MCPS High schools with the top theatre programs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is some weird misinformation on here, but these are the best MCPS high schools for theater:

Blake
Einstein

Blake used canned music instead of a live pit orchestra. Even Sherwood uses a real pit!

They may not have a teacher or enough students willing or able to do pitt. It is also a huge time commitment for students.

These are three big issues. And, not all schools have the equipment or stage for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m also baffled at how we even compare the programs. So many schools have their musicals the same weekends, so we’re too busy to see the other shows.

Awards circuits? Critic reviews? festivals? Einstein parents aren’t being biased. Their program is indeed the best performing out of all MCPS theater programs. I’m not sure why I’m seeing random schools like Northwood, Blair, and Sherwood. A lot of misinformation.

I’m actually an Einstein parent with a kid involved in STAGE. I love Einstein but I’m not posting with a bias because I have no idea what the other schools’ shows are like. Einstein is very good but I also think the kids are pretty chill and not focused on this as a competition with other schools.

Honestly, I think a lot of the snarky, competitive stuff you see on this thread (and a few other older ones) is all in the heads of a couple of parents. The kids are mostly focused on hanging with their friends and learning the craft.


Even my former Einstein theater kid, who was involved with the Cappies student review and awards program, didn’t mention this kind of competitiveness. They wanted their friends and their program to do well, but they also really enjoyed seeing what the other schools were doing.

If nothing else, their Cappies experience made it very apparent the difference resources make to a theater program. In particular, some of the Virginia schools they visited had crazy levels of parent involvement and school system support.

My kid actually ended up even more proud of Einstein’s program, after seeing how student-centric and grassroots it was compared to some of the others. Not that they wouldn’t have appreciated a fully-functioning sound system…


(For those who don’t know about Cappies: https://www.cappiesnca.com/about-us. But it’s pretty Virginia-centric, so the awards aren’t at all representative of the quality of MCPS theater.

Proportionally, not that many MCPS high schools participate, because there are a lot of very specific requirements, and you must have a core group of critics willing to commit to travel all over the area to review plays on the weekends.)

It depends on the group of kids and parents. The ones we knew were super competitive and lots of drama over parts and kids not getting selected. The new theater teacher seemed to solve that by picking productions that have more parts so more kids can be involved. Very impressed with her and she's a welcome addition to the school. Several of the former students who won awards were involved in outside theater groups and voice lessons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m also baffled at how we even compare the programs. So many schools have their musicals the same weekends, so we’re too busy to see the other shows.

Awards circuits? Critic reviews? festivals? Einstein parents aren’t being biased. Their program is indeed the best performing out of all MCPS theater programs. I’m not sure why I’m seeing random schools like Northwood, Blair, and Sherwood. A lot of misinformation.

I’m actually an Einstein parent with a kid involved in STAGE. I love Einstein but I’m not posting with a bias because I have no idea what the other schools’ shows are like. Einstein is very good but I also think the kids are pretty chill and not focused on this as a competition with other schools.

Honestly, I think a lot of the snarky, competitive stuff you see on this thread (and a few other older ones) is all in the heads of a couple of parents. The kids are mostly focused on hanging with their friends and learning the craft.


Even my former Einstein theater kid, who was involved with the Cappies student review and awards program, didn’t mention this kind of competitiveness. They wanted their friends and their program to do well, but they also really enjoyed seeing what the other schools were doing.

If nothing else, their Cappies experience made it very apparent the difference resources make to a theater program. In particular, some of the Virginia schools they visited had crazy levels of parent involvement and school system support.

My kid actually ended up even more proud of Einstein’s program, after seeing how student-centric and grassroots it was compared to some of the others. Not that they wouldn’t have appreciated a fully-functioning sound system…


(For those who don’t know about Cappies: https://www.cappiesnca.com/about-us. But it’s pretty Virginia-centric, so the awards aren’t at all representative of the quality of MCPS theater.

Proportionally, not that many MCPS high schools participate, because there are a lot of very specific requirements, and you must have a core group of critics willing to commit to travel all over the area to review plays on the weekends.)

It depends on the group of kids and parents. The ones we knew were super competitive and lots of drama over parts and kids not getting selected. The new theater teacher seemed to solve that by picking productions that have more parts so more kids can be involved. Very impressed with her and she's a welcome addition to the school. Several of the former students who won awards were involved in outside theater groups and voice lessons.

Yeah, there will inevitably be internal competition for roles, regardless of the overall quality of the program. I guess I was thinking more about competition between schools, which someone on this board seems determined to stir up.

But I’m glad to hear the new teacher is working out well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m also baffled at how we even compare the programs. So many schools have their musicals the same weekends, so we’re too busy to see the other shows.

Awards circuits? Critic reviews? festivals? Einstein parents aren’t being biased. Their program is indeed the best performing out of all MCPS theater programs. I’m not sure why I’m seeing random schools like Northwood, Blair, and Sherwood. A lot of misinformation.

I’m actually an Einstein parent with a kid involved in STAGE. I love Einstein but I’m not posting with a bias because I have no idea what the other schools’ shows are like. Einstein is very good but I also think the kids are pretty chill and not focused on this as a competition with other schools.

Honestly, I think a lot of the snarky, competitive stuff you see on this thread (and a few other older ones) is all in the heads of a couple of parents. The kids are mostly focused on hanging with their friends and learning the craft.


Even my former Einstein theater kid, who was involved with the Cappies student review and awards program, didn’t mention this kind of competitiveness. They wanted their friends and their program to do well, but they also really enjoyed seeing what the other schools were doing.

If nothing else, their Cappies experience made it very apparent the difference resources make to a theater program. In particular, some of the Virginia schools they visited had crazy levels of parent involvement and school system support.

My kid actually ended up even more proud of Einstein’s program, after seeing how student-centric and grassroots it was compared to some of the others. Not that they wouldn’t have appreciated a fully-functioning sound system…


(For those who don’t know about Cappies: https://www.cappiesnca.com/about-us. But it’s pretty Virginia-centric, so the awards aren’t at all representative of the quality of MCPS theater.

Proportionally, not that many MCPS high schools participate, because there are a lot of very specific requirements, and you must have a core group of critics willing to commit to travel all over the area to review plays on the weekends.)

It depends on the group of kids and parents. The ones we knew were super competitive and lots of drama over parts and kids not getting selected. The new theater teacher seemed to solve that by picking productions that have more parts so more kids can be involved. Very impressed with her and she's a welcome addition to the school. Several of the former students who won awards were involved in outside theater groups and voice lessons.

Yeah, there will inevitably be internal competition for roles, regardless of the overall quality of the program. I guess I was thinking more about competition between schools, which someone on this board seems determined to stir up.

But I’m glad to hear the new teacher is working out well.

Did you read OP post? Why cheat DC residents out of their tax dollars if there’s good resources at home? Also Cappies aren’t the only factor in this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m also baffled at how we even compare the programs. So many schools have their musicals the same weekends, so we’re too busy to see the other shows.

Awards circuits? Critic reviews? festivals? Einstein parents aren’t being biased. Their program is indeed the best performing out of all MCPS theater programs. I’m not sure why I’m seeing random schools like Northwood, Blair, and Sherwood. A lot of misinformation.

I’m actually an Einstein parent with a kid involved in STAGE. I love Einstein but I’m not posting with a bias because I have no idea what the other schools’ shows are like. Einstein is very good but I also think the kids are pretty chill and not focused on this as a competition with other schools.

Honestly, I think a lot of the snarky, competitive stuff you see on this thread (and a few other older ones) is all in the heads of a couple of parents. The kids are mostly focused on hanging with their friends and learning the craft.


Even my former Einstein theater kid, who was involved with the Cappies student review and awards program, didn’t mention this kind of competitiveness. They wanted their friends and their program to do well, but they also really enjoyed seeing what the other schools were doing.

If nothing else, their Cappies experience made it very apparent the difference resources make to a theater program. In particular, some of the Virginia schools they visited had crazy levels of parent involvement and school system support.

My kid actually ended up even more proud of Einstein’s program, after seeing how student-centric and grassroots it was compared to some of the others. Not that they wouldn’t have appreciated a fully-functioning sound system…


(For those who don’t know about Cappies: https://www.cappiesnca.com/about-us. But it’s pretty Virginia-centric, so the awards aren’t at all representative of the quality of MCPS theater.

Proportionally, not that many MCPS high schools participate, because there are a lot of very specific requirements, and you must have a core group of critics willing to commit to travel all over the area to review plays on the weekends.)

It depends on the group of kids and parents. The ones we knew were super competitive and lots of drama over parts and kids not getting selected. The new theater teacher seemed to solve that by picking productions that have more parts so more kids can be involved. Very impressed with her and she's a welcome addition to the school. Several of the former students who won awards were involved in outside theater groups and voice lessons.

Yeah, there will inevitably be internal competition for roles, regardless of the overall quality of the program. I guess I was thinking more about competition between schools, which someone on this board seems determined to stir up.

But I’m glad to hear the new teacher is working out well.

Did you read OP post? Why cheat DC residents out of their tax dollars if there’s good resources at home? Also Cappies aren’t the only factor in this.

Its not cheating if the child lives there.

[Anonymous]

This post is from 5 years ago….

Also, curious as to if anyone has insight on how Wheaton theater is going? Heard they got a new theater teacher this year