Fall Play (Auditions in mid August, Production in late September, sometimes early October)

This show is the first of several mainstage productions produced by Cleveland High School. This production is typically a straight play, but can and has featured musical elements. The show usually boasts a smaller cast that is chosen during the summer before the season begins.  Students are encouraged to audition and to apply for a technical role if they are interested in being a part of this production. Auditions will involve performing monologues and a cold reading of the play. Callbacks are generally not held for the fall production.  Technical theatre candidates will submit an application to the director.

Class Play Offs ​(Auditions in mid October, Production in mid/late November) 

Senior students involved in the Thespians Club, receive an opportunity their senior year to choose and direct a one-act play.  Directors fill out applications during early fall and submit to the theater teacher.  Generally, thespians with most amount of Thespian points are chosen to direct.  The casts and crews are by selected by grade level.  A total of four one-act plays are performed in a festival type format.  Awards are then selected by a panel of judges made from theater teachers, former thespian alumni, of friends of CHS theater.  Awards given for Best Play, Best Director, Audience Favorite, Biggest Laugh, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. 

Voices, State One-Act, and Performance Showcase (casting in December, Production in mid January)

Our performance showcase gives all students in grades 9 – 12 a chance to be on the CHS stage.  Students can choose their own monologue, short scene, or Broadway Song.  Students will need to rehearse on their own time but the theater director will be available after school for blocking advice and assistance.  Two other one-acts will be presented during the showcase: Voices and the State One Act.  Voices is our student-written play.  Students who wish to submit to VOICES must submit their play to the theater director by November 1.  The winner of Voices is announced at end of Class Play Offs. The State One-Act is a one act performed at THESCON on the MTSU campus.   The state one-act is generally hand-picked from the members of the Thespian Troupe. 

Spring Musical (Auditions in early/mid February, Production in late April)

This is generally the last show of the school season.  The spring show is usually a musical but straight plays have been done in place of a musical.  This is a complex, high-caliber production with a larger cast and sizeable technical elements. Students are encouraged to audition and to apply for a technical role if they are interested in being part of this show.  Students will be asked to prepare a song and a monologue for closed auditions.  Callbacks will consist of performing select songs and scenes from the show. Technical theatre candidates will submit an application to the director. 

Things to Know

Production Contract and Fees
We do our best to create a professional environment for our company. We require signed contracts by all involved in our productions that includes clauses on eligibility, grade maintenance, CHS Code of Conduct, and drug and alcohol policy compliance. Rehearsal usually is held from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays with times going later closer to the production dates. Rehearsal calendars are given out during auditions and are adhered to.  We sometimes require a nominal fee per student for each production that allows us to continue producing shows. The production fees enables us to purchase stage make up, batteries, costumes, props, and other materials needed for our productions.