playbill vip

Welcome to the first Academy of the Arts theatre production of the 2015/2016 school year. I am thrilled to be part of the educational journey of so many student actors, designers, and directors. At Fullerton Union High School we pride ourselves on developing these students so they can pursue secondary education in a field that they love and not a field they are simply forced into. My students love theatre (--and the arts for that matter), and they continue to grow as 21st century human beings who collaborate, create, communicate and think critically. The arts have the POWER to do this! 

Last year at the annual conference of the California Educational Theatre Association, I participated in a workshop with a designer from the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA), who spoke about how it is possible to limit supplies in order to be more creative in designing and implementing technical designs. He shared about a production of Into the Woods where student designers could only use books to design and construct all the sets and props. The conceptual design of this production of The 39 Steps was founded on that idea. Student designers and technicians were challenged to create all of their designs utilizing only the materials they found in the theatre; there was very little we purchased. Throughout the rehearsal we found many ways to use what we already own, in many different ways. The end product is a production that is highly imaginative and includes theatrical techniques such as pantomime and shadow puppetry.

The concept of this production also focuses on the techniques that Alfred Hitchcock employed when directing his movies. We hope that as you watch tonight you feel like you are behind the camera, on a sound stage, watching the action take place in front of you.

I would like to thank all the adults who tirelessly commit their time to ensure that students have opportunities to express themselves and envelop themselves in the arts, including Beverly Shirk for her costume designs and the time she takes to teach students. Thank you to Genni Klein, who did an amazing job partnering with me, coaching students and leading all the dialect work in this production. Thank you to Zachary Hillman who, as my assistant director (and former student), demonstrated a keen eye for all things comedy. Thank you to David Renken, who is always there to pick up the slack and is supportive no matter how crazy my ambitions are. Lastly, thank you to my professors at Northern Colorado University, headed by Dr. Mary Shuttler, who have given me the gift of an educational theatre skills refresh that I am diligently sharing with my students. 

Michael Despars

Director 

Mr. Despars and FUHS are a part of the following

professional theatre organizations