Theater
From the first read-through to opening night, students build confidence, creativity, and connection through musical theater, drama, and live performance.
Musical Theater
San Marin's musical theater program gives students the opportunity to grow as singers, actors, dancers, and collaborative performers through ambitious, full-length productions. Students develop confidence, stage presence, and performance skills while learning the discipline, teamwork, and responsibility that come with bringing a production to life.
Each production unites student performers, a live pit orchestra, and a dedicated technical crew in a truly collaborative experience. Recent productions—including RENT: School Edition, White Christmas, Hadestown: Teen Edition, and Mamma Mia!—showcase a wide range of musical styles, stories, and creative challenges. Musical Theater is offered as a course, with auditions required for productions, creating a focused and rewarding experience for students both onstage and behind the scenes.
-
Grades 9–12
Audition and some acting or singing experience, or teacher approval, required
Year-long course • Meets UC/CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement
Offered outside the regular school dayMusical Theater is a performance-based course where students study singing, dancing, and acting. The class focuses on one musical each semester, with productions drawn from a variety of styles and historical periods. Two full-length musicals are produced each year. This is a no-cut course; all students who audition will be cast in some capacity. Students are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances.
Schedule note: Rehearsals generally take place Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00–9:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00–5:00 p.m.
-
Grades 9–12
Audition and some acting or singing experience, or teacher approval, required
Year-long course • Meets UC/CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement
Offered outside the regular school dayMusical Theater 2, 3, and 4 continue the performance-based study of singing, dancing, and acting through full-length musical productions. Students build experience across a variety of musical theater styles while developing performance skills, ensemble collaboration, stage presence, and production responsibility. Students are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances.
Schedule note: Rehearsals generally take place Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00–9:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00–5:00 p.m.
-
Grade 12
Successful completion of Musical Theater 1–3, teacher approval, and audition required
Year-long course • Meets UC/CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement
Offered outside the regular school dayMusical Theater 4: Honors is an advanced continuation of Musical Theater 1–3. Students take on leadership roles within productions, including serving as captains, mentors, or assistant directors. Responsibilities may include helping cast members with choreography, music, blocking, and scenes. Additional rehearsal hours beyond the regular schedule are required.
San Marin musical theater productions are supported by a live student pit orchestra, bringing extra energy, depth, and excitement to each show. Pit Orchestra gives student musicians the opportunity to perform alongside the cast while building real-world skills in a live production setting.
Drama
San Marin's drama program encourages students to grow as performers, collaborators, and storytellers through hands-on experience in acting, directing, movement, voice, character development, and original performance. Along the way, students build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and discover the power of live theater.
-
Grades 9–12
No course prerequisite
Year-long course • Meets UC/CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirementDrama 1 is a foundation course for students interested in acting, directing, and dramatic form. Students explore their own sources of dramatic inspiration while learning the basics of theater, including voice, stage presence, communication, movement, and performance. The class includes theater activities, monologues, dialogues, scenes, and original writing and directing. Students also study classical, Elizabethan, and modern dramatic styles.
Schedule note: Offered outside the regular school day
-
Grades 10–12
Successful completion of Drama 1 or audition required
Year-long course • Meets UC/CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirementDrama 2, 3, and 4 continue the work introduced in Drama 1 with a deeper focus on characterization, movement, motivation, writing, directing, and professional acting materials. Students study theater works to build understanding of craft and theater history, while also exploring voiceover and acting for the camera. Students may participate in competitions, study acting methods, audition practice, and film production.
Schedule note: Offered outside the regular school day
-
Grade 12
Teacher approval required
Year-long course • Meets UC/CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirementDrama 4: Honors is an advanced drama course for seniors who have completed Drama 3. Students choose an area of advanced specialization for each production, such as dramaturgy, assistant directing, advanced character study, playwriting, movement, or breathwork. Students also practice selecting professional audition material, auditioning for theater and film, and creating a professional headshot and resume. Honors students complete a summer play-reading assignment in addition to the regular Drama 4 curriculum.
Schedule note: Offered outside the regular school day
Find your Place
Whether you sing, play, act, build, design, or want to try something new, there’s a place for you here. No experience necessary!