Since 2008, the John Burroughs High School Dramatic Association has made incredible strides in expanding its theatre program and won numerous awards. The number of classes has more than doubled, student enrollment is at an all time high, and the audience turnout at shows continues to grow. The drama room we call home had a new blackbox theatre installed, and we also have a new sewing room as well as two storage containers for our sets and props. We collaborate with our incredible tech theatre students on our productions, as well as our instrumental and vocal music programs, our photography teacher and students, our woodshop teacher and students, and many more.
JBHS Drama produces three mainstage productions a year, two scene showcases in its classroom blackbox theatre, and competes in many drama festivals and competitions. Some of our favorite awards include:
2024 Best Actor at the Jerry Herman Awards - Donkey in "Shrek"
2024 Best Music Staging and Best Choreography at the Jerry Herman Awards - "Shrek"
2022 Best Actress at the Jerry Herman Awards - Cinderella in "Into the Woods"
2022 Best Male Vocalist at the JRAYs - Cinderella's Prince in "Into the Woods"
2022 Second Place Best Play from CETA for "Puffs"
2021 Artists of the Year - Male and Female - from JRAYs for "Avenue Q"
2021 Best Virtual Production from CETA for "The Complete Works of..."
2021 Best Ensemble of the Year from CETA for "The Complete Works of..."
2021 The Flip Reade Award for Acting from CETA for "The Complete Works of..."
2020 Broadway Artist Alliance Award from JRAYs for "Chicago"
2020 Best Play from CETA for "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"
2020 Best Ensemble from CETA for "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"
2020 Audience Favorite from CETA for "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"
2020 Best Actor from CETA for "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"
2020 Best Actress from CETA for "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"
2020 Best Supp. Actor from CETA for "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"
2020 Best Film (both first and second place) from CETA to Eli Staub
2019 Best Actor at the Jerry Herman Awards for "West Side Story"
2019 Best Actress at the Jerry Herman Awards for "West Side Story"
2019 Best Orchestra at the Jerry Herman Awards for "West Side Story"
2019 Outstanding Production from NYA for "West Side Story"
2018 Outstanding Director from NYA for "West Side Story"
2019 Best Play from CETA for "Dark of the Moon"
2019 Outstanding Ensemble from NYA for "The Iliad, the Odyssey..."
2018 Best Play from CETA for "The Laramie Project"
2018 Best Ensemble from CETA for "The Laramie Project"
2018 Best Actor from CETA for "The Laramie Project"
2018 Best Actress from CETA for "The Laramie Project"
2018 Best Advocacy Film from CETA to Daria Clark and Claire Flynn
2018 Outstanding Production from NYA for "The Laramie Project"
2018 Outstanding Director from NYA for "The Laramie Project"
2018 Outstanding Ensemble from NYA for "Grease"
2017 Best Actress at the Jerry Herman Awards for "Pippin"
2017 Artistic Merit Awards from CETA for "Peter and the Starcatcher"
2016 Best Actor at the Jerry Herman Awards for "Hairspray"
2016 Best Actor National Jimmy Awards for Josh Strobl in "Hairspray"
2016 Artistic Merit Award from CETA for "Inherit the Wind"
2015 Best Play from CETA for "Flowers for Algernon"
2015 Best Ensemble from CETA for "Flowers for Algernon"
2015 Best Actor from CETA for "Flowers for Algernon"
2015 Best Actress from CETA for "Flowers for Algernon"
2015 Best Tech from CETA for "Flowers for Algernon"
2015 Best Choreography at the Jerry Herman Awards for "Legally Blonde"
2014 Jerry Herman Performance at the Pantages for "Guys and Dolls"
2013 Artistic Merit Award from CETA for "Stage Door"
2013 Best Supp. Actress at the Jerry Herman Awards for "Sweeney Todd"
2012 Best Play from CETA for "The Crucible"
2012 Best Ensemble from CETA for "The Crucible"
2012 Best Supporting Actor from CETA for "The Crucible"
2011 Second Place Best Play from CETA for "Vacancy in Paradise"
"Peter and the Starcatcher," November 2016
Current Course Offerings
Drama 1
This course offers students an introduction to the basics of theatre, including theatre history and the fundamentals of acting, characterization, and improvisation. Students read and analyze a diverse collection of plays, developing their artistic perception and aesthetic sense as they approach the text from the perspective of actors, designers, and directors. Great emphasis is placed on participation during classroom exercises and scene study and performance.
Musical Theatre
This course offers students an introduction to the roots of the American musical while exploring its historical and cultural significance through to present day. Students study the fundamentals of musical performance technique through vocal and physical warm-ups and exercises as they explore and develop characterization through song, dance, acting, improvisation, and scene study. Students read and listen to a diverse collection of musicals, developing their artistic perception and aesthetic sense. Great emphasis is placed on participation during classroom exercises, scene study, and performance.
Play Production
This course offers students a full-fledged production experience from the first table read to opening night. Students read and analyze the current play in production and are required to work on the play in multiple capacities including acting, stage management, set design and creation, costume design and creation, lighting design and creation, props design and creation, house management, publicity, and more. Every student must develop the skills and knowledge necessary to participate successfully within the artistic framework and the social framework of the theatrical ensemble. Every student must strive for excellence and take pride not only in his individual work, but also in the cooperative production of the ensemble. An audition/interview is required for admittance into Play Production.Say something interesting about your business here.
Drama 2
Drama II is an intermediate level theatre course designed for students who wish to pursue in-depth development of their acting skills. The class goes beyond the needs of the general student and requires admittance approval from the instructor through an interview and/or audition. The two semester course covers various aspects of the art of acting, including how to use improvisational techniques to make a scripted performance more effective, how to analyze a script for performance, methods for building a character, how to adapt a performance to the conventions of various performance media, and how to develop the voice and body to be a more effective actor.