Student Blog: Theater At Westminster Christian Academy

Thousands of high schools across the United States offer Theatre Arts, and they all have their own distinctive characteristics that make them, well. . .THEM! No two schools are identical when it comes to their rehearsal schedules, curriculum scope, or financial resources. This made me wonder if my own Theatre Arts Program at Westminster Christian Academy in St. Louis, Missouri, could be distinguished from other schools? I decided to investigate what makes this program unique.

Students, faculty, and parents at Westminster Christian Academy take theater very seriously. The proscenium theater boasts 604 seats and hosts three high school performances every year (and nearly every show is sold out) Jim Butz, the Drama Teacher and Coordinator of Theatrical Events at Westminster, is an experienced professional actor who firmly believes in challenging students to reach their full potential.

It won’t come as a surprise to anyone intending to pursue a career in theater that the job is quite challenging. In the St. Louis region, Westminster has received numerous awards for its exceptional performances and regularly receives nominations for the St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards. How exactly are these young adults putting on such consistent and wonderful shows? Is it possible that Westminster is providing students a glimpse into professional theater? I spoke with two Westminster students pursuing careers as actors about their involvement in Westminster Productions and their opinions about the program.

Josie Mosley, a sophomore, recalled the rehearsal schedule from this past year and said, “we spend around 20 hours a week rehearsing. Our theater program equips us with talented mentors who take the art very seriously. They challenge us and provide a viewpoint from the work field which is more intensive compared to other schools. It is a huge benefit to us.”

 Not only can students audition for and participate in the shows at Westminster, they also have the opportunity to take classes in Theatre Arts, such as; Speech Communication, Improvisation, Production and Design, Scripts and Styles, and Advanced Theatre Arts. After the completion of these semester long classes, students are able to take the skills learned and execute them in the shows. Josie reflected on her time spent in her Theatre Arts class pointing out,  “The main thing I’ve learned is to be unashamed of public speaking and confidently speak out in front of my peers.”

Nailing an audition is the most rewarding feeling there is, and making an excellent first impression on a director is vital. Directors look for a variety of qualities, including a performer’s volume, stage presence, confidence, and openness to learning. This year, Westminster’s fall play was The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie. Out of the 36 who auditioned, only eight were cast. Only eight of the thirty-six who auditioned, were cast. Patrick Howard, senior, advises younger kids to “Be prepared. If you really want something you have to ‘ready’ yourself for that thing. If you are prepared for an audition, you will be confident enough to do it to the best of your ability.”

Westminster continues to excel, and plans on continually improving their program. Thanks to the rigorous training, students, parents and faculty alike are consistently pleased with the outcomes of their shows. In preparation for the upcoming school year, students are already readying themselves for their fall auditions. Patrick Howard and Josie Mosley are looking forward to uncovering new relationships and acting techniques as well as continuing to learn more about the theater industry. Teachers at Westminster Christian Academy have an immense appreciation for the arts, and they eagerly await working with their emerging young actors. 

After my research, I was very satisfied with the information I found regarding the theater program at my school. Westminster Christian Academy has a mission to help young people evolve by expressing themselves freely in the arts, and they certainly succeed in doing so. With many on stage performance opportunities and skills classes, Westminster has unquestionably made their mark in the high school theater community.