Looking forward to another award-winning season!
High School Musical
March 2024
Passion thru Expression in Theatre!
Incoming Freshman!
This is our program at a glance… Check out below for more information regarding all courses and extra curricular opportunities!
In addition to class periods, PHS Theatre Department also offers festivals, competitions, productions, clubs, and honor societies on campus and off.
Priority Casting for on campus productions is given to students in theatre courses. Additionally, priority registration for fieldtrips, festivals, and competitions are given to students in theatre courses.
Puffs
October 2024
2025 - 2026 Season…
October 30 & November 1
box office opens at 6:30 pm
November 1
box office opens at 12:30 PM
Night of the Living Dead
Written by John Faust
January 8
Black Box Theatre
March 5 & 6
Box office opens at 6:30 pm
March 7
box office opens at 2:30 pm
TBD
Advanced Theatre Play
Students in Adv. Theatre will choose a play, direct and present a production in the black box; students in adv. tech will produce and design the production in collaboration!
The Spongebob Musical
Based on the series by Stephen Hillenburg
book by: Kyle Jarrow
Original songs by: Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and joe perry of aerosmith, sara bareilles, jonathan coulton, alex ebert of edward sharpe & the magnetic zeros, the flaming lips, lady a, cyndi lauper, john legend, panic! at the disco, plain white t’s, they might be giants, t.i.
And songs by: David bowie, tom kenny & Andy paley
Additional Lyrics by: Jonathan Coulton
Additional Music by: Tom Kitt
Musical Production conceived by Tina Landau
Produced thru concord theatricals
May 21
Black Box Theatre
Spring Play, Ensemble Honors Original Production
Students in Adv. Theatre Ensemble Honors will create, produce, design, direct and present an original production!
Curtains
March 2025
Student Opportunities
Musical
Audition for the cast, or volunteer to be on the Production Team for our annual Musical!
Interest Meeting: Oct 2nd, OH & Oct 3, Lunch in the Black Box.
Auditions:
Vocal Auditions due by Oct 17
Dance Auditions in person on Oct 21.
Callbacks: Oct 28
Crew Applications due: TBD
Performances: March 5 - 7
Cappies Critics Team
We will be seeking new members for our Cappies Critics and team.
Interest Meeting: Agust 26
CAPPlication Due: Sept 5 by 4:00 pm
Cappies Training: Sept 20th, Times TBD
This competitive team is trained to view high school productions throughout Orange County, provide meaningful feedback, and help select the award recipients for the OC Cappies Gala in the Spring!
Theatre Festivals
Role About: October 18
CETA High School Theatre Festival: January 16 - 18
CA Thespian Festival: March 14 - 16
Various opportunities will be held throughout the year for students of all levels to compete and enjoy high school theatre festivals across Southern California.
Information will be posted here, as well as in Mrs. Sanford’s classes throughout the year.
Again, festivals and competitions are looking and feeling a bit differently this year! Stay tuned for more information on these opportunities to network, learn and grow!
Play
Audition to be in the cast, or volunteer to be on the production team for the play.
Interest Meeting: August 28, OH
1st Period Auditions: August 26 + 28, In Class
Rehearsals: Sept 2 - Oct 9
Mandatory Rehearsals: Oct 14 - 29
Performances: Oct 30 @ 7:00; Nov 1 @ 1:00 pm; Nov 1 @ 6:00 pm
Crew Info Meeting: Sept 9
Crew Application Due: Sept 19 @ 4:00 pm
Fine Arts Week
Stay tuned for ways to become involved and showcased throughout Portola’s Fine Arts Week.
Fine Arts Week will take place April 6 - 10.
Fine Arts Assemblies will be August 8 & 10.
End of the Year Award and Galas
Learners involved in the theatre program throughout the year will be invited to end of the year award celebrations and galas throughout Orange County.
The year of PHS Theatre performances will conclude with a theatre gala on campus to celebrate the hard work of our performers, technicians, designers, and orchestra members!
Additionally, there are Orange County theatre celebrations through OC Cappies, and Spirit of the Macy Awards, which all company members will be invited to attend in May and June.
Students can Letter in Theatre!
Letters are a great way to share your dedication and hard work, and can be attached to the official PHS Letterman jackets, Program attire, backpacks, or even as part of a shadow box or framed space in your room!
Click Here for more information!
About Mrs. Sanford
Teacher,
Theatre Artist.
Mrs. Sanford has been teaching since 2012 in Orange County. Mrs. Sanford started at Portola in 2019-2020!
She believes that all students deserve access to arts education, and ensures that performers and technicians will be challenged, supported, engaged, and dedicated to the theatre arts and visual and performing arts programs on campus.
Prior to teaching and directing at PHS, Mrs. Sanford taught at the South Orange County School of the Arts at Dana Hills High School and was the Theatre Department Head. She has directed and produced over forty full-length productions in her time teaching!
Mrs. Sanford has her Master’s in Education from Concordia University, Portland. She holds a CTE Credential in Arts, Media and Entertainment as well as a Single-Subject California Teaching Credential. Mrs. Sanford graduated from CSU, Fullerton with a B.A. in Theatre, with an emphasis in Directing and Theatre Education.