Sangamon Valley High School
Drama
At Sangamon Valley High School, we're proud to offer the following opportunities to our drama students:
During the spring semester, students take part in a full Broadway-style musical production. After auditions, the cast learns their lines, blocking, choreography, and singing, while tech students learn lighting, costuming, props, and sound.
Director: Rachel Roettger
Music Director: John Gorecki
Tech/Sound: Josh Sowa
In the fall semester, students can take part in a straight play presented with full costuming and sets. Singing is not required for these productions, and tech students learn how to operate lights and sound.
Director: Deana Moore
Asst. Director: Brian Hansbrough
Drama Class
Our curricular drama class is offered during the school day and students can sign up at course selection. In the class, students learn various acting and technical theater skills such as dialects, characterization, improvisation, lighting, sound, and theater business, as well as studying famous playwrights and actors.
Instructor: Deana Moore
Director's Note
What a year it’s been… We didn’t know what we were in for when we started discussing the show for this year. We successfully put on a show last year with You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, which felt like a huge win after Beauty and the Beast couldn't be performed. Surely this year would be easier, right? That’s not really how it went. This year has felt harder with unexpected twists and turns. But we persevered and we made it.
Choosing music for our musical revue was such a fun process. We were able to choose songs that were good fits vocally for our cast members. We got to choose songs that we love. We wanted to choose songs from all different eras, from the early age of Broadway until today. That was the theme we started with—essentially a history of Broadway—and that’s how the songs are ordered, from oldest to newest. But what we found, when we started putting the songs in order, is that most of them had to do with togetherness. That, even in dark times, we are not alone, even when it feels like it. That we are better when we work together. So while this was an accidental theme, it was a great theme for these difficult times.
Theatre is a wonderful example of collaboration and working together. You start with an idea, and with hard work, dedication, and a whole lot of time from lots of people, you end up with a full-blown show. There are so many elements that go into putting on a show—the cast and their families, the musicians, the choreography, the tech crew, lighting, sound, marketing, costumes, props, set, etc. The work put in by everyone involved is awe-inspiring, and I am grateful every day for everyone who contributes to our shows. A special thank you to Mr. John Gorecki for going on this journey with me each year. Your time, talent, and enthusiasm are so greatly appreciated.
Lastly, I’d like to dedicate this show to my grandpa, who passed away in December. Thank you for always believing me, supporting me, and being there to cheer me on, and for helping foster my early love of musical theatre. I will carry you with me always in my heart. “Sometimes people leave you, halfway through the woods… You are not alone. No one is alone.”
Rachel Roettger, Spring Musical Director
About the KPAC
The Kitchen Performing Arts Center (known as the “KPAC”) is our district’s home for live theatre productions. Originally used as the school cafeteria for Illiopolis, the space eventually received stage and lighting upgrades. A new floor and exterior doors installed in 2016 keeps our wonderful space usable for the plays and musicals that get produced here each school year.
The KPAC is named for Mr. Ronald Kitchen (1933-1996), who served as Principal of Illiopolis Elementary before consolidation. Mr. Kitchen routinely took students on field trips to see live shows at The Little Theatre (Sullivan), where he was a board member, and brought artists-in-residence to work with the students of Illiopolis. He is remembered for his avid belief in the importance of theatre and the arts in children’s lives. The KPAC was named in his honor and dedicated on March 10, 2000.