What shows will be performed this year?

• You Can’t Take It With You

  in the MRHS Black Box Theatre on October 15-17, 2009, at 7:00 PM. A matinee is scheduled for 2:00 PM on October 17. Tickets are $6.00 for students/children over 3 years and $10.00 for adults. Gold Passes are honored with a 10% discount at all performances. Auditions for this show will occur August 27-28 in the Black Box Theatre from 3:30-5:30 each day.

• The Fine Arts Department musical "Bye Bye Birdie"

  in the MRHS Performing Arts Center on January 21-23, 2010, at 7:00 PM. Matinees are scheduled for 2:00 PM on January 23 and for 3:00 PM on January 24. Tickets are $8.00 for students/children and $12.00 for adults (Presale only). Tickets at the door on the day of the performances are $10.00 for students/children and $15.00 for adults. Gold Passes for the 10% discount are accepted but must be reserved before the day of the performance attendance.

• UIL One Act Play (to-be-announced)

  Contests for Zone are scheduled for Katy High School. District Contest is scheduled for Mayde Creek High School. The Area Contest will be hosted by the Morton Ranch High School Theatre during the week of April 5-10. The Regional Contest is held on April 24 with State UIL One Act Play competition scheduled for May 7-8, at the University of Texas in Austin. (Actual dates and times of performances will be announced through the newsletter and posted on the web site.)

• Evening of Scenes

  in the Black Box Theatre on May 20, 2010, at 7:00 PM. There is no admission charged for the evening of theatre scenes performed by theatre students under the direction of theatre production students.

• Comedysportz, HSL:

  Matches in the Black Box Theatre or the Performing Arts Center at 7:00 PM throughout the year. Tickets are $5.00 per person. Auditions for the CSz Team are scheduled for September 1 at 5:30 PM in the Black Box. Match dates are as follows:
  
  November 5: MRHS vs. MRHS (intramural match)
  November12: MRHS CSz vs MRHS Faculty
  January 28: MRHS at Westchester Academy
  February 4: MRHS vs. Cypress Creek HS
  February 18: MRHS at Cinco Ranch HS
  February 25: MRHS vs. Cinco Ranch HS
  February 26: MRHS at Katy HS
  March 4: MRHS at Seven Lakes HS
  March 5: MRHS at Taylor HS
  March 9: MRHS vs. Westchester and Cy Creek
  April 30: MRHS at Mayde Creek HS
  May 6: MRHS vs. Seven Lakes and Spring Woods
  May 13: MRHS at Taylor HS

 

What fundraisers will we have this year?

• Carwashes

  at Wild Wings on Westgreen Blvd. scheduled for August 29 and May 12 from 9:00-1:00.

• Program Ads

  for businesses advertisement and individuals who would like to wish their student “Break a leg” this year in theatre.

• Cook Book sales.

  (Call Ms.Wilson anytime at 281/237-7904. They sell for $5.00 each)

• Jr. High Theatre Clinics throughout the year.
• Fine Arts Gala

  Catered dinner and Performances by all areas of the Fine Arts and a Silent Auction on Saturday, December 5 in the MRHS Commons. Tickets are $15.00 per person reserved in advance.

• Fun Run

  on December 12 at Franz Elementary, 8:00-10:00 AM. Tickets are $10.00 per person.

• Fine Arts Ball

  on Saturday, March 6. Dancing and crowning of the Mardi Gras King and Queen will occur in the MRHS Ninth Grade Center Commons beginning at 7:00 PM.

• Ten % nights

  at Cici’s Pizza on Fry Rd. first Wednesday of each month, 4:00-9:00 PM.

• Patron Program

  For contribution levels your business and/or your name will be placed on the Theatre Patron Plaque in the Lobby of the PAC. The Patron Program begins in the summer and runs throughout the year.

About Fundraising

Fundraising projects are necessary throughout the year for a successful and active program. We are responsible for any operating expenses not provided by the Katy ISD. Throughout the year there will be certain fundraisers that students should participate in and is highly recommended for any student that plans to advance in the program.

How can I purchase tickets for the shows and Comedysportz High School League?

Season Tickets area available if you are a Theatre Patron!

• Show tickets may be purchased at the box office beginning 10 days before the musical.


• All other tickets are for open seating and can be purchased at the door.


• Ticket prices vary from show to show.


• Please see "Shows?" for ticket prices.

What are Thespian Points and how can I accrue them?

• Thespian Points are given for student participation.

  The points can be earned for fundraiser participation, show participation, Comedy Sportz, or show attendance.

• Twenty (20) Thespian Points allow the student to become a member of the International Thespian Society, Chapter 6861.

  Students are responsible for turning in their activities in the Thespian file located in the theatre office so that the Thespian Troupe Directors can tabulate their points. It is usually best if students turn these in after each show. Points will not be tabulated for the current year after April 1. Students are inducted in a special ceremony during the Theatre Banquet on May 22.

What is OAP (One Act Play)?

• UIL One Act play

  is an annual competition among Texas high schools held during the Spring of each year. The competition begins at the ZONE level (local area high schools), expands to DISTRICT competition, the AREA competition, REGION competition, and finally the STATE competition. The same play is performed at each level but each group of shows is different at each level. Two shows are chosen by a critic judge to advance to the next competition level.

What are the requirements to letter in theatre?

A letter jacket award may be awarded once during the student’s high school career. He/She may receive the letter jacket in the Fall or the Spring Semester. To earn an Award Jacket in Theatre, A STUDENT MUST:

• Meet all T.E.A. academic requirements
• Be a member in good standing of the Theatre Program * (see below)
• Be enrolled in and/or completed an “upper” level Theatre class, e.g. Theatre Arts 2,3,4; Tech Theatre 2,3,4; Theatre Production 2,3,4
• Accumulate 40 Thespian Points (400 hours), as per “ITS Official Point System, as per Katy ISD revision” (noted in campus handbook)
• Have recommendation of the Theatre Director

In addition to the above criteria, the student must also: complete ONE (1) of the following:

• Advance to the “Region” level in U.I.L. One Act Play
• Participate in U.I.L. One Act Play for 2 or more years
• Participate in 4 or more productions; participation should be in a minimum of 2 separate categories (i.e. acting, production)

Member in good standing is a critical prerequisite to earn an Award Jacket in Theatre. The criteria for this component will be defined by the theatre director and approved by the campus principal. It will be published in the campus theatre handbook/information as distributed by the campus theatre director.

“Students wearing letter jackets represent more than their own individual achievement. Any student committing a serious offense as described in the KISD Student Code of Conduct, or the organization bylaws, which brings disrepute on the organization, school, or district will forfeit the award jacket if the offense occurs at any time during the remainder of the student’s high school career.”

What is the State Thespian Convention?

• The Texas State Thespian Convention is a competition attended by all high schools.

  Some categories are for individuals and some are group events. Typically only the Juniors and Seniors are chosen to attend. The convention gives the student an opportunity to participate in the workshops, compete against other Thespians in various categories and audition for colleges (Seniors only). The convention is not only fun but also very educational. The convention itself usually costs around $80 and additional fees are paid by the student for hotel and transportation. Those who win advance to Nationals held in Lincoln, Nebraska, and that costs around $800. Students are expected to pay for all fees and accrued costs for Texas Thespian and National Thespian Conventions.

What is TETA?

• Texas Educational Theatre Association

  is an opportunity for seniors only. Students audition for scholarships from Texas and out of state colleges when they are seniors. Only a limited number of students are allowed to audition.
  
  There are several other opportunities available for Seniors to also audition for college programs and scholarships throughout the year.

How do I become a member of the Theatre Arts Booster Club?

• Meetings take place at 7:00 pm in room 1134 (Theatre Room)

  usually the first Monday of each month, which review all upcoming events. Please bring any questions or suggestions you may have. There are sign-up lists for anyone able to volunteer their time. MRHS’s Maverick Theatre has a busy schedule which requires as much parent assistance as we can get.

• Booster participation

  is a great way to be involved in your child’s school year, meet new friends, and have fun.

• Tentative Booster Club Meeting Dates:

  August 10
  September 8 (TUESDAY)
  October 5
  November 2
  December 7
  January 4
  February 1
  March 1
  March 29 (Due to Area Contest Rehearsals the 1st week of April)
  May 3
  June 7
  July (holiday)
  

What are the Opportunities for High School Students in Theatre?

• FRESHMEN:

  Can audition for all shows, including One-Act Play
  Can participate in all shows by signing up to be part of a crew
  Can earn Thespian points
  Can receive awards at the Theatre Banquet on May 22 in the Black Box Theatre
  --Best Rookie Tech, One-Act play plaque if they participate, Certificates of participation
  Can run for a Thespian Officer position (if inducted into Thespian Society at end of freshman year)
  Can be chosen to talk to Junior High students about Theatre participation
  Must earn 12 crew hours per semester if enrolled in a theatre class
  Can participate in all theatre fundraisers
  Can earn points toward their letter jacket
  Can audition for Comedysportz, HSL
  

• FRESHMEN CANNOT:

  Attend the annual Thespian Convention , TETA or other audition venues.
  
  
  

• SOPHOMORES & JUNIORS:

  Can do all that freshman can do
  Can be elected to a theatre office
  If an officer, can attend Convention
  MAY earn letterjacket award
  Earn 25 Production hours as an advanced theatre student
  

• SENIORS:

  Can do all that freshman, sophomores, and juniors can do
  Can audition for College/Universities at various venues

  to include TETA, Tx. Thespian Convention, Greater Houston Auditions, and others held locally or at the various colleges/universities throughout the nation.
  Can earn a theatre scholarship from MRHS
  May earn a letterjacket award
  Earn 25 Production hours as an advanced theatre student
  

What scholarships are offered to seniors involved in MRHS theatre?

• The State Thespian scholarship

  is available to students interested in acting, technical work, and educational work. The student applies, pays the fees, auditions and can earn up to $1000.

• The TETA scholarships

  are available for theatre and musical theatre students. The scholarships accrue callbacks from colleges expressing interest in the student. Any monetary award is decided on an individual basis. Because Morton Ranch High School Theatre Department is an Institutional Member of TETA, MRHS Seniors who are chosen to audition may audition for the Founders’ Scholarship award from TETA.

• The Morton Ranch Theatre Arts Booster Club

  offer scholarships that are awarded to students and are based upon criteria and application. The Booster Club and high school representatives will choose the recipient and awards the scholarship at the Theatre Banquet in May.
  All awarded scholarship monies are sent directly to the college or university once proof of enrollment has been received by the awarding agent.

What kind of traveling does the MRHS Theatre program do?

• Travel to the State Thespian Convention is by bus

  It is Corpus Christi, and any fees are added to the convention fees. Specific costs will be announced as the convention draws closer.

• Travel to TETA

  which is in Dallas in January 2010, for auditions. The parents are responsible for the student transportation to and from the convention site as well as any other expenses.

• Field Trips to TUTS and the Alley Theatre

  in downtown Houston to see plays/musicals and to tour the facilities

• UIL One Act Play contests

  when not held at the MRHS campus.

• ITS Theatrefest in Lincoln Nebraska in June 2010