The High-Tech High School Theater

With increases in technology, theater classes have more resources at their fingertips. Laptops, new technology in lighting and amazing sound quality all make the high school theater experience a success.

In addition, the increased focus on academics over the years really translates to success in the theater departments. Not only do students have the obligation to keep their grades up to participate, but they also bring in their academic knowledge to help the program succeed.

The use of technology is not the only component in the rising success of high school theaters. The new recognition of fine art programs in shows like "Glee" magnifies the glory of high school fine arts. This show not only glorifies the fine arts but also shows that it is OK to participate and that anyone is welcome to join.

In Arizona's Vail School District, one high school exemplifies the change and success of theater in this new era. Empire High School is becoming well known for its growing theater department that incorporates a lot more than just the stereotypical idea of dramatics.

One aspect that really keeps the department together is the diverse collection of students. Those highly involved in the theater department are also very involved in other great programs the school has to offer.

As director Richard Gremel says, “Everyone can feel welcome. Everyone plays an equal part. We pull from all areas: jocks, people who are from all different clubs, people who are really smart and those who are popular. It’s great to see that we can bring them all together and they can work together.”

All of the students in the Empire theater department are very connected in their high school community.

Robbie Douglas, a junior at Empire High, has been with the theater department since his freshman year. He is also very involved with the sports program — joining the varsity football team just this year. “The diversity is a really good thing. It’s a refresher," Douglas said. "The experience is completely different, it’s nice to see everyone in a new light.”

The universal sign of theater units: the actors as they all grow together with the times. | Photo by Shelby Archuleta

Many theater departments strive to pull all academic areas together. Gremel makes it a point to incorporate every aspect of his student’s high school career to create great shows for the Empire theater department.

“Throughout it all it’s academic," Mr. Gremel said. "It involves script analysis along with learning the history and getting explanations of why we do certain things in the show. You really have to be able to use your own literary devices though. And by using your own, you don’t have to learn it all over again."

Though academics and diversity are major parts of any theater community, the most interesting part of it is the technology.

With the newest addition to the Vail community, the Vail Theater of the Arts — located on Empire’s campus — the Empire Theater Department is very technologically advanced.

The Vail Theater is equipped with some of the most state of the art equipment. “[The department] has really advanced since our days of the old light board. With the Vail Theater, not only do we have a great light board but great speakers and mics to work with too,” says Brittany Martin of the tech portion of the Theater Department.

Because students at the high school have laptops, they can use them to operate sound and lighting in the theater.

With a focus on academics, diversity and technology, Empire Theater Department is giving students a well-rounded drama experience.

Shelby Archuleta is a student at Arizona's Empire High School.