About STMA Theater
STMA Theatre Department’s Mission
The STMA Theater Department's mission is to be student driven and inclusive, educating thespians in theater, shaping their lives through the study of literature and human interaction, exposing them to a variety of genres and content, having high expectations of excellence in all performance opportunities, and honoring the successes of the STMA Theater Arts.
Theater gives students a safe place to “play” and develop who they are as a person. The STMA theater program helps students practice the social and professional skills that will be applicable in their future careers. It also provides students with a place to perform and show their peers and families what they have learned which increases their confidence, speaking skills, and collaboration.
Directing Staff
ITS Troupe Director, Musical Director (Director), One-Act Director (Director), 3-Act Director (Director), PAC Coordinator
Kayla Watson
One-Act Director (Assistant)
Joshua Burniece
Musical Director (Music)
LaTia Childers
Musical Director (Choreographer)
Joshua Fox
Musical Director (Set Builder), 3-Act Director (Set Builder), PAC Maintenance Director
STMA History
In the fall of 1968 the St. Michael-Albertville School district officially opened, marking the start of a rich theatrical history here at STMA. The theater program began by performing on stage at the east end of the gymnasium in what is now St. Michael Elementary with a production titled Rest Assured. In 1975 a new “arts wing” was opened, allowing for a designated space for the arts program. The “wing” included one semi-large room for the choir/band to practice in, and for theatrical productions. From this small, cramped room with only 6 stage lights, a costume room that was in the same room as the furnace, a walled off corner for the pit orchestra that only fit around 10 people, and doing makeup in the art room across the hall the theater program would build itself up. In the fall of 1992 when the move was made to the “new” High School (now Middle School West) there was now an auditorium to put on bigger and better productions, starting with Oklahoma!. The new Auditorium could accommodate crowds around five hundred. After over dozens productions, many of them being recognized at the State One Act competition, and many years eventually the new and current High School would be completed in 2009, along with our state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center (PAC).
Our PAC has been home to dozens of productions, ranging from Musicals, Plays, One Acts, theater festivals, workshops and Theater Clubs-- along with countless Choir and Band concerts and other ceremonies. The PAC is one of the largest High School auditoriums in the state able to seat over 1200 audience members. It features a dedicated green room, dressing rooms, scene shop, costume storage and prop storage areas. Today the PAC continues to be home to STMA’s productions, every year a Musical, One Act, JV One Act, and Play are being performed in the space. STMA often hosts the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) One Act competition for both subsections and sections. Along with the school events the theater is used by the community for city festivals, dance competitions, professional concerts and performances. The space offers students an opportunity to work and engage with the community as a technical worker.
STMA Theater is Sponsored By
STMA Theater Collaborators with
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant for the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation for the arts and cultural heritage fund.
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