Theatre Arts & Musical Theatre
MSA’s Theatre Department offers two possible courses of study—Theatre Arts and Musical Theatre. Both of these paths overlap in their curriculum, covering the same core of techniques and literature, to be applied to all productions, including musicals. Both classes comprise one department offering the same opportunities, responsibilities, and privileges to all participating students.
Our curriculum is based on techniques from the MFA in Professional Acting, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU, the physical theatre work of Jacques LeCoq, and Meisner technique.
We emphasize focus, intention, standard American speech, spontaneity, listening, and a full-bodied approach to acting and performing. Technical theatre, design, and mindfulness activities also enrich our experience.
THE STAGE IS SET!
Enjoy a compilation of some of MSA Theatre's past shows (first 3 minutes). Then watch MSA Theatre's 2022 award-winning performance of a selection from Young Frankenstein at the Rita Moreno Awards (starts at 3:05).
Entering freshmen are enrolled in a Theatre Foundations class covering all of the basic techniques they will need in advanced courses of study. They are also enrolled in a Dance/Movement for the Stage class, which counts towards their PE requirements.
Sophomores through seniors take double periods each day, allowing students to dive deeply into their passion, while maintaining more flexibility within NHS class scheduling to include languages and AP courses. Each week all theatre classes have a day dedicated to voice and another to dance/movement with guest artists.
Awards + Accolades
2024
Rita Moreno California High School Musical Honors
- 1 Nomination for Lead Actress
- 1 Nomination for Supporting Performer
ESU National Competition/ Lincoln Center, NYC
- National Finalist – 3rd Place
English Speaking Union Shakespeare Competition
- 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place, ESU San Francisco Branch
Mother Lode Drama Festival
- Superior One Act Play – A Midsummer Night's Dream
- 4, Outstanding Performances in a One Act
- Fairy Ensemble, Special Recognition in a One Act
- Monologue: 1st Place, 2nd Place, 5th Place
- Duo Scene, 1st Place
- Musical Theatre: 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place
Lenaea Theatre Festival
- Gold, Scenic Design (Product Design)
- Gold, One Act Play — A Midsummer Night's Dream
- 4 Gold, Monologue
- Gold, Duo Scene
- Silver, Monologue
- Silver, Musical Theatre
- Bronze, Original Script
- Bronze, Duo Scene
- Bronze, Costume Design
- Bronze, Musical Theatre
2023
Rita Moreno California High School Musical Honors
- Best Overall Production – Into the Woods
- 1 Nomination for Lead Actor
- 1 Nomination for Lead Actress
- 1 Nomination for Supporting Performer
ESU National Competition/ Lincoln Center, NYC
- National Finalist – Top 10, People’s Choice 3rd Place
English Speaking Union Shakespeare Competition
- 1st & 2nd Place, ESU San Francisco Branch
Mother Lode Drama Festival
- Superior One Act Play – Romeo & Juliet
- Solo Scene, 1st Place, 3rd Place
- Duo Scene: 1st Place, 2nd Place
- Vocal: 1st Place, 2nd Place
Lenaea Theatre Festival
- Gold, Scenic Design
- Gold, Original One Act
- Gold & Respondents Choice, Musical Theatre
- Gold, One Act Play — Romeo & Juliet
- Silver, Monologue
- Silver, Monologue
- Silver, Monologue
- Silver, Duo Scene
- Silver, Duo Scene
- Silver, Musical Theatre
- Silver, Musical Theatre
- Bronze & Respondents Choice, Monologue
2022
Jimmy Awards
- Rising Star – Carl Robinett
- Student Reporter – Zach Lee
Rita Moreno California High School Musical Honors
- Fan Favorite Winner – Young Frankenstein
- Lead Actor Winner – Carl Robinett
- Nominated Overall Production – Young Frankenstein
- 2 Nominations for Lead Actor
- 2 Nominations for Lead Actress
- 2 Nominations for Supporting
- 1 Student Reporter
Lenaea Theatre Festival
- Gold – Musical Theatre – Follies
- Gold – Monologue – Peter and the Starcatcher
- Gold –Monologue – Much Ado About Nothing
- Gold – One Act – The Tempest Project
- Silver – Costume Design – Pericles
- Silver – Duo Scenes – The Effect
- Silver – Musical Theatre – Steel Pier
- Silver – Musical Theatre – Chicago
- Silver – Monologue – Elliot, Water by The Spoonful
- Bronze – Original Script – Childhood, In Fragments by Alexis Grusby
- Bronze – Duo Scenes – The Aliens
2021
Mother Lode Drama Festival
- Outstanding Production Detail – Dracula
- Outstanding Performance – Dracula
- Outstanding Use of Remote Space – Dracula
- 2 Outstanding Monologues
- Outstanding Vocal
Rita Moreno California High School Musical Honors
- Lead Actress Winner – Kasey Hernandez
- Supporting Performer Winner – Gabby Winnett
- Lead Actor Nominee
- 2 Nominations for Lead Actress
- 2 Nominations for Supporting Performer
Lenaea Theatre Festival
- Gold – Musical Theatre – Follies
- Gold – Monologue – Peter and the Starcatcher
- Gold –Monologue – Much Ado About Nothing
- Gold – One Act – The Tempest Project
- Silver – Costume Design – Pericles
- Silver – Duo Scenes – The Effect
- Silver – Musical Theatre – Steel Pier
- Silver – Musical Theatre – Chicago
- Silver – Monologue – Elliot, Water by The Spoonful
- Bronze – Original Script – Childhood, In Fragments by Alexis Grusby
- Bronze – Duo Scenes – The Aliens
2020
Lenaea Theatre Festival
- Gold – One Act Play, The Dream Project (based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
- Outstanding Performance in a One Act
- Gold – Monologue – Dance Nation
- Gold – Musical Theatre – Fifty Percent from Ballroom
- Bronze – Monologue – M. Butterfly
- Bronze – Duo Scenes – Love/Sick
- Tech Olympics Lighting Challenge
Chapman University Henry Kemp-Blair Shakespeare Festival
- Outstanding Scene, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act II Scene I
- Outstanding Monologue
2019
English Speaking Union Shakespeare Competition
- 1st Place – ESU San Francisco Branch – King John, Sonnet 145
ESU National Competition/ Lincoln Center, NYC
- National Finalist – King John, Sonnet 145
Lenaea Theatre Festival
- Synergy Award, Richard III
- Gold – One-Act Play, Richard III
- Outstanding Performance in a One Act
- Respondents’ Choice – Monologue, The Flick
- Bronze – Duo Scenes, Parallel Lives
- Silver – Musical Theatre, “Changing My Major” from Fun Home
Chapman University Henry Kemp-Blair Shakespeare Festival
- Outstanding Scene – Richard III, Act I Scene III
- Outstanding Monologue
- Excellent Monologue
Mother Lode Drama Festival
- Superior – One-Act Play, Richard III
- Lighting Design
- Sound Design
- Script Editing – Cast Richard III
- Outstanding Individual Performance
- 1st Place – Male Monologues
- 2nd Place – Male Monologues
- 3rd Place – Vocals
Rita Moreno California High School Musical Honors
- Nominated Best Overall Production, Bye, Bye Birdie
- Nominated Best Leading Actor - The Boys From Syracuse
Beach Blanket Babylon Scholarship Competition
- Acting Award $15,000
Rodney Franz
