Welcome to Drama!
Drama is only art form that combines the talents of performers, visual artists, writers, sound designers, engjneers, those handy with tools and construction, mathemeticians, seamstresses, light designers, electricians, and managers.  Drama is an exciting artistic adventure for many different kinds of students and parents, and we invite you on the journey!!  A production can not happen with just one or two individuals.  At Millard West, we want everyone to be involved. Not a high school student?  Join our Drama Mamas and Papas!  If you have a student in a production at Millard West, you are already a part of the booster club!  Don't miss out on the great opportunities to help.

What West Has To Offer

Drama Club
Drama Club is for students grades 9-12 to dabble in dramatic activities and prepare for travel to the State Thespian Festival in January and the International Thespian Festival in June.  We meet twice a month on Wednesdays after school from 3:30-4:30.  Watch the school announcements and the website for meeting dates.

Performances
We do five performances a year.  We do a fall play at the end of September/beginning of October, a competition one act play in December, an Improv Show in January, the musical (directed by the head of the music department, Kathy Simpson though the drama department also works hard on this as well) in March, and a Spring play in May.  We also do a Drama II showcase of student written and directed plays at the end of the school year for students in the drama classes.

International Thespian Society
Millard West has a Thespian troupe! Our students earn membership in Millard West Thespian troupe 5483 through their participation in drama related activities.  ITS is a national honors society for students who excel in the theatre arts.  Once a student earns 10 ITS points (earned through participation in two different areas of the theatre), they can be invited to be inducted.  Being inducted into this honors society is the same as lettering in theatre.  The student receives a thespian pin and a lifetime membership to the society.  Students who earn 60 or more participation points by the time they graduate from high school can earn blue and gold honor chords to wear at graduation!  For more information on the International Thespian Society visit the Educational Theatre Association website at schooltheatre.org.

Participation in State and International Festivals
ITS offers two theatre festival that West students attend.
State Thespian festival happens in January at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and at the Embassy Suites downtown.  The weekend consists of shows from around the state, a variety of theatre workshops, competitive improv and tech theatre events, individual performances, and college and scholarship auditions.  This trip costs approximately $120/student

International Thespian Festival happens the last week of June also at UNL.  Students stay in the dorms for a week and participate in similar activities to the state festival.  Students watch two nationally adjudicated mainstage shows at the Lied Center every day as well as go to workshops, and conclude with a dance or improv or stage craft activity every night.  This festival is a life changing event for students!  Cost to attend this festival is approximately $650.  The Millard West Drama department would like to award at least two $150 scholarships for students to attend each year to help curb costs.

Wildcat Theatre Workshop for elementary and middle school students
Millard West theatre likes to promote this art form in the community.  We recently started the Wildcat Theatre Workshop for students grade 3-8.  Students spend a Saturday morning working with high school students on putting on a play.  They explore concepts like costuming, set design, makeup and storytelling.  Look for information about these opportunities in the announcements and newsletters of the Millard West feeder schools.

Drama Mamas and Papas Booster Group
Millard West is fortunate to have a growing group of dedicated parents who are interested in helping out the drama program.  Drama Mamas and Papas meet close to twice a month during production periods.  Letters will be sent home with students who attend drama club at the beginning of the year, but you are always welcome to join the parent boosters.  Boosters are responsible for helping provide ideas and feedback for fundraising, they plan and provide Cast/Crew dinners for each production and other odds and ends.  It would be wonderful to see this group grow out of its beginning stages and develop into the back bone of our young department.

A Close Knit Community
There is almost nothing that bring people together more than working on a production together.  So much work and so many hours go into making our productions the best they can be.  Join the group.  We stick together and form a very close knit community within the overwhelmingly crowded hallways of Millard West High School.  Millard West Drama is Something Special.


Other Helpful Information about Drama

Production Weekends
Our performances usually occur on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.(Occasionally will add a Wednesday preview, and we also sometimes omit the Saturday performance in the fall due to band obligations). Call time- when a student needs to be there is usually one and a half hours before the showtime.
 
Cast/Crew Dinners
Our "Drama Mamas and Papas" booster group is in charge of providing one meal for our students during tech week as a thank you for all of their hard work and dedication.  This usually happens the Monday or Tuesday night before show weekend at 4:30 in the afternoon.  The Mamas and Papas group will meet a few times before hand to get the meal planned.  Occassionally all the students involved in the production will be asked to bring an item to share for the dinner.  If you have a child in the production, please consider volunteering to serve or bring food items.

Tickets
We do not pre-sell any tickets to our plays.  Tickets are usually $6 and aresold on a first come, first serve basis with general seating arrangements.  There are tickets for sale ahead of time for the Musical in March.  Typically you can call Cindy Hamilton in the accounting office to get tickets for the musical at 402-715-6070.

Strike
Strike occurs after each Sunday performance.  This is when all the cast and crew pitch in to help disassemble the set, put props and costumes away and clean the whole theater area.  The students are assigned specific tasks to complete.  Parent help is always appreciated.  Many hands makes light work and everyone gets to go home sooner.

Parent Volunteers
We would love to utilize your talents!! Volunteers are needed to help with each performance. Please let the Drama Mamas and Papas, or Brooke Phillips, director, know how you would like to help: building Set, Donating Food, Helping with serving Cast/Crew meals, Selling items at performances, Helping with Fundraising Activities, Advertising, etc.

We look forward to seeing you in the Millard West Theatre Department! Please feel free to contact Brooke Phillips, Director, at bmphillips@mpsomaha.org if you have any questions or concerns.