Guthrie Theater chooses Cloquet grad, and Cloquet, for first outstate teaching artist

When Cloquet alumnus Alex Goebel heard that the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis was looking to hire its first-ever outstate "teaching artist," he jumped at the opportunity.

First of all, the director and actor would be working with the Guthrie, the top-tier theater in the state, with all its resources and talent. He would be one of 10 teaching artists around the state in this unique program that encourages students to "think like an artist" and use creativity to tackle challenges or enhance learning.

But more importantly, he said, he wanted to have the opportunity to bring the program to Cloquet High School. So he told them he has "tons" of experience in theater education and, more than that, he knows the students from directing the spring play for the past five years and having younger siblings in school here. He knows the teachers and the culture in Cloquet.

"I made sure that I said, even if it's not me, take it to Cloquet," he said, "because Cloquet would love this, really benefit from this. There's so many artistic kids, so many kids that really love to shine. If I can't do it, someone should, but I would love to be a part of it, any way that I can.

"And here I am. I love it. It's great."

Goebel was hired by the Guthrie to be a teaching artist in Cloquet. His wages are paid by the theater, but he will be available to any of the high school teachers to help enhance their curriculum through theater education and his skills as a theater professional. He started earlier this month and will be in Cloquet on a part-time basis for the next three years.

"Maybe I help students step into the characters in 'The Great Gatsby,' for example," Goebel said. "That can be acting games, improv exercises, any design elements like costumes, scenic design, playwriting. Or there can be more simple ways I'm used in classes. It may be public speaking, helping to break kids out of their shell, or gain confidence being weird in front of other students. Teaching correct posture when speaking ... anything I can relate from my experience in theater, as an actor and director, and 10 years of theater teaching experience."

If you're thinking the 2010 CHS graduate can't have all that experience under his belt, think again. He started teaching and working with younger theater students when he was still a teenager in Cloquet.

Goebel talked about how the current theater culture in Cloquet - which attracts a wide range of students for very large casts - makes it the perfect place to bring an even broader theater experience.

"Theater becomes its own sort of melting pot here, for sure," he said. "You'll have your kids who are all theater, that was me. But yes, so so many kids audition, do these shows, or come to these shows."

Theater is a great way to make friends, he noted, especially when strangers, in the guise of different characters, start interacting.

"A lot of high schools have very small theater programs because not a lot of people are really drawn to that the same way they're drawn to sports or academics. But theater offers so much. It offers academics, ways to be moving, thinking, interacting with people."

In addition to having Goebel as a resource, the partnership between the Guthrie and CHS means the school and Goebel can tap into other Guthrie resources, whether that's people - directors, actors, choreographers and more - coming to Cloquet, or students going to the theater in Minneapolis.

He is excited about the idea of getting more kids to different productions at the Guthrie, shows that they might not otherwise see, shows that might be more cutting-edge than they'd find in small-town Minnesota. They'll be entertained, and maybe they'll be even learn something.

"Theater can be one of the most accessible ways to teach something, because it forces a person to empathize with people," he said. "I think empathy is one of the most important things that teenagers can learn," he added. "I think empathy has the potential to stop bullying and create friendships and an understanding of the world that you just don't get."

Which fits right into the stated goals of the Guthrie Theater's core values, including community engagement, equity, diversity and inclusion, along with artistic excellence and more.

"All those things are so important to the Guthrie but also to high-schoolers," he said.

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