Theatre Arts at High Tech High School
2023-2024 A Year in Review
The Theatre Arts program at High Tech HS has had the most rewarding year yet. The students continue to undergo a rigorous program based on the professional model, and focus on classics, world theatre, modern plays, musicals, and improvisations. Our productions and classes offer students the opportunity to develop individual interest while gaining invaluable practical experience in acting, musical theatre, and stagecraft. The students start by learning both important aspects of the history of theatre and basic acting skills and are first assigned classical as well as contemporary monologues and scenes. This year, they took part in auditions for our three mainstage productions; they participated to in-person workshops with the Papermill Playhouse, Montclair State University, AADA and Audition Method professionals, and they attended field trips at the Manhattan Theatre Club (Broadway), Papermill Playhouse, and Montclair State University . They also participated in competitions such as the Teen Arts competition at NJCU, the Montclair State Theatre Night Foxy Awards and the NJ State Teen Competition. This year, our program has established a Dual Articulation agreement with Centenary University. The credits awarded apply to graduating seniors.
2023-2024 Performances:
- December 13, 14: The Holiday Showcase- All the students participated in the Holiday Showcase produced by the Arts Academy. Some of the students also collaborated with the Dance program (Choreography track) and performed live spoken word compositions.
- December 12: Arts Fest Performance at the Paper Mill Playhouse:
- January 25-27: You Can’t Take It With You, Black Box Theatre Performance - One Teen Arts Top Honors and One Judges Award Win for the Small Drama and Large Drama Ensemble
- February 9: Improv Show- Friday Night Live Black Box performance, with Friday Update hosted by Emile LaMorte and Aidan Chapas.
- May 20: MSU Teen Arts Award performance: Emile LaMorte and Cassandra Booker Performance at the Memorial Auditorium, Montclair State University
- May 30- June 1 Musical Into the Woods, Black Box Theatre Performance- End of the Year Show and Final CTE Exam;
- June 4-6 NJ State Teen Arts Festival at Middlesex College
Field Trips, Workshops, Internships and Competitions:
Third Year in the Adopt-a-School Program: Papermill Playhouse Workshops with Paper Mill Artist Z Infante, and performance on the Paper Mill Stage during Arts Fest. Performances: Gatsby
Montclair State University: Workshops with various MSU professors and performances: Anna in the Tropics, Sophisticated Ladies
Audition Method- Audition workshops with Geraldine Rojas
AADA- Workshops with Chip Killingsworth (Acting Technique)
Master Class with Broadway actor Andrew Kober, with in collaboration with the Musical theatre program
Workshops with Nilaja Sun- Manhattan Theatre Club and Field trip see Prayer for the French Republic on Broadway
Teen Arts Competition: Top Honors Award for the Large Drama Ensemble, Judge’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Award for a Small Group Drama Ensemble: You Can’t Take it With You
The Montclair State Foxy Awards Competition: High Tech High School Theatre Arts Drama Department and Stage Crew Interns received 12 nominations for the Montclair State University Jo Anne Fox Awards for their CABARET and SKIN OF OUR TEETH productions in 2022 and 2023; Jo Ann Fox Veteran Theatre Teacher Award WIN (Raluca Shields)
Nominations for CABARET: Outstanding Student Lighting: Krystal Mack and Chloe Jessen, Outstanding Student Scenic Design: Violet Saynuk and Sarah Dziekan, Outstanding Student Crew: Davin Abraham, Jorge Cortez, Sophia Donath, Outstanding Acting Ensemble; Nominations for THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH: Outstanding Actor: Emile LaMorte, Outstanding Actress: Cassandra Booker, Outstanding Make-up Design: Taydiana Miranda and Emily Fernandez, Outstanding Hair: Taydiana Miranda and Emily Fernandez, Outstanding Student Scenic Design: Violet Saynuk, Ava Mele, Tammy Bui, Outstanding Acting Ensemble, Outstanding Production
NJ State Teen Competition at Middlesex College
Scholarships:
Cassandra Booker and Hanna Wilson received both $10,000 Scholarships to the New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts, several $1000 scholarships were awarded to Andrew Morgado, Olivia Marum, Anthony Wenzel and Isabella Rodriguez, Eileen Berger, Emile LaMorte, Jillian Vega.
We are very proud to announce that some of our seniors will continue their theatre education after leaving High Tech. They will be attending the acting programs at Pace University, Montclair State University, and Fordham University (Lincoln Center).
Congratulations to all!
