Dear Parents & Guardians:
Welcome to BCHS Tiger Theatre! Our website will keep you informed, and make sure we are all on the same page. It will be a very busy year from the first day of school until the last. I will keep the website up to date with a current calendar of events, announcements, and all the information you need.
Communication
Communication is key. Our troupe will be using the BAND app. Please download this app before the start of school. There will be an invitation sent to you to join. BAND is like Remind, but I think it works a little more efficiently for our needs. You will be able to message me directly through the app, or you can use my email too - dbutler@bcbe.org
Chaperoning
To travel with Tiger Theatre or work with us on projects, you will need to go through the background check process. This is required by Baldwin County Schools. To get started, please use the following link: Volunteer & Chaperone!
When we travel, I will let parents know how many chaperones I need for each trip. It will be on a first come, first serve basis, but you have to have a Secured Volunteer ID card.
Fundraising
We are actively fundraising for the 2025-26 school year. Grants are being written, but individual contributions and business sponsorships will go a long way to secure our budget. Click on this link to help us pass the word about supporting Tiger Theatre: Sponsor/Donate
Grades
Grades are earned - not given. Please talk with your student about this mindset. Students are not guaranteed an automatic "100" just for showing up to class. They must participate to earn a grade. The students and I will create "student-driven" rubrics for grading. When students get involved in how they earn a grade, there is buy-in and a clearer understanding of expectations. If you have a concern about your student's grade, please reach out.
What are auditions?
There are so many misunderstandings about auditions and the process to choose who will play the roles in a production. I invite you to read what I've written about auditions on the Performances page.
Careers in Theatre
At our Spring Production, I made the statement - "In 35 years, I've never had a student who ended up living in their parent's basement." That's a true statement. If your student starts talking about majoring in theatre or the arts - please DO NOT PANIC. I assure you, there are so many career opportunities in the arts! My oldest two children - Evie Rosa (20) and Jack (18) are both attending the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) just outside of Los Angeles. They made the decision to go after a BFA in Acting. CalArts is considered by most as the Juilliard of the west and it ranks very high in the top colleges in the country for acting. The program receives a high number of applicants, but only 30 stduents are chosen for an entering freshman class in BFA Acting. A lot of people ask about how hard it must be to let them go that far away from home. Yes, it's hard, but it was the right thing for them, and, they managed to get selected into a program that only had thirty slots. Evie is a rising Junior and Jack is an incoming Freshman. They both want acting careers. They're very talented, but talent only takes you so far. Technique, skill, and proper training are necessary to be successful. Plus, they are establishing a network within the business to be employed after graduation. My children chose to go out of state, however, there are many great schools in the state of Alabama. If your student wants to major in Theatre, the counselors and I will help guide them towards a Top 5 list for you and your student to consider. I am here for advice, encouragement, and guidance. The choice of what your student wants to do with their life is between you and your student.
High School theatre is about training, but it's about teaching them leadership skills, project creation skills, and communication skills that will transcend to every career choice. I've had many former students who have gone on to successful careers in business, real estate, medicine, law, education, and sports.
Scholarships
There are many scholarship opportunities out there for students majoring or minoring in theatre. Believe it or not, but there are actually scholarships for students who have been involved in theatre in high school but are choosing to pursue something besides theatre in college. The counselors and I will be happy to point you in the right direction. Please take a look at the Festivals page. There are scholarship opportunities at State Trumbauer and Alabama Thespians's ThesFest.
If your student is a rising junior/senior and seriously considering theatre as a major, please let me know as soon as possible. There are opportunities for your student at the South Eastern Theatre Conference (SETC) and UNIFIEDS to audition for a large number of schools at one time.
Above all - I want your student to have a great, fun-filled experience this year in theatre. These are memories and relationships that will last a lifetime!
As always - please reach out to me with any questions you may have. I am looking forward to teaching and working with your students!
Sincerely,
Darren J. Butler
Theatre Director/Instructor