In our theater arts classes, you'll experience some of the finest plays from world theater, investigate major movements in theater history, and explore the many facets of human nature.

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In the Classroom

In class, seventh and eighth-grade students build on the foundation of acting they acquire during the Middle School Arts Program. Upper School students, in Theater Arts and Honors Theater Arts, read and discuss in their entirety at least six famous plays from world literature, as well as rehearse and perform scenes from the plays. In all theater arts classes, weekly scene study requires students to perform, critique, and be critiqued, while regular practice, workshops, and guest artists expose students to the principles of improvisational theater. Students build on and refine their acting technique by analyzing scenes from films and by sampling some of the excellent live theater in the area.
Performance Opportunities

Outside the classroom, theater students perform in the yearly musical, December and May scene studies, and the end-of-year Arts performance, which showcases dramatic, musical, and dance talent at Pacific Ridge School. Young thespians also compete in the ESU Shakespeare Festival, a nation-wide high school competition where students perform Shakespearean monologues and sonnets. Interested students from all grades are welcome to join the Drama club, whose work has culminated with performances in the Student Shakespeare Festival at Balboa Park. Pacific Ridge also participates in the Ben Vereen Awards for excellence in musical theater each year, and has twice been represented by our students at the National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York.
Previous Productions

Once on this Island, by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Peter Pan, Jr., Disney adapatation, J..M. Barrie
The Wedding Singer, by Tim Herlihy
Little Mermaid, Jr., Disney production
The Curious Savage, by John Patrick
All Shook Up, by Joe DiPietro
Zombie Prom, Jr., by John Dempsey, Dana P. Rowe
School For Lies, by David Ives
Pippin, by Stephen Schwartz, Bob Fosse, Roger O. Hirson
Legally Blonde, Jr., original book by Amanda Brown
Kiss Me Kate, by Samuel and Bella Spewack, Cole Porter
Seussical, Jr., by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
From Up Here, by Liz Flahive
Into the Woods, by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim
The Boy Friend, by Sandy Wilson
Singing in the Rain, by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
Guys and Dolls, by Jo Swerling, Abe Burrows, Frank Loesser
Grease, by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
Once Upon a Mattress, by Mary Rogers and Marshall Barer

COVID Broadway Play Writing Contest, Spring 2020

In April, two Pacific Ridge students entered a COVID writing contest run by actor Jelani Alladin (Kristoff in the Broadway production of Frozen). Both won the opportunity to have their productions digitally performed by Broadways actors. These performances brought light to both students and actors as theater activity was closed down due to COVID. Way to go, Jordan and Lily!