High School in the Spotlight: Sylvania Northview High School

BroadwayWorld's High School Center is proud to showcase high school performance programs around the country in our weekly feature of 'High School in the Spotlight'.

Today, BWW's Student Center is thrilled to feature the theatre program at Sylvania Northview High School in Ohio!

Read up about the program below, their upcoming productions and see videos from past shows!

Northview Theatre has its roots in programs originally created by Margaret Fairchild in September of 1928. It was during these years that Ms. Fairchild developed speech and drama classes for Sylvania Schools and became affiliated with the Ohio Speech League and the National Thespian Society for High Schools (now, the International Thespian Society). The program enjoyed many successes. According to Robert Wyandt in A Century and a Quarter of Education: Sylvania Public Schools 1841 - 1966, Ms. Fairchild states "in 1941, we won first place in the state one act play contest with Lawd Does You Understand? ... and entered the National Thespian Contest at the University of Indiana and received a superior rating."

'The Wizard of Oz'

The Northview Theatre program has enjoyed recent success as well. The program has been invited to perform full length featured productions at the Ohio EdTA Thespian State Conference in 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2011. Northview Theatre also received a nomination to participate in the American High School Theatre Festival in 2008. Northview students have been selected to participate in the Ohio EdTA's "All Ohio Show," in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 & 2012.

The current Sylvania Northview High School Theatre Program is under the direction of Mr. Don Wachowiak. He is assisted by Mr. Jason Rahe, Technical Director and Mrs. Courtney Rahe, Assistant Director and Costumer. Mrs. Amy Johns, Vocal Director, Mr. Gene Bohland, Instrumental Director, and Ms. Brandi Shepard, Choreographer join the directing team for Northview's full-length musical productions.

Northview Theatre produces two full-length productions each school year. In the fall, Northview Theatre produces a full-length musical, rotating between classic/traditional and contemporary titles. Acting roles for lead or featured characters are often very competitive. Technical positions are generally more available for the musical due to the number of positions required.

'Rumors'

In the spring, a full-length play is performed. To give Northview's theatre students exposure to a variety of acting opportunities, the program attempts to rotate between comedies and dramas in various styles. Acting roles for the play are highly competitive as most plays have a cast of 8 - 12 people. Technical positions are competitive for the play as well.

In the past, Drama Club has produced a Winter One Act Festival where students have the opportunity to write and direct their own scripts. They also sponsor and produce the annual Red Carpet Awards.

Upcoming events at Northview include an encore performance of THE SOUND OF MUSIC on February 24, and BAD SEED which will run April 18-21.

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