The St. Augustine Department of Theatre Arts was created in 2004 when it separated from the Music Department and is now under the direction of Mr. Paul Flores. Mr. Flores is the Director of Youth and Media Ministry at St. Pius X Catholic Church and a consultant with Group Publishing/Workcamps in Loveland, Colorado. He brings his expertise and professionalism to a competitive and growing program saying, “The main objective in our Theatre Arts program is to use a holistic approach to attain balance, growth, and development as the students become skilled actors, motivators and leaders in the community.”
Our first Beginners’ class began with twenty-five students in 2004-2005. We then grew into a Beginners’ and Intermediate class in 2005-2006. That year, we inducted our first Thespian Troupe #6940 into the Educational Thespian Association. We also started attending the Arizona Thespian Conference in Phoenix and the Southern Arizona Acting Festival at the University of Arizona. Our highlight performances for that year were “The Boars Head Madrigal Dinner” (performed collaboratively with the Music Department) and “Language of Angels.”
The 2006-2007 school year began the first year for our Advanced Level A class. They competed at the Arizona Thespian Conference and the Southern Arizona Acting Festival. That year we came back with two Superiors and two Goods from the Arizona Thespian Conference in the categories of Musical Theatre and Monologues. Both students awarded Superior were invited to compete in the National Thespian Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska. At Southern Arizona Acting Festival we came back with one Superior, two Excellents and two Goods. Our highlight performances for that year were “A Christmas Carol” and “Dead Man Walking” written by Tim Robins and inspired by the book by Sr. Helen Prejean. That year, we also hired a professional consultant, Mr. Bill Delf, from Raven Hearse Productions, Inc. and a guest student director for from the University of Arizona B.F.A. program.
The 2007-2008 school year began our first year of our Advanced Level B class. That year, we received one Superior, three Excellents and two Goods from the Arizona Thespian Conference. We also received four Superiors, three Excellents and one Good at the Southern Arizona Acting Festival in the categories of Monologues, Duo Acting Scene, and One Act. Our One Act, “Man Woman Flower” by Dan LaRocque, made it to the Arizona State One Act Festival. Our highlight performances for that year were “Frankenstein,” “Every Christmas Story Ever Told…..and then some,” and “Bang Bang Your Dead,” a dramatic play on the topic of bullying and violence.
In 2007, one of our graduating seniors went on to major in Musical Theatre and another went on to major in Technical Theatre. In 2008, one of our graduating seniors is planning to pursue a career in acting and another is planning to continue in Theatre Arts in college. The Theatre Arts and Music Departments at SACHS are presently preparing two students for majors in Musical Theatre and two students for B.F.A. programs in college.
Additionally, we offer smaller classes which allows for more individual focus on each student. The success of our Fine Arts program at St. Augustine Catholic High School comes from the commitment of our students, the dedication and determination of an adept faculty, and the support of our administration and school community.
