Friday Feature: Sean Lakey, Fine and Performing Arts Department Chair

Sean Lakey joined the Rabun Gap faculty seven years ago. Throughout his time here, he has served in the role of Technical Director, Artistic Director, and, as of this year, the Fine and Performing Arts Department Chair. He came to the school with an extensive background in theater and was an incredible addition to the team in the Arts department. He provides his expertise in most of the performances that take place on the Rearden Stage and in the Blackbox. Without further ado, we give you Sean Lakey...

Where are you from?

I was born during an early morning thunderstorm in Miami, Florida which many took to be an omen of things to come. As a small child, I was brought to the rural mountains of Otto, North Carolina and went to an elementary school in a small building that is now a Knife Shop. While I did not attend Rabun Gap, I did spend some time on campus as a boy, learning how to sink like a stone in the pool and spending many a winter careening down the front hill in the snow.

What were you doing before coming here?

My wife and I traveled around the country as performers for several years following various theater jobs and trying not to starve. We worked and lived in many places including Washington State, Arizona, & Colorado before moving back east. We spent six years working in the theater community in Summerville, South Carolina (just outside of Charleston). Our primary home there was the Flowertown Players where my wife and I worked as the only full-time employees, running both the business and the artistic parts of the organization.

What made you choose to work at Rabun Gap?

Michelle and I always loved this area. After migrating around the country for over a decade it was very appealing to come back home, abandoning the swamplands of Charleston for the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. The school offered a wonderful opportunity to work in exactly the type of artistic venue I love; one that promotes community and constant learning.


Tell us about the classes you teach. Besides teaching these classes, what else does your role here entail?

My primary job at Rabun Gap is to provide puns and witticisms. Apart from that, I am the head of the Fine and Performing Arts program as well as overseeing the logistics and usage of the A&T Building. I have taught the technical theater and film classes as well as overseeing the afternoon musical and cirque programs. Next year, I will also be adding the performance classes to the list.

What has been your favorite show here so far?

This is like asking a parent to pick their favorite offspring. To avoid emotionally scarring the middle child, I will say that almost all of the shows I have ever worked on have wonderful memories and some laughably awkward moments. I loved the music and thematic style of Cirque Mysterieux; I loved the message and passion that the cast brought to Cabaret; I loved the stage combat and overall silliness of Cirque Tortuga. That does not mean I do not love Pirates of Penzance. You’re special too, my precious.

Why did you decide to pursue theatre? 

I chose this line of work entirely for the fortune and glory. I love the community nature of theatre and the way that a group of people come together to create something magical. I love the energy of creation and the smell of fear and anticipation on an opening night. I love how a cast comes together as a family for a production; how they fight and squabble and love and support. I love creating stories and sharing the human experience. At the end of the day, theatre brings me joy, which made the decision easy.

What were you like in high school?

I was pretty much exactly the same as I am now in high school, with maybe a little more emotional maturity back then and a quantifiably awful hairstyle. I spent every spare second in the Arts classes, splitting my time between visual arts, chorus, and drama.

What do you like about working in a school theatre department?

Every day there is a new challenge and a new project. There is seldom enough time for anything to grow boring because we are already moving on to another three or four new productions or events. The ever-changing nature of it and the need to juggle fifty things at once makes every day an adventure.

Why do you feel the Arts are important in high school education?

Everything you learn, both in school and as a human being, is utilized in a practical way when you participate in the arts. The Arts utilize math and science, English and history, health and wellness, language, business, philosophy and every other discipline you can name. They use this knowledge in a way that requires problem-solving, collaboration, communication and creativity. Now, more than ever, the future of education has to focus on creation and collaboration. Those are the skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow and there is no better way to prepare than by using the Arts as a training ground.

What makes Rabun Gap special?

Rabun Gap is special because of the students who attend. They provide the passion, the energy, the excitement that makes this place what it is.

What is your favorite memory of working with students here?

Hands down, my favorite memories of working at this school are of that terrifying moment where you hand a show off to the students and then step away to let them be in charge. There is an element of watching birds leap from a nest and just hoping against hope that they figure out how to flap their wings. As a director, it is an awful moment of nervous anxiety, as you watch helpless and out of control. As a teacher, it is one of my favorite moments; watching all of these new artists work together to make things happen all on their own.

What interests do you pursue outside of the classroom?

I’m an avid gamer both on PC and console. I love movies, preferably older ones and admit to still enjoying cartoons. I dabble in graphic design and software coding. I like to play music on both guitar and piano, but I do not practice enough to be very good at either. I also like to read comics and graphic novels, science fiction, fantasy, and the occasional horror novel.

What are you known for among the students?

Drinking way too much coffee and making some truly terrible puns.

What has been your most embarrassing moment on stage?

Fire dancing and that’s all that needs to be said about that.