Quinn Strassel dramatically takes a step into the circle of high school students, exaggerating his arm motions and looking up to the ceiling theatrically.

“One big, black bug bled blue, black blood while the other black bug bled blue,” he said, his voice bouncing around Community’s Craft Theatre.

The students replicate his actions.

“One big, black bug bled blue, black blood while the other black bug bled blue,” they cry back, some more outgoing than others.  Their voices resonate throughout the theatre, filled with joy and enthusiasm.

“Students [have] their body and their voice, so it’s important for [them] to be warmed up,” said Strassel, when asked why he subjected his students to these difficult tongue twisters.  “But I also think it’s important for students to feel like they can take risks and make choices without being judged by the group.  It’s to get them comfortable with each other.”

Ridiculous phrases and gestures are not unique to just Strassel and the theater troupe he works with, but he likes to use these for other reasons as well.

“I’ve always been somebody, even when I was in high school,” said Strassel, “with a big personality and I like getting people to do really ridiculous things. You know, sort of go above and beyond what they think they can do.”

Community High School hired Strassel over the summer to be their new theatre teacher and a forum leader, replacing the retired Phil Walker.

Strassel’s transition to Community was easier for him than it would have been for most other teachers.  Strassel grew up in Ypsilanti, Michigan and attended Ypsilanti High School where he participated in the theatre program; this wasn’t Strassel’s first experience with performing arts.  As a young boy, he was a member of the Ann Arbor Civic Theater – he first performed as Dill in “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

“I just loved it as a kid,” said Strassel.  “At the time, you’re not really thinking about it as a profession or anything, it’s just something fun to do.”

Strassel was not only drawn to theater as a boy, but also participated in soccer, basketball and other sports.  He enjoyed reading, was a student council president and was constantly involved in school functions.

After Ypsilanti High School, Strassel attended the University of Michigan where he was a part of the theatre program, performing in shows written by playwrights such as Arthur Miller and Shakespeare– there he met Adrian, his wife of ten years, who was a member of the University of Michigan’s prestigious Musical Theater program. The program accepts about 600 applications annually but admits just 18-20 students.

Adrian started to get job offers for Broadway – the Strassels took advantage of the opportunity and moved to the Big Apple in 2002.  While Adrian performed, Strassel began teaching at a high school in Brooklyn where he started a theater program.

“It was an amazing experience,” said Strassel.  “I taught for three years; I directed a production of “West Side Story” right out of the gate – just sort of came out firing.”

The school’s gym teacher, who worked in her free time as a private dance instructor and happened to be choreographing “West Side Story” in her classes, aided Strassel.

“She told me, ‘if you ever wanted to do “West Side Story,” this is the year,’” said Strassel.

Strassel also had a friend from the University of Michigan who was in New York looking to direct the music of Strassel’s production; Strassel hired him and the three worked together until the final product was created.

After their performance, the students lifted a crying Strassel onto their shoulders – as he wept and smiled, the audience in the theater displayed its approval through thunderous applause.

“Other than getting married, that was the best moment in my life,” said Strassel.

While in New York, Strassel managed to find the time to continue his lifelong hobby.

“I did a couple small shows. You know, that qualifies as off off-Broadway. Yeah, off off off,” he said.

Despite having a terrific time teaching inner city Brooklyn students for three years, Strassel decided to spice up his life and began to pursue a master’s degree in broadcast journalism after receiving a fellowship to Boston University.  Adrian had grown tired of the acting business and received a degree in social work.

After receiving his degree, Strassel worked for a music website, OurStage.com – a place where up and coming musicians can share their songs, music fans can vote and information about top artists performing at festivals is shared; Strassel interviewed many artists for the site, including hip-hop musician Lupe Fiasco and NBC television star Will Arnett. The thrill of interviewing A-List stars eventually wore off.

“I remember turning to my wife and saying, ‘I miss teaching, I miss putting on the plays; I’d really like to get back into that,’” said Strassel.

Strassel kept his eyes peeled for teaching opportunities, especially in Ann Arbor.  He and his wife had talked about moving back home – both had family in the area.  Finally, an English position opened up at Huron High School and Strassel applied; he was asked to come for an interview and given the job. Adrian got a job as a social worker at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Ann Arbor.

After a year and a half at Huron, Strassel was transferred to Skyline and Community.

“Huron was an amazing experience,” said Strassel, “but I’m thrilled to be taking on the challenge of the Community Ensemble Theater, teaching acting classes, and I’m just so excited to be a part of a school like Community.”

Strassel said he doesn’t plan on trying to make Community’s theater program replicate that of one of the larger high schools in Ann Arbor – he hopes that the plays done in CET are quirky and innovative.

His group will not be biased – involving the whole school is important for Strassel, including the faculty.  Strassel views CET as a chance for art classes to design sets and the school dance teacher to choreograph numbers.

“It’s funny because the school is called Community,” said Strassel, “but that’s exactly what I want – a community of people really excited about the shows we’re doing.”

Students are excited by Strassel and what he has already brought to the table.

“[Quinn is] really excited and passionate about the program and I feel their is an inclusive air and it’s just really exciting because there are so many new people,” said senior Megan Shiplett, who will perform in CET’s first play.

“[The changes] are for the better,” said Joey Houghton, CET’s student president. “I got to  meet him before school started and we talked about a lot of these changes and we both agreed they are for the better.  He’s been doing a phenomenal job.”

Strassel feels that CET would be aided by a choral program.  He does not see himself as a qualified choir teacher, but hopes that Community High School will bring back their choir class once more.  Strassel notes that Pioneer’s theater guild has benefited tremendously from their award winning choral program.

Despite being a lifelong actor, no theatrical role prepared Strassel for his current  teaching career.

“I actually consider teaching [to be] my greatest acting challenge,” said Strassel.

Strassel is excited to work at Community this year and hopes that he will one day become a full time teacher there. But for now, some of his part time responsibilities include his forum.

“The forum that Quinn has, has had several forum leaders,” said Hein, “but I feel very good about Quinn being here and staying here.”

For their first Forum trip together, the Strassel forum spent the night at Strassel’s house; he feels blessed that Community offers these opportunities to their teachers.

“Community [High School] is the dream job,” said Strassel.