MPHS Drama Facts

• Since becoming a year-around Drama Program, MPHS Drama has seen an increase in students pursuing theatre arts in college.

• • In 2024, one student’s tech portfolio impressed university faculty so much that they were surprised to find out that Drama is an extracurricular activity that afforded them the opportunity to design and run sound

• • In 2025, we will see at least seven of MPHS grads attend college with a major in theatrical arts (tech design, acting, playwriting, costuming)

• The MPHS Drama Department’s Annual Student Directed One-Act Festival has seen an increase in student written submissions. At its inception in 2013, none of the One-Acts were student written. In 2025, four out of the five One-Act Plays were student written.

• Over the last 15 years, ticket and concession sales allowed the Drama Department to do the following:

  • Purchase 50 LED lights, decreasing the number of lights for rentals, allowing us to produce shows throughout the year, while saving energy and the cost of disposable lamps

  • Purchase a state of the art light board, giving tech students a professional level experience for light design and operation

  • Continue to provide live orchestras for all musical performances

  • Increase the life span of legacy microphones, allowing as many students as possible to perform with a microphone, while giving our tech students professional level experience on sound design and operation

  • Support local schools and theaters with light rentals

  • Continue to increase the quality of our productions to give students and audiences a theatrical experience that rivals local community theaters

• In 2023, MPHS Drama became a nationally recognized high school drama program when they were selected to represent Delaware as part of “The United States of Frozen” competition. Sponsored by Disney Theatricals, Music Theater International, and the Educational Theatre Association, this once-in-a life time opportunity awarded one high school in each state the opportunity to be the first to produce the full length version of Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical

This opportunity gained MPHS Drama, MPHS, and the Brandywine School District national media attention and significantly       increased community awareness of MPHS Drama and MPHS.

• MPHS Drama is committed to increasing awareness and participating with other MPHS departments and clubs/student organizations including:

  • MPHS Blue Gold

  • MPHS Black Student Union

  • MPHS Girls Empowered

  • MPHS Music

  • WMPHS 91.7

  • MPHS Mornings at Mount

• MPHS Drama is committed to removing the “stigma” around drama and theater by encouraging participation and showing students and the community that Drama aids in:

  • Organizational Skills

  • Leadership Skills

  • Team Building

  • Public Speaking

  • Creative Thought

  • Construction and Design

  • Writing

  • Directing

  • Light and Sound Design

  • Community Building

Above all, MPHS Drama remains steadfast in giving all students a space to be among their peers, express their own personalities and self-worth, and work together as a team to create and showcase the fun and power that comes from theater.

For more information on how you can help

or participate please reach out to:

Christopher Turner, Drama Director

christopher.turner@bsd.k12.de.us