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South Lakes High School Theatre Arts Department students participate in a variety of activities during the entire school year in addition to the three major plays which are open to the public and performed in November, December and April-May.
In October, many drama students enjoyed participating in “Fright Zone” at the Ultrazone location in Sterling, where they tested their “horrific” acting skills on haunted house visitors.
In January, the students attended the International Thespian State Conference at Radford University, where they watched a variety of performances and attended workshops in technical work, dance, improvisation, acting, auditioning and more.
Also in January, South Lakes performing arts students won second place at the VHSL One-Act Play Festival with their fascinating and funny presentation of “Audience.”
WHILE MOST of the spring is devoted to rehearsing and performing “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” theatre arts students in the IB Theatre and Theatre Three-Four classes are also writing, creating, directing, acting in, and filming their own silent films. All theatre students will also either direct or act in a group of one-act plays to be performed after the spring musical. Senior students will also perform in the Senior Festival of Stars.
Six students are also serving as “Cappie” critics and three have performed in the “Cappie Cabaret” at the Old Firehouse Teen Center in McLean.
Theatre arts students will be forming a team again this year for the “Relay for Life” at South Lakes High School June 8 and 9, a fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society. Theatre arts booster parents and students also support this event by selling concessions to participants and donating part of their proceeds to the American Cancer Society.
THE YEAR ENDS in June with two major theatre celebrations: the Theatre Arts Awards Banquet at the school, in which the students are recognized for their many achievements all year; and the Cappies Awards Gala at The Kennedy Center, which recognizes theatre programs throughout Northern Virginia.
Theatre Arts Director at South Lakes High School, Maria L. Harris, leads the way in every one of these activities and is as tireless as the students.
To support the SLHS Theatre Arts Program:
* Attend a performance at the high school.
* Purchase a Reston tapestry for home or as a gift. Call Margie Dellagiarino at 703-476-4078 or Sherry Spinelli at 703-620-4318.
* Make a donation to Theatre Arts Boosters, c/o South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston, VA 20191.
* Send budding thespians to the SLHS Conservatory for the Performing Arts Summer Camp for ages 5-14, July 1-26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 703-715-4589.