English teacher and Drama Club sponsor Laura Stewart hopes to add a third specialty to the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science’s name.

“It’s the school for math, science and also humanities,” she said.

The second-year teacher is again working with the student body to put on a musical — “Hadestown” — scheduled to run in May. This follows her production of “Twelfth Night” during her first year. 

Stewart’s work behind the show is extensive, as she is responsible for a variety of tasks, including picking the production, holding auditions, casting actors and overseeing rehearsals. 

“[Directing the theater department] is sort of like running a small city,” Stewart said.

Stewart said the return of musicals to MSMS’s repertoire led to large growth in the program. 

“Our biggest goal was to do a musical, [since] a few years [have passed] since MSMS did a musical,” she said. “This year, just through the audition phase, we saw our program grow. We had almost 40 students audition; it was incredible.”

This turnout affected important decisions for production.

“You have to know you have the talent to fill the roles. When our current juniors came in, I was absolutely blown away. We ended up double-casting [the show],” she said. 

Stewart has many goals for this year and in the upcoming years as she works with MSMS students.

“Our goal for this year is to have one really amazing musical and go to [the] regional MTA (Mississippi Theater Association) festival. We are trying to find more and more ways to involve theater,” Stewart said. “As long as there is interest in it, I think it’s something our students need so much. We all work so hard, and it’s just joyful. Even if it’s a sad show, it’s such a fun way to watch talents come forward.” 

Stewart said her passion for theater comes to light through students’ participation in productions.

“Being a director is the most fun during those performances because you just get to sit back and watch the [students] do what they do,” Stewart said. “And the applause is great.”  

Before guiding MSMS’s thespians, Stewart became interested in theater during high school through a teacher she said was similar to herself. 

“I was in the ninth grade when I first did my musical production. I didn’t even audition that year [but] mentioned [to my teacher] that I really wanted to,” she said. 

Following the discussion with her teacher, Stewart received a role in the musical and continued performing through all four years of both high school and college.

She focused on theater at Mississippi State University and graduated with a master’s degree from both the University of Richmond and the University of Alabama, where she is currently finishing a PhD. Since joining MSMS in 2024, she has mostly focused her work on coordinating and directing in the theater department. 

Despite not having much time for theater outside of MSMS, Stewart works with the West Point and Clay County Arts Council when she can. 

“I hope to have time to get back to my stage self one day, but for now I am very fulfilled with all that we are doing at MSMS,” Stewart said. 

Apart from her role in the theater department, Stewart, as an English teacher, impacts many students through her work at MSMS. 

Junior Jayla Gholston, who is enrolled in one of Stewart’s Southern Writers classes, said she admires her work. 

“She made my least favorite subject really enjoyable,” Gholston said. “Her passion shines through in everything she does at MSMS.”

Editor’s Note: This article was edited after publication for accuracy.