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.
Trap
October 2023
2024 - 2025 Season…
September 13, 2024
Broadway Night Performance
October 8 - 10, 2024
box office opens at 6:30 pm
Fall Play, Puffs: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic
Written by Matt Cox
December 11 & 12, 2024
Black Box Theatre
March 6 & 7, 2025
Box office opens at 6:30 pm
March 8, 2025
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!
TBD
Curtains
Music & Lyrics by Kander & Ebb
Book by Rupert Holmes
Produced thru Theatrical Rights Worldwide
May 15, 2025
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!
Peter Pan
March 2023
Student Opportunities
Musical
Audition for the cast, or volunteer to be on the Production Team for our annual Musical!
Auditions: TBD
Callbacks: TBD
Crew Applications due: TBD
Performances: TBD
Cappies Critics Team
We will be seeking new members for our Cappies Critics and team. Stay tuned for information on application deadlines in the Fall!
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
CETA High School Theatre Festival
Fullerton Festival
CA Thespian Festival
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 Ms. 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.
Mandatory Company Parent Meeting on TBD
Fine Arts Week
Stay tuned for ways to become involved and showcased throughout Portola’s Fine Arts Week.
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!
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
April 2023
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.