Performing Arts Club

The Performing Arts Club (PAC) allows students to express themselves creatively through acting, singing, dancing, painting, playing an instrument, etc. As a fully student run organization, PAC puts on two major performances throughout the year: a fall play and a spring musical. Students can participate in the production of these shows in a multitude of ways. Besides being actors performing for the crowd, students may also be a part of stage crew building sets and working behind the scenes, tech crew working the lights and sound, and even the musicians in the intermission Jazz Band. As mentioned before, PAC productions are completely student run with the directors of both shows and other such organizers/officers of the club being fellow students. This creates a unique and more friendly environment for our productions and offers good opportunities for future leadership roles for new members.

Fall Play

The Fall Play is the first production of the year. This year, the fall play will be Puffs. Auditions will be held on September 22nd, 24th, and 25th and rehearsals will follow shortly afterwards.

These rehearsals are held after the school day is over, usually in the MPR or research wing. They typically run for about an hour and a half to two hours a few times a week towards the beginning of production and become more lengthy and frequent as the date of the play approaches. Rehearsals don't always require every cast member to attend. The rehearsal schedule that is released at the start of production will include who needs to come to each respective rehearsal (ex: all cast, specific characters names, specific groups of characters). In the few weeks before the show date, all of the cast is usually asked to attend. The week before the day of the show is called Tech Week, during which we have rehearsal everyday after class for an extended period of time. It is during these last few days before the show where the whole production is meant to come together, so it is integral that members do not miss these rehearsals.

This year, the play will be held on December 4th at 6:30 pm. It is a one night only show. The play usually runs between an hour and a half to two hours, typically with two acts. After the first act concludes, there will be a fifteen minute intermission where the audience can grab refreshments and the crew and cast can prepare for the next act. During this time, the Jazz Band and Dance Club have performance(s).

Following the conclusion of the second act, the actors and crew members will all take their bows. Then, after the audience clears out of the MPR, all club members help clean up the chairs and move the set pieces to another location. Once everything is clean, there is an afterparty—typically held at Applebees—for all cast and crew.

Spring Musical

The spring musical is the second and final production of the year. Auditions typically begin the week before winter break or the week following it and rehearsals follow shortly after. As a part of your audition, you will be required to read a scene as the character you are auditioning for and sing a portion of a song.

Rehearsals for the musical, mostly towards the beginning, tend to be focused on one of two aspects: vocals or choreography. During choreography rehearsals, cast members will learn the steps for dance numbers from our director of choreography. The dances are the main focus of these rehearsals.

Vocal rehearsals, on the other hand, focus mainly on the songs and music of the show. It consists of our two vocal directors directing and teaching the cast the main parts/harmonies of the show’s songs. The vocals that we focus on mainly during these rehearsals is the full ensemble or partial ensemble. Songs that are solos, duets, or mainly leads are for the most part expected to be learned on their own or in more private settings so that large group rehearsals can focus on the bigger numbers.

Sometimes, additional rehearsals are held on weekends at the director’s or another PAC officer’s home for specific roles or scenes that need more time or special attention. These, and all other rehearsals, will be listed in the rehearsal schedule in a similar manner to the play.

As the performance dates get closer, rehearsals tend to get longer and more frequent, as scenes need to be blocked. The week leading up to the shows is called tech week. During tech week, we leave the MPR and go to Brookdale to do full run-throughs of the show on the big stage. This includes costume changes, props, etc. These rehearsals are important for both the actors and the tech crew members, as they have to get the lights and sound working. This week requires a lot of time, energy, patience, and collaboration.

Unlike the play, the musical has two performances rather than just one. These performances will be on March 19th and 20th. These shows are the culmination of months of hard work. The stage crew works together to move set pieces and props; the tech crew works together to manage the lights and sound board. The actors work with both crews and each other to put on the best show we can. There are afterparties for all of the cast and crew after both the Friday and Saturday shows.

At some point in the weeks following the shows, all of the props and set pieces will be moved by the cast and crew back to High Tech.

Other Positions

Stage Crew

Stage crew handles all the sets for both the fall play and the spring musical. We meet in the MPR but typically work in the research wing on the sets and sometimes props. The core aspect of the set are the double-sided wall panels that we paint on both sides. In the past we have also had 3D elements that have been on the side or attached to the wall. Stage crew is very collaborative and always open to new suggestions, we are always willing to experiment with ideas and make them happen. During tech week, we install wheels onto the walls so they can be smoothly rolled across the floor, then practice set transitions with the cast as if it was the night of the production. During the actual performance, stage crew is in charge of the transitions like moving certain props on and off the stage as well as flipping the walls. Backstage can get pretty cramped with the actors and crew, so we don’t always have room for all members of stage crew but if you are eager to help out with scene transitions we can make it happen. Whether you are into painting, building, or helping out with transitions, stage crew is the place for you.

Jazz Band

Jazz Band is a student ensemble that performs 2 - 3 jazz songs together during intermission at the fall play every year. Jazz Band also typically performs at Candy Cane Carols, a school assembly of student acts right before winter break. While its size varies every year, the Jazz Band usually has about ten musicians. Trumpets, saxophones, drums, basses, guitars, and more are invited to join. Jazz Band is part of PAC, but members do not need to be actors or crew members in order to join. Rehearsals this year will mostly be after school 2 times a week with more frequent rehearsals leading up to the performance on Friday, December 4.

Previous Shows and Achievements

Plays:

Almost Maine

This Murder Was Staged

12 Angry Jurors

Game Show!

The Canterville Ghost

Murder in the Heir

Museum

This is a Test

The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza

Musicals:

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical

The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee

Little Shop of Horrors

Freaky Friday

Something Rotten

All Shook Up

Urinetown

Pippin!

The Addams Family Musical

Recent Awards:

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A MALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE: COMEDY (2026 - Lillian Haverty)

OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE (2026 - Caden Cregg-Wedmore)

OUTSTANDING STUDENT-LED MUSICAL (2025)

OUTSTANDING SMALL MUSICAL ENSEMBLE (2024)

OUTSTANDING STUDENT-LED PRODUCTION (2024)

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