TJ theater and STEM students combine their talents for ‘Big Fish’
By Sohana Bahl and Ami Le
With show-stopping dancing, dedicated technicians, and the fantastical world of giants and mermaids, the theater department at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is ready to make a splash with “Big Fish.”
Performances are scheduled for April 25 and 26, and May 2 and 3 at 7 p.m. and April 26 and May 3 at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at tjtheaterarts.com or at the door
Thomas Jefferson Theater Arts (TJTA) is a unique program. With the school’s primary focus on science and technology, students involved in the arts have found themselves in a smaller, more tightly knit community.
“Theater is more than just a fun, creative outlet, though it is that,” says TJ senior Asha Das. “I think a lot of people underestimate the things you can learn from theater.”
“I’ve been able to work on my skills in leadership, collaboration, and thinking outside the box, and those skills have made me a better leader, student, and scientist,” Asha says.
This spring, TJTA students challenge themselves with Big Fish, the 2013 musical composed by Andrew Lippa. The cherished tale follows an attempt to fix a strained relationship between a father, Edward Bloom, and his son, Will Bloom.
As young Will learns more about his father’s life, he realizes the importance of empathy and what it takes to love and appreciate his father. Just like how the members of the Bloom family care for each other in the show, TJ theater students strive to form a similarly supportive community at school.
Junior Thomas Gay thrives in the encouraging atmosphere. “In TJTA, there’s always somewhere to go or someone to talk to. I just feel like I connect with everyone.”
In addition to the connections among those involved in the production, TJTA also sports impressive technical development. For Big Fish, TJTA integrated some of the seniors’ classwork into the show.
The school offers a unique senior research lab program, in which TJ seniors combine their acquired knowledge into a single year-long project. Theater students took advantage of this opportunity by building a working elevator to go onstage for the show.
Senior Dani Hunter shared her experience with the project. “I’ve always had an interest in both theater and the construction side of engineering, and this project was the perfect opportunity to integrate the two. I like doing CAD, math, and testing things. Overall, I’m really excited for people to see how we used our interest in STEM to further the story in Big Fish.”
Along with the technical behind-the-scenes work, the actors in Big Fish are more than ready to put on an amazing performance.
Prajeet Chitty, a junior, plays Will Bloom, a complex character with a vital role in the story. “Playing Will, I’d say I learned a lot about how I can take real-life experiences and use them to better my performance in the show.”
“While I can’t fully relate to Will, I can find emotions that are universal and use times of frustration or hope in my life to inspire my portrayal of the character,” Prajeet says. “It’s good to find that line between yourself and who you’re playing.”
From STEM to acting, TJTA students demonstrate their passions, uniting the school across grade levels and interests to form one cohesive production.
Sohana Bahl and Ami Le are 10th graders at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
9 responses to “TJ theater and STEM students combine their talents for ‘Big Fish’”
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My goodness, only at TJ would a theater kid talk about using it to gain leadership skills. I find it sad that so much focus at TJ’s theater program is placed on the technical. Who gives a monkey’s about an elevator?!? These TJ theater students appear in desperate need of exposure to humanity beyond their CV. I’ll pass on this production and instead attend a show at Justice, Annandale, Falls Church or any other neighborhood high school.
It’s the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, not for the Performing Arts. Sure they are putting on a play but they are also getting a chance to utilize/develop their skills/passion to add something to it they feel is exciting, isn’t that what learning is about?
I think it’s pretty clear there is something else going in regards to your absurd disdain for this event. You had to make this ridiculous post criticizing high school kids when you could just simply decide to not attend the event and keep your mouth shut. So many people in this world are so miserable and they must let everyone else know, sad.
Having observed TJHDST from both inside and outside for 20+ years, I can tell you that the intense focus on STEM coupled with the pressures of university admissions allows little room for any real exploration of the humanities. This was reinforced by this article in which the quoted students mentioned leadership skills and STEM integrations rather than any insights derived from exposure to people and places beyond their experience. You do, however, make a great point: there is no Governor’s School for the performing arts. A shame, that, as English majors will finally be in demand soon, far more than most STEM degrees. AI will require language articulation more than scientific abilities.
I was an English major. I loved it but no, it’s never going to be in demand.
As the mother of one of the students who successfully convinced his Engineering advisors to allow him (and two other students) to combine their senior research project with the show, I find your comments uneducated, unempathetic, and totally misguided. These students are demonstrating their mastery of advanced mechanical and electrical engineering concepts, while making the production quality masterful. TJTA students have worked for YEARS -literally multiple years, to keep the theater program active, when the County continues to devalue, scale down, and diminish the program under the guise of “TJ is not a theater school.” They have faced obstacles (including politics) most adults don’t face in their working lives, and have overcome with perseverance as only TJ kids can.
Shame on you. Go see the show.!
JamesLJ,
As an engineer and entrepreneur with experience in both STEM and the humanities, I find your comments deeply misguided and unfair to these talented students.
First, developing leadership skills through theater isn’t some calculated resume-padding exercise – it’s a natural outcome of collaborative artistic work. These students are learning to express themselves, work as a team, and solve complex problems together. The fact that they can articulate these benefits shows maturity, not careerism.
Second, regarding the “technical” aspects – the elevator project represents precisely what education should be: authentic integration of students’ diverse interests and talents. These teens aren’t just building technical components for the sake of it. They’re using engineering to enhance storytelling. That creative synthesis is exactly what drives innovation in the real world.
Your dismissal of their work as lacking “humanity” is particularly ironic given that Big Fish is a deeply humanistic story about empathy, understanding, and reconciliation. The students clearly understand this, as evident from their thoughtful comments in this article about character development and emotional connection.
Rather than celebrating these young people who have created something meaningful while navigating the intense pressures of a demanding high school, you’ve chosen cynicism. I invite you to reconsider and attend the show. Let’s celebrate and support these students who are embracing the full tapestry of learning opportunities to become the leaders of tomorrow.
Beautifully articulated.
I think the only one in desperate need of exposure to humanity is you, sir.
Sincerely, a TJ student, actor, and humanities enthusiast.
@JamesLJ – get a life! These are just kids, FFS. Kids who have put their hearts and souls into this production. Go take your petty little vendetta against TJ somewhere else and let these kids enjoy their moment – they’ve more than earned it.