The Theatre Conservatory puts on a full season of shows every school year. The Theatre Guild is in place to support the Theatre Conservatory's students and faculty by providing financial support for consultants, props, costumes and other production related expenses. The Guild is called upon to assist with specific tasks like locating the more unusual props or costume acquisitions.  Sometimes, the Guild steps in when there are volunteer needs like costume inventory or sewing. The Theatre Guild creates merchandise and provides the concessions that are sold by volunteers at performances.  And, of course, the Feed the Kids program provides snacks as well meals for cast, crew and faculty before rehearsals or performances that extend late into the evening. 

What can you expect from a Theatre Conservatory performance season at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts?

 A typical season for the Theatre Conservatory begins with August rehearsals, includes six live productions and ends with the Flight Film Festival in May. Two mainstage shows are produced each school year. For the upcoming 2026-27 season, the fall semester will include both mainstage shows: Chester & Grace by Glenn Allen Smith and Hamlet ESP by Paul Baker.  In December, the members of the Senior Directing Class showcase 12 student written plays in the annual 10 Minute Play Directing Festival. The 10 Minute Festival provides student stage managers and designers (lighting, sound & costume) the opportunity to showcase their skills. Each year the Mime Troupe puts on a full length Mime Show using movement to tell a wordless story. The next annual mime production will be in February 2027. In March, the Paul Baker New Works Festival showcases six student written plays selected by faculty directors for staged readings that are designed to give precedence to the written word. In April, the One Act Plays Directing Festival features the class of Senior Directors using previously published plays to highlight the development of their directing skills over the course of the year. The One Act Plays Festival also allows student stage managers and designers (lighting, sound & costume) another platform to showcase their skills. In May, the Flight Film Festival provides the student filmmakers a chance to share their work on the big screen in the Montgomery Arts Theatre. Click the links if you are  interested in the recent 2025-26 or 2024-25 seasons.

Fall 2023 Mainstage Production of Big Love written by Arthur Mee                                                                                                               photos by Jackie Cooper

What opportunities are there for BTWHSPVA Theatre Conservatory students?

There are countless ways for Booker T. Theatre Conservatory students to get involved throughout the school year. Beginning first semester of freshman year, students are encouraged to take on a myriad of roles either learning new skills or putting their current skills to use in areas that include: costumes (construction, backstage dressers, or managing the costumes through the production run), set construction (either during class of after-school on build crew), lighting (for example, learning to operate the spotlight) or hair & make up (designing looks and helping to get those looks ready on performance days). There are many ways that students can get involved based on their areas of interest. The stage crew is student led and the house crew provides front of house support for each show. The first Theatre Conservatory auditions held during the school year will be for the 10 Minute Play Festival. With twelve separate short plays and casts, this festival often provides an opportunity for many actors to participate. Some productions like the Mime Show rely on the 10-12th grade students who have previously auditioned for the Troupe to perform on stage. Others, like the festivals for 10 Minute, Paul Baker and One Act Plays hold auditions are open to students from all grade levels.             

Additionally, students in the Theatre Conservatory often participate as the designers, cast and crew for the All School Shows which include the All School Musical, Sounds & Voices Fall Festival (formerly known as the Hispanic Heritage festival), Voices & Sounds Spring festival (formerly known as the African American Show), and Creations (an original cross-conservatory production). Theatre Students enrolled in the audition based Musical Theatre program perform in a spring semester musical. 

How do I buy tickets for a Theatre Conservatory show?

Tickets are available at the door for all Theatre Conservatory performances. There is an online ticketing platform where tickets will be available for Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts performances including the Mainstage Theatre Conservatory shows.