POULSBO — For the first time since 1976, North Kitsap High School has a new drama advisor.

For many students at the high school, it’ll be a familiar face.

Randy Powell, who is a teacher and the school’s debate coach, will take over the reins this year for Sharon Ferguson, who retired at the end of last year after 27 years at North Kitsap.

Powell said he is looking forward to the challenge.

“The fun thing about high school kids is that they’ve got so much enthusiasm,” he said. “They want to be on stage. They want to do their best. And they want to have fun.”

Powell is a seasoned director in Kitsap County, having been active in community theater for eight years. He has directed shows for CSTOCK and Bremerton Community Theater. Between the two, he has directed shows such as “The Fantasticks,” “Camelot,” “Brigadoon,” “The Music Man,” “South Pacific” and “The Mikado.”

He has also acted; roles have included the Ghost of Christmas Future and Fagin in “Oliver.”

Before moving to North Kitsap, he was the drama coach at Meridian High School in Meridian, Idaho.

Powell said he wants to continue the strong drama tradition that was begun by Ferguson — but has some ideas of his own as well.

He said he would like North Kitsap to compete in drama — it has state-sanctioned competitions, just like sports — and perform three shows a year, rather than two. Powell said he would like to institute one-act plays directed by students, perhaps with faculty members in the cast.

He has expressed interest in establishing a board of parents and students to help work with the drama club as well.

“I want to get more into Shakespeare, into some of the classics, but still give (the students) a chance to do the contemporary things they like,” Powell said.

Powell’s first play has yet to be determined, but he’s proposed either “Camelot” or “Big River,” which is a version of the Huckleberry Finn story. He is working with choir director Sylvia Cauter to decide.