A Message from the Performing Arts Chair
The Besant Hill School Theatre program is dedicated to educating students of all levels in the art of theatre through classes in acting, directing, design, voice, dance, musical theatre, production and technical theatre. Education occurs not only in the classroom, but also in production opportunities. Each year, Besant Hill invites professional artists for lectures and workshops, and to join the creative teams for the school's main stage productions, sharing their knowledge of the art and business of theatre and film. Students will work side by side with entertainment industry professionals, presenting plays for the school and the community.
The Guest Artists Series provides students of Besant Hill with the opportunity to work directly with talented professionals in the entertainment industry, from writers to directors, designers, actors and more.
Guest Artists for the 2010 - 2011 school year will include: Matthew Jacobs, Art Director for Lost, and actor Melinda McGraw (Mad Men).
Guest Artists for the 2009 - 2010 year included Betsy Randle from Boy Meets World, Richard Kuhlman from Second City, and Rick Cleveland, writer for Six Feet Under and Mad Men.
Guest Artists for the 2008 - 2009 school year included: Caroline Thompson, writer of Edward Scissorhands, Matthew C. Jacobs, Art Director for Heroes, Steve Nicolaides, producer of "Boyz in the Hood, and Hannah Jacobs, assistant costume designer for Mad Men.
Guest artists from the 2007-2008 school year included Rick Cleveland, writer for Six Feet Under and Mad Men, actors Betsy Randle, Richard Kuhlman, Claudette Sutherland, and John Diehl.
Chantecler - A Musical Fable from Raymond Singer on Vimeo.
THE ACTORS FESTIVALEach year Besant Hill School hosts this festival, created for students in the Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties to come together to share their work with their peers and professionals, while having the opportunity to talk about future careers in the entertainment industry. This year the festival will be held on January 29, 2011. Please visit our website to learn more about this once in a lifetime opportunity. http://theactorsfestival.com/
THE OJAI PLAYWRIGHTS CONFERENCE
Students of the BHS theatre program are also eligible as interns for the prestigious Ojai Playwrights Conference (www.ojaiplays.org), held each year here on campus in the school's modern facility, the Zalk Theatre. The Ojai Playwrights Conference is in its 11th year here at Besant Hill and has hosted such illustrious playwrights as Terrence McNally, Jon Robin Baitz, Lee Blessing, Charlayne Woodard, Joe Loya, Danny Hoch, Peter Morris, Luis Alfaro, Stephen Belber, Keith Bunin, Julia Cho and Chris Durang.
In addition to classroom and production learning, theatre students participate in a number of excursions to professional theaters, including the Actors Gang, South Coast Repertory Theatre, A Noise Within, Pasadena Playhouse, Fountain Theatre, and many other theaters in the region. Through relationships built with several companies, students have the opportunity to talk with the actors and directors following the shows, gaining first-hand insight into the business and craft of acting.
Here at Besant Hill School of Happy Valley, from the earliest days of Aldous Huxley to Beatrice Wood, imagination has always been a celebrated characteristic of those learning & teaching at the school. Come explore theatre as the art form of storytelling, human relations, and emotional expression. And discover its value in life.
Scott Campbell
Performing Arts Chair
For more information on our productions please click on the links: "The Woolgatherer" by William Mastrosimone; "Past Performances" or contact Scott Campbell at scampbell@besanthill.org, (805) 646 4343 ext 122.
