By Parker Johnson, Staff Writer
As of the 2023-24 school year, Drama Teacher Michael DiSalvo has joined El Camino’s staff to teach things he’s learned from the real world of acting to the students at EC.
DiSalvo came to EC after a friend who taught drama recommended he apply for the position.
“A fellow drama teacher told me about the position, said that it might be a good fit, and so I came and loved the facilities and loved the school,” DiSalvo said.
According to DiSalvo, EC wanted someone with professional acting experience, and he has over 20 years of theater experience, which made him the candidate for the job.
Ever since he was in sixth grade, DiSalvo had teachers that inspired him to perform and be creative. By the time he was in high school, DiSalvo was auditioning for college theater programs, snowballing into a professional acting career.
During his acting career, DiSalvo has taught students in college and has worked as a professional director for the B Street Theatre.
“I’ve taught a little bit of college—but never in a high school. I’ve worked with high school kids before and I really enjoyed it,” DiSalvo explained.
Although DiSalvo doesn’t have high school teaching experience, his students are enjoying his style of teaching and his new curriculum.
Drama student, Isabel Arguelles (‘24), takes Advanced Drama with DiSalvo and enjoys how DiSalvo’s teaching style and curriculum are unique, like how it focuses on how acting works in the real world and not just how to perform on a stage. Arguelles believes that DiSalvo’s experience in the field of drama will be useful when teaching students who want to become actors or act in the future.
At the beginning of DiSalvo’s time here at EC, he seemed more like a director directing a play then a teacher teaching a class, according to Drama Club Vice President Zeta Lezon (‘24).
“Now he seems more like he’s getting really into teaching and helping the students more,” Lezon observed.
Despite how little time DiSalvo has had at EC, Lezon is glad that DiSalvo is here and believes that he will be able to help the drama program be as successful as it was last year.
DiSalvo is looking forward to working at EC and with the students in the EC drama program, as well as holding events such as improv nights or musical acting. Students wanting to be a part of the drama program can talk to DiSalvo in room S-3 to sign up for the Drama Club, or sign up at Club Rush on Sept. 21.
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