Andrew Hinderaker

Class of 1997

Playwright

An enormous amount of my time at Memorial was spent in athletics. As a member of the swim team, my days began and ended in the pool, and so it's tempting to claim that I didn't discover the arts until college. But that wouldn't be entirely - or even remotely - true. If not for the JMM choir, I probably never would have pursued musical theater in college - and from there, a career and life in the theater. If not for the great English teacher, Sandy Theobald - and his undeniable passion for Shakespeare - I may not have ever become a playwright. And if not for JMM's extraordinary planetarium (and the days I spent there, looking up, dreaming) I may never have written a Netflix show about space exploration starring a two-time Oscar winner. Which is to say, what I got to experience at JMM - and what I would wish for every student - is access and opportunity.

Students need what we all need: a recognition that their interests, curiosities and passions, have value. I was able to become a professional writer because so many folks along the way - starting at JMM - supported me with mentorship and with resources. It's hard to become a playwright (or director, designer, or actor) unless you can put up a play. And it can be hard to believe that your stories matter unless you get to see yourself (and folks who look like you) on stage and on screen.