We are the parents, grandparents and friends of Booker T. Theatre students and we recognize all of the wonderful opportunities that our students have access to at Booker T Washington HSPVA. We volunteer our time to make being a Theatre kid at Booker T even more special.

The Theatre Conservatory is one of the four artistic conservatories that make up Booker T Washington HSPVA. The Theatre Conservatory is one of the largest programs in the school. Students admitted to the Theatre Conservatory take classes in Acting, Mime, Movement, Diction, Combat, Playwriting, Play Analysis, Costume Construction, Set Construction, Costume Design, Set Design, Lighting Design, Sound Design, Props, Theatre and Stage Management and Directing. The department has seven full time teachers in addition to adjunct teachers and consultants. The Theatre Conservatory produces two mainstage shows per year, two directing festivals, a mime show, and a playwriting festival every year. Theatre Conservatory students and faculty also participate in the annual All School Musical, Sounds and Voices—The Celebration of a People (the Hispanic Heritage Festival), Voices and Sounds: The Pulse (the African American Festival) and Creations a cross conservatory production.  

The Theatre Guild is a 501(c)(3) organization made up entirely of volunteers that support the Theatre Conservatory faculty and students. Our Board is made up of parents of current theatre students. Our members include both current Theatre students and alums as well as their families & friends. Individuals and families can become members for free to access the weekly newsletter and additional resources and events. We ask Theatre Guild members to consider making a donation or upgrading to a paid sustaining membership level to help the Guild provide the financial support that fills funding needs.  

We provide volunteers and financial assistance that makes it possible for the Theatre faculty to supplement the curriculum in a variety of meaningful ways including bringing in subject area experts in the form of consultants or workshops. We can act quickly to meet needs that arise  during productions like replacing a saw relied on during set construction or buying all of the tights to outfit the Mime Troupe for The Legend of Lear. We help the Theatre Conservatory prepare for productions in a variety of ways like purchasing additional materials and props, sourcing unusual costume requests (like the dozens of wedding gowns used in Big Love), acting as sewing assistants, preparing the playbill. One of our biggest programs each year is Feed the Kids. You can use this link to learn more about Feed the Kids and other Theatre Guild programs including Scholarships and Showcase. 

One of our important functions is to provide a reliable source of information about the Theatre Conservatory. The weekly newsletter keeps our member subscribers informed about what is happening in the Theatre Conservatory from upcoming auditions and performances to opportunities outside of school. We love to celebrate Theatre students, faculty and alumni in their endeavors outside of Booker T. You can read about those in the Pegasus in the Wild section of the newsletter or check it out on Instagram or Facebook.

We also like to have fun. In August, we host an end-of-summer dinner to welcome new students & their families before their official first day of school. We love to gather parents and guardians together throughout the year at Guild events like the fall back-to-school dinner, a holiday party in December and end-of-year social in May. These events are designed to build community among the adult guild members and faculty. Our goal is no create low to no cost opportunities for Theatre students, families and teachers to spend time together outside of the classroom.