Union Grove High School offers five Theatre Arts classes. All students interested in taking theatre classes will begin with Theatre Fundamentals. This class covers the basics of theatre including etiquette, performances techniques, theatre history, and technical theatre. Students are expected to participate in various group and individual performances and collaborative projects.

Upon the successful completion of Theatre Fundamentals, students can be recommended to move on in the Theatre Arts pathway and take Acting, Technical Theatre, Advanced Drama, and/or Musical Theatre. 

Students who complete the Theatre Arts pathway are highly encouraged to earn the Fine Arts Diploma Seal during their senior year. Qualifications include completion of four Fine Arts courses, arts related community service, a reflective essay, and a capstone performance or presentation. 

The Union Grove High School Drama Club is an inclusive organization that promotes empathy, unity, and creativity. Meetings are usually held once a month after school in the drama room.

Anyone can join the Drama Club! All that is required is regular meeting attendance and a $30 club fee, which includes a club t-shirt and admittance to our end of the year banquette. 

Those involved in the drama club are highly encouraged to participate in the shows, either as cast or crew!

The International Thespian Honor Society is an exclusive honor held for students that have shown great passion for theatre and dedication to the Grove Players. Students must earn ten participation hours, be invited to join, and accept their invitation by paying a one time $50 induction fee (sent to the Educational Theatre Association). 

Participation hours can be earned by performing in shows, or supporting our productions as a part of the crew.

Once inducted into ITS, students have the opportunity to serve as officers of The Grove Players, attend the Georgia Thespian Conference, and wear their blue & gold honor cords at graduation.

The Georgia Thespian Conference is held each February in Columbus, GA. High school thespians from across the state come together to perform, watch shows, attend workshops, and compete in various theatre related activities.

This is an overnight trip and the cost is typically around $400 per student, which covers the conference fee, lodging, bussing, and a group sweatshirt.

More information about the 2027 conference can be found here.

Each fall the Advanced Drama class participates in the Georgia High School Association One Act Play Competition. 

We have 55 minutes to perform a one act length show from bare stage to bare stage! We compete against the other schools in our GHSA region, which is the same as our sports teams. This year we are in class 5A, region 2.

Union Grove has placed 2nd in out region in 2025, 2023, and 2022, and taken home a Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress award for the past four years!

The Literary Team is another GHSA sanctioned activity. This competition takes place in the Spring and includes individual and group competitions.

Categories include Essay (personal, argumentative, and literary analysis), Singing (girl's & boy's solo, girl's trio, and boy's quartet), Extemporaneous Speaking (domestic & international topics), and Literary Interpretation (duo, solo humorous, & solo dramatic).

Union Grove was the region champion in 2025 & 2026, and the state Runner Up in 2026!

If you are interested in joining the Literary Team, please see Mrs. Funte for more information.

Mrs. Cara Funte is the fearless leader behind The Grove Players! She has been teaching for ten years. Her first six years were spent in English Language Arts and Special Education. Then she was offered her dream job teaching theatre!

Mrs. Funte has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from Shorter University. 

She has been married to her husband, Josh, for ten years and they have three sons: Grayson, Nolan, and Abel.

Mrs. Funte enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, baking, reading, and attending live shows & concerts!

If you have any questions or concerns about The Grove Players, please don't hesitate to reach out!

cara.funte@henry.k12.ga.us