Drama & Theatre

The Theater program at CHS is made up of unique individuals working together to create theatrical productions that are polished, entertaining, and fun for our audiences as well as educational and formative for our performers and technicians.

We welcome and include students of all levels—grade and experience. Everyone can and will find a place within this organization as long as they possess an interest in theater and the willingness to learn, to take risks, to stretch their comfort zones, and to work hard.
We value a process-based approach that emphasizes learning and provides performers, technicians, and musicians with a safe, open space to explore, understand, and sharpen their skills as theater artists.
We define success by our personal and community growth and development, as well as by the community response to and attendance at our productions.
We recognize that we need one another to develop physically, psychologically, and socially as well as for having fun and achieving our goals. This requires work, dedication, cooperation, positive attitudes, teamwork, and good sportsmanship.

Registration

The Chaska Hawks Theater Department administers a separate website with information on our program offerings. Please visit us at:

Chaska Hawks Theater

Current Production

Audition Information

Thespian Troupe

Chaska High School is a proud member of the International Thespian Society. We are a group of theater kids who love what we do, and strive to achieve theater excellence!

Officers

President: Jeannie Nguyen
Vice President: Olivia Hatfield
Secretary: Petra Causton
Treasurer: Riley Wright
Media Coordinator/Historian: Max Bryan
Underclassmen Representation: Avery Ott

For the most up-to-date information on Troupe activity, follow us on Twitter: @Chaska6517

Technician Information

When putting on theater productions, everyone sees the actors performing on the stage, but there is so much more to a stage production than the actors. Being a technician is about everything else that you do not see that makes the production a success.

For a CHS theater production, there are typically two overarching groups: Build Crew and Run Crew. Those groups are broken down into smaller crews focused on specific technical elements, like Set, Props, Lighting, Sound, Costumes, Hair, and Make-up. When you join Tech Crew, you are automatically a part of Build Crew and you have the opportunity to choose which smaller crew you'd like to work with. The group you choose will determine your time commitment. Usually you can count on putting in three-hour sessions two-three times a week with the occasional Saturday work call.

As Tech week approaches, which is when all technical, performing, and instrumental aspects of the production come together, the adults in charge of the departments choose the Run Crew. The Run Crew is a smaller group of students who are responsible for the running of the show: doing scene changes, doing hair and make-up for actors, operating the spotlights, running the boards, etc. Run Crew requires an increase in time commitment and requirement to be at all tech rehearsals and shows. These time commitments will require students to be at the theater from after school until at least 9:00 P.M. If you are interested in being a part of Run Crew, please take a look at the information sheet attached below for information about requirements, expectations, and other details.

The first week of meetings at the beginning of the production is required for everyone as this is when safety orientation takes place. Safety orientation is mandatory for technicians. If you are not there, you will not be allowed to work.

Fundraising Information

CHS Theater is dedicated to making theater productions and events financially accessible for all students. Therefore, we offer a number of fundraising opportunities throughout the year, through which students can earn money that goes into an individual account and can be used to cover the costs of registration fees, production-related expenses (show t-shirt, make-up kit, food money, etc), and field trips.

We engage in smaller-scale opportunities like bagging groceries at Cub Foods, CHS Theater Nights at local fast food restaurants like Culver's and Qdoba, selling Heggie's Pizza, and other opportunities as they present themselves.

Once fundraisers are planned and announced, you can check here for event dates, times, details, and for the link to the Sign-Up Genius for the event.

Affiliations

Professional Organizations & Affiliations:

Minnesota State High School League, Spotlight Musical Theater Program, & the MN Chapter of the International Thespian Society

The CHS Theater program is affiliated with three different professional theater organizations. Our fall musical is a part of the Hennepin Theater Trust’s Spotlight Musical Theater Program. Our One-Act Play competes as part of the Minnesota State High School League’s One-Act Competition, and the MSHSL provides guidelines for all participants in high school theater programs. Lastly, we are involved year-round with the MN Chapter of the International Thespian Society, an honor society for theater students.