The power of healing and growth is a topic not unknown to students at BYU. Educators and learners alike were asked to stretch their capacity to hold both powers in one hand as they were transplanted from their on-campus home in the Harris Fine Arts Center, to the new West Campus building, formerly known as the old Provo High School. The college of fine arts and communication, which includes Theatre, Media, film, Art, and Design departments, had to establish new communities, while major construction projects prevented them from being as close to the rest of campus as they might like to be.
As the production team of The Secret Garden began conceptualizing what the show might look like in a high school venue, Belle Frahm and I felt a great need to do what dramaturgy does best - reveal the world of the play in a practical manner, one that benefits those who see the show, and those who may not. Thus began the “Our own Secret Garden,” project, one in which we collaborated with students, faculty, and community members to get our hands in the dirt and plant a real garden, a garden that all students at Provo High School could enjoy. Once the space was selected, the real work began - and there was a lot to do.
Because we live in the desert, we did a lot of research to ensure that the plants we selected might survive the Utah climate, while also remaining conscious of available resources. This required us to think through ways in which we could conserve water while simultaneously giving our garden the nutrients it would need to blossom. With the help of the BYU Grounds and planning committees, we collaborated on a “water - wise” garden design which gave us the freedom to create something beautiful, lasting, and environmentally conscious.
In the musical, The Secret Garden, there’s a real sense of something new being borne out of something old. Growth and healing are not always found by abandoning your past, but rather, can be illuminated by taking who you once were and allowing it to transform the person you are now. Belle and I wanted to bring this feeling into the garden by repurposing as many materials as we could. Planter boxes, compost, seeds, and other materials left behind at the high school during our transition added a deeper layer of belonging to the project as we incorporated them into our garden concept.
By mid April, we were ready to get our hands into a “bit of Earth,” and hosted our first garden workshop with the cast of The Secret Garden. With weeds to pull, leaves to rake, and soil to turn, the cast got busy on transforming this overlooked space at the high school into one that our community and student body could enjoy. We even did chalk art to commemorate the work they were doing both in the show, and in our literal garden.
Another workshop was held in July of 2023 and the community was invited to come and work alongside the cast to further beautify our West Campus space. A path to our own “Mother tree,” was dug out, soil was laid down, and we finally started planting our shrubs, bushes, and flowers.
About a month before The Secret Garden opened, we did one last workshop with the cast in the dark! Weeding, raking and plenty of singing ensued while we got our hands into the soil one last time before the show opened. The cast even performed a beloved song from the show called, “Come Spirit, Come Charm,” which filled the air with a magic we’ve clung to ever since.
Because the timelines of construction on main campus aren’t set and we still face quite a few unknowns, we are so grateful for the cooperation and support of BYU in allowing us to create a student space here at the high school. It is our belief that everyone is deserving of “A bit of Earth,” and we know firsthand that it can often be hard work to grow where you’re planted - But what a wonderful reward it is to see the blossoming that follows! We encourage you to consider your own growth, how you’ve been nourished, and what your growth has done to benefit this ever changing world. We likewise welcome you to join us in Provo High Schools’ very own Secret Garden near the student commons! Can’t wait to see you there!
