|
The theater is so endlessly fascinating because it's so accidental.
~Arthur Miller
Eisenhower High School Theatre
Involvement. Talent. Multi-faceted. Self-discipline. Dedication. Pursuit of excellence. Camaraderie. Pride. These are the words that typify the EHS drama/musical student. Throughout the past six years, there has been a tremendous growth of student participation in both the drama and musical programs. From the fall of 2003 to the spring of 2012, the fine arts' departments have combined to do Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, Little Women, Oklahoma!, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Our Town, Crazy for You, The Matchmaker, The Miracle Worker, My Fair Lady, A Shakespearean Festival, Dracula, West Side, Story, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Crucible, Guys & Dolls, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Pride and Prejudice, Camelot, and Lucky, Lucky Hudson and the 12th Street Gang. The success that these productions have enjoyed is due in large part to the students and their willingness to succeed.
In addition, the guidance provided by Mr. Dale Bigus, Mrs. Kathie Hultquist, Ms. Stephanie Blue, Mr. Mike Wegner, Ms. Ami Losi, Ms. Natalie Baertschy and Mrs. Doda Starkey have been essential to the students' success. Mr. Jon Brooks, a former chorus teacher, has been instrumental in designing the sets for The Crucible and Camelot. Mr. Michale Wegner has retired from teaching in June, 2009, but will return to photograph the cast and the productions. We are all grateful to him for his many years of assistance and selfless dedication to the program.
The 2009-2010 school year holds many and varied challenges for the program. This year's productions include Inherit the Wind, the fall play; The Scarlet Pimpernel, the EHS musical; and A Midsummer Night's Dream, the spring play. (Please Note: The plays/musical may be subject to change.)
The primary goals of the EHS Theatre Program are to provide students with the unique experience of performing onstage, broadening their lives by exposing them to various social, ethnic, and environmental concerns, and, most importantly, developing an appreciation for life.
Students are taught proper stage techniques to ensure a successful performance. Each live performance is unique since a character lives and responds in the moment; therefore, no live performance is ever exactly the same. In addition to this experience, the program provides students with the tools to be successful in life whether it be speaking in front of others, working within the framework of a group, or developing compassion for fellow human beings. Students also have the opportunity to actively participate as members of stage crews. Previously, two students have received summer internships enabling them to be members of stage crews on a college campus. Several students have continued their educations by pursing degrees in theatre-related fields. [2007 graduate Max Hultquist will be featured this fall in the Milwaukee Chamber Theater's production of Picnic.] Finally, all students, who meet the requirements, may be inducted into the International Thespian Society.
AUDITONS for Inherit the Wind will be held on Tuesday, September 8, 2009, immediately after school. Interested students must see Mrs. Starkey in Room 233 for further details beginning September 1, 2009.
Eisenhower Middle School Musical Theater
Part of the high school's sucess is due the EMS musical productions which instill the love of music and preformance in their participants. Over the years, the EMS productions have included Will Wonka, Jr.; School House Rock, Jr.; Once on this Island, Jr.; Into the Woods, Jr.; and Honk, Jr. The December, 2009, EMS musical will be The Pirates of Penzance, Jr. Auditions for this production are currently scheduled for the last week of October, 2009. Further information regarding The Pirates of Pnezance, Jr. will be available through the EMS Daily Announcements in October.
| 
