PURPOSE: To develop a wide variety of skills including: creative expression, artistic design, practical life-skills, leadership abilities, group cooperation and management skills, and performance skills. We also develop pride in the product by striving to attain high quality performance goals. Along the way the students have fun and build self-esteem. The high quality of our productions is reliant on the dedication of not only the students performing roles on stage, but also on the many who work on technical crews backstage. Also important are those students who sell ads and tickets and those parents who help by buying ads and tickets and working with various crews.
GENERAL DIRECTOR & TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Miss Cynthia R. King
TIME: Rehearsal time depends on the role a student has. General rehearsals will be nightly during the week. Dance rehearsals and chorus/music rehearsals are usually on the weekend. Crew work will be primarily on weekend days. Some students will put in 100 hours of service, while others may put in 25 hours. Students decide how much time they have or want to give to the production and then audition or sign up accordingly.
AREAS OF INVOLVEMENT: Students can choose from a variety of areas to be a part of a production: the cast, assistant director, set construction, stage manager, stage crew, sound, costume, makeup, usher, or props. Contact the director for more details.
MEMBERSHIP: Cast audition and crew sign up are open to all students. Selection for roles in the cast and positions on crews are based on ability and availability (does the student really have the time to commit to the production).
FALL PRODUCTION
PURPOSE: This is a non-musical play that will usually have a smaller cast and crew than the spring show. This provides an opportunity for students to participate in different style of production. The production is self-supporting – ticket sales pay for the cost of production.
DIRECTOR/TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Miss Cynthia R. King
TIME: Auditions will be the end of August and the performance will be in early November. Rehearsal and crew schedules will be posted.
SPRING MUSICAL
PURPOSE: The annual musical tradition was started in 1966 with the production of The Sound of Music and continues to be a successful means of involving 50 to 75% of the student body in a wide variety of performance and practical life-skills activities. The production is self-supporting - ticket sales pay for the cost of production. The ad and patron drive associated with the musical provides a sales opportunity that is open to the entire school. The profits from this drive continue to support the general operating budget of the school.
DIRECTORS: Producer/Director – Miss Cynthia R. King Designer/Technical Director – Miss Cynthia R. King
Vocal Music Director – Mrs. Ellen Seyer Rehearsal Pianist – Mr. Lenny Kuper
Orchestra Conductor – Mr. Jim Hindman Choreographer – Mrs. Deana Pecord
TIME: Auditions will be held the beginning of January and the performance will be in early April. Rehearsal and crew schedules will be provided.
BACKSTAGE BLUE & THESPIAN TROUPE #6344
PURPOSE: Backstage Blue was formed to promote participation in and appreciation of theatre arts. International Thespian Society, Troupe #6344 is an honor society that recognizes and rewards excellence among students in theatre arts.
FACULTY SPONSOR: Miss Cynthia R. King
MEMBERSHIP: Backstage Blue is open to all students interested in theatre. Thespian Troupe #6344 is open to all students who meet the requirements set by the Educational Theatre Association. Backstage Blue members are apprentices and may join in the group’s activities while they acquire points to become full members.
MEETINGS: Groups meet together once a month.
PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES: Fall Production, spring musical, field trips, viewing nights, improvisation night, Trivia Night assistance, stage tours for Open House, field trips, technical crews for: Faculty Follies, Music Department concerts, etc.