Theatre
We offer students a wide variety of experiences in acting, technical theatre, and theatre-making. Students learn from theatre professionals of all kinds and are given the opportunity to learn to act, dance, and sing on stage; write, direct, and produce their own short play; design lights, sound, sets, props, or costumes for a show; and stage manage a mainstage production. We produce three major shows each year: a classic play, a contemporary play, and a musical. Our annual Student Drama Series highlights advanced student work. We regularly attend professional productions in the Bay Area and at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon.
Theatre Beyond UHS:
Students regularly attend summer theatre programs including: Northwestern University’s High School Institute in Theatre, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Summer Seminar for High School Juniors, CSSSA’s acting program, and the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Students participate in summer internships throughout the Bay Area, including San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, San Francisco Mime Troupe, and Shotgun Players.
Facilities and Resources:
Our theater is a state-of-the-art facility. Some features include:
- Raked seating with an audience capacity of 400
- A technical mezzanine with professional lighting and catwalks
- A “Juliet” balcony
- Optimum acoustical designs
- Cutting-edge audio and visual technologies
- Digital and computer capabilities