in childhood development because it helps stimulate the brain and support learning from an early age.

     According to Psychology Today, “Bright colors like red, yellow and blue often grab children’s attention,” making it easier for them to stay focused on toys, books and classroom materials.

     Colors can influence emotions too–warm colors may create excitement and energy, while cool colors like blue and green can promote calmness and concentration. 

Created By: Carlee Ecklund

     According to the National Institute of Health, “Anger entails reddening of the face, so anger is metaphorically described as ‘seeing red,’ and positive emotions and experiences are often depicted in terms of lightness, so lightness is metaphorically linked to good rather than bad.”

     Even just seeing certain colors can impact a child’s development. Specific colors can support creative and cognitive processes as kids engage in activities like art or exploration

     According to Psychology Today, “Seeing green has been linked to enhanced creative thinking.”

     Using color in learning environments can improve memory, since kids often associate information with specific visual cues. As children grow, exploring color through art allows them to express feelings and build creativity.

     According to the National Institute of Health, “By six months, infants go from very limited detection of color as newborns to a more sophisticated perception of color that enables them to make sense of objects and the world around them.”

     Color awareness is a part of how young children begin to organize their visual information. 

     According to the National Institute of Health, “Infants can perceive the dimensions of color and categorize it.”

     Exposure to different colors also helps children develop visual skills and learn to recognize patterns and differences.

     According to Children’s Wisconsin Medical Clinic, “Introducing children to a vibrant world of color can stimulate visual development because bright colors and patterns can grab a baby’s attention and help them learn to track and recognize objects,” which supports early visual skills and sensory growth.”

     Even young children use color as part of how they learn about and respond to their environment—not just adults. 

     According to Psychology Today, “Color is everywhere–infants and children relate to the world through color.”

     Overall, color is not just decorative; it actively supports cognitive, emotional and sensory development during childhood.

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English teacher David Morgan is more than the eye can see

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Story by Carlee Ecklund, Staff Writer

     While students know David Morgan as an English teacher here at the high school, he has worked diligently throughout his life to become a successfully published author. His passion for writing extends beyond the classroom, creating an imaginative space for all his students.

     Morgan has written 16 books since 2003 and has one in the making. 

     “I’m currently writing a book right now that’s going to be out in August of 2026, and it’s called ‘The LeBron Phenomenon, My Front Row Seat to History,’ and it’s all about my experience covering LeBron James,” Morgan said.

     Growing up, Morgan said he was motivated in high school and he was smart, but he did not work hard; however, that did not affect his long-term dedication for education.

     “I got a 15 on my ACT, and now I have an honorary doctorate, and I have a master’s.  I’ve written 16 books, and I was part of a team that won an Emmy for a documentary.”

      It was not until college when Morgan started writing for the Youngstown State newspaper that he really found his passion for sports writing.

Photo courtesy of David Morgan

English teacher David Morgan participates in the Columbus Book Festival last summer. He sat in a booth with his eight-book children’s series and some other pieces to showcase his work.

     Morgan said he was not afraid of becoming an author–he said people just need confidence. 

     “If you want to do something, just do it. Quit worrying about the fear; the fear is what’s going to hold you back,” Morgan said.

     Previous to Morgan being an English teacher, he had grown fond of educating children. 

     “I was going into schools, and I thought this was fun. Kids are great to be around, so I just looked into what I needed to do to get a teaching license to be able to teach,” Morgan said.

     Morgan’s favorite part about writing a book is writing about high school sports because it is probably the only time a student will ever get anything positive written about them. 

     “You’ll go to restaurants or somewhere, and you’ll see a story that you wrote 12 years ago, and it’s all yellow and beat up and tattered, but it’s up on a wall in a restaurant because that was somebody’s grand-grandson or grand-daughter,” Morgan said.

     Morgan emphasized basic standards to being a writer: “[You have to be] unbiased, you have to be objective, you have to write about both sides [and] you have to research. You have to not have a personal agenda,” Morgan said.

Photo courtesy of David Morgan

Morgan is pictured with his colleagues after winning a regional Emmy Award in June 2022 from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Central Great Lakes chapter for the historical documentary about the life of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marion Motley, who broke professional football’s color barrier in 1946 with the Cleveland Browns.

    Morgan’s advice for young students who want to write but don’t know where to get started: “Everybody can write. Everybody has a story to tell, because everybody’s story is unique. So don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid to write.” Morgan said.

      Reflecting on his writing process, Morgan shared how he balances being an author with being a teacher. 

     “When I was writing my first six or seven books, I wasn’t a teacher, and most of my writing I do during the summer.  Over the last three or four years, I’ve written about eight books. They were all done during the summer,” Morgan said.

As Morgan was navigating through career paths, he decided to combine both sports and writing into one career.

 “Why not have a career putting those together and be a sports writer and travel and do everything that I’ve always wanted to do, but just write about it?” Morgan said.

     Morgan’s biggest traits when it came to being a successful writer were confidence and determination. 

“You just have to believe it–you have to have confidence. I’m going to do whatever I need to do to get there, and that’s going to happen,” Morgan said.