Theater Department – Jackson-Reed High School

Welcome to the Jackson-Reed Theater Community

Fill out the Theater Program Sign-up Form to participate in any of this year’s theater programs.

“All the world’s a stage…”

Our program is designed with you in mind. Whether you are starting out fresh or bringing plenty of prior experience with you, Jackson-Reed Theater offers you opportunities to grow as performer and theater artist. Together, we strive to tell the diverse, passionate stories that are important and engaging to you and our community. Through a combination of school and student led programs, there is a space that is just right for you to grow.

Current Production

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome! In here, Life is Beautiful!

Step into the dazzling and decadent Kit Kat Club - a risque destination filled with music, dancing, and colorful characters. Set in 1930s Berlin, Cabaret tells the story of a young author searching for inspiration but discovers himself entrenched in one the darkest moments in history.

You can purchase tickets at this link,

You may contact the box office, or donate to the Jackson-Reed Theater Program at Jackson-Reed Theater (scroll down).

On-Stage Seating Raffle: Each night we will be raffling off a select number of seats on stage, in The Kit-Kat Club,for people who want to be close to—even part of—the action. Raffle chances will be sold each night at the door.

2023-2024 Season

Dates and Productions to be announced soon!

24-Hour Plays
Mainstage Play – “She Kills Monsters”
Mainstage Musical – “Cabaret”
One-Act Festival (Jackson-Reed Players)
Player’s Show (Jackson-Reed Players)

Please indicate your interest by filling out the Theater Program Sign-Up Form.

If you are interested in joining the Stage Crew or Community Service hours fill out the Stage Crew Form.

Theater Contacts

Jackson-Reed Theater

Dan Iwaniec (he/him) - daniel.iwaniec@k12.dc.gov

Jackson-Reed Players

Betty Mfalingundi (she/her) – betty.mfalingundi@k12.dc.gov
J-R Players Email - Jackson-Reed Players

What the Press Says About Us

“The large tribe of talented singers and dancers all contributed in making the magic of musical theater at (Jackson-Reed) High School’s electric production of Hair.” -DC Metro

“The quality and depth of talent at (Jackson-Reed) is amazing and of much higher quality than one would expect of a high school production.” -DC Metro

“To see one of the cast members sing a song right next to you rather than on the stage, made the experience that much better. The immersive space made us feel like we were too, In the Woods” -The Beacon

What We Do Who Does What Theater Curriculum Audition Info & Tips

What We Do

24-Hour Plays - Brand new, original 10-minute plays that are written, rehearsed, and performed with in a 24-hour marathon.
Theater Workshops - Individual workshops throughout the year in acting, auditioning, song selection, song performance, dance, stage combat, and/or technical theater designed to prepare students for upcoming productions.
Mainstage Productions - Large, fully produced shows with larger casts, more production requirements, and performed in the Auditorium.
One-Act Festivals – Jackson-Reed Players produced night of student directed and performed one-act plays. Many of the plays are student written. Student written plays should be submitted to the Players in the Fall.
Players' Show – Fully produced shows by the Jackson-Reed Players. The choice of play, director, and designers is at the discretion of the student Players. Any Jackson-Reed student may audition or work backstage.

Recent theater department-led productions have included:

Into The Woods
And Then There Were None
Les Miserables
Working: A Musical
Rent
Matilda
Peter and the Starcatcher
Any Number Can Die
Romeo and Juliet.
Legally Blonde
Twelth Night

Recent student-led productions by the Jackson-Reed Players have included:

Everybody
Almost, Maine
Twelve Angry Jurors
Much Ado About Nothing
Girls Like That

Check out the final rehearsal of Peter and the Starcatcher HERE!

Who Does What

Stage Crew: Student technicians and craftspeople would develop, build, and run the scenery, painting, props, costumes, lighting, and sound for all production that are led by faculty and student Areas Heads. Students who work outside of the performances are eligible for community service hours. Experienced students are able to become Area Heads in their specialty area. Area head positions include Stage Manager, Scenic Shop Manager, Master Carpenter, Lead Scenic Artist, Props Master, Costume Shop Manager, Wardrobe Head, Master Electrician, Lead Audio Technician, and Board Operators. No experienced is required to join the stage crew and work times are flexible. Students may join the crew at any time. But the best time to join is at the beginning of the rehearsal process which starts after the shows are cast. The choice of specialty areas to join are always by that student. If a student does not know what area to join, Mr. Iwaniec and the area heads are happy to advise. They may also switch and/or try new areas.
Jackson-Reed Players: Students have the opportunity to work with professional production teams, as well as to produce, write, direct, design and act in student led productions. Jackson-Reed Players choose and present their own productions. New members of Jackson-Reed Players are selected each spring for the following year and play a significant role in the performance culture at Jackson-Reed. They are sponsored by Ms. Mfalingundi..
Theater Boosters: All Jackson-Reed productions, department and student led, are supported by the generosity of the greater Jackson-Reed Community, including the Jackson-Reed Theater Boosters and the PTSO.

Theater Curriculum

Theater Courses

Dramatics - Introductory exploration of performance, playwrighting, criticism and design in theater (.5 Credits)
Creative Drama - Advanced practice and study of performance and playwrighting skills (.5 Credits)
Stagecraft I - Introduction to technical skills, knowledge and design of Props, Scenery, Costume, Lighting, and Sound in theater and film. (.5 Credits, College Level and Career Preparatory Course)
Stagecraft II - Advanced practice of technical skills, knowledge and design of Props, Scenery, Costume, Lighting, and Sound in theater and film. (.5 Credits, College Level and Career Preparatory Course)

Play Reading List

Angel Street by Patrick Hamilton
The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov
Choir Boy by Tarell Alvin McCraney
A Dance of the Forest by Wole Soyinka
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Fireworks by Dalia Taha
For Colored Girls… by Ntozake Shange
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
The House of Bernarda Alba by Fedrico Garcia Lorca
How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
The Important of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie
Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen
The Piano Lesson by August Wilson
The Play that Goes Wrong by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer
Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years… by Matt Cox
Rachel by Angelina Weld Grimke
Rhinoceros in Love by Liao Yimei
Scapino! by Frank Dunlop and Jim Dale
Scream (Scary Movie) by Kevin Williamson
Skeleton Crew by Dominique Morisseau
She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen
Tartuffe by Moliere
Wig Out by Tarell Alvin McCraney
The Woman in Black by Stephen Mallatratt

If you’d like a copy of any of these titles, email Mr. Iwaniec at daniel.iwaniec@k12.dc.gov or see him in the Blackbox Theater

Play Watch List

Links to these can be found here: http://www.daniwaniec.com/watch-list.html

Bhagavadajjukam Sanskrit Drama
Crash Course Theatre with Mike Rugnetta
Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim (Original Broadway)
MacBeth by William Shakespeare (Folger Theater)
The Monkey King (Peking Opera)
Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (Canadian Stratford Festival)
Peter Pan Goes Wrong by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer
Sarafina! by Mbongeni Ngema (Howard University Theater)
The Taming of the Shrew by Shakespeare (American Conservatory Theater)
Women Generals of the Yang Family (Peking Opera)
Yellowface by David Henry Hwang

Audition Info & Tips

AUDITIONS

*For productions only. Auditions are not required to enroll in any classes.
Dates: To be announced soon!

Musicals

Completed Audition Form (available at the audition date)

Singing

32-Bars or 30-40 seconds long of a song
Memorized
Acapella (No Music)

Acting

Cold Reading (performing from a script with 10-15 minutes of prep)
Scenes will be provided
Not Memorized

Dancing (Separate Day)

Taught a short dance
Special Skills (Acrobatics, dance skills, etc.)

Plays

Acting

Cold Reading (performing from a script with 10-15 minutes of prep)
Scenes will be provided
Not Memorized

Improv Games

Group Warms Ups
Short scenarios

Call Backs

Singing

Taught short sections of songs
Assessing vocal range

Acting

Cold Reading of scenes and/or monologues
Reading with assigned partners
Asked to take direction from director

Audition Tips

Singing

In the Style of Musical (Rock, Pop, Jazz, etc.)
Complimentary to your voice and vocal range
Choose a song that the director will likely know
Act with strong Character choices (Don't "Park and Bark")

Acting

Character (Specific vocal, gesture, and movement choices)
Action (What the character is doing in the scene)
Relationships (Connection and reactions to the other characters)
Environment (Interaction with the setting)

Slate

(Introduction to you, grade, and your song/scene)

"Hi! I'm __________ and I'm in ___th grade. I'll be singing ___________ from ___________." Or "I'll be reading the part of ___________."
Clearly say your name and grade with enthusiasm
Be confident when you say the title and the play/artist

Be Familiar with the script

Research the major plot points, themes, and characters
Know the goals and specific characterizations (personality/emotions) of roles you could portray

Own the Room

Pretend like you are the host of a party and the auditioners are your guests.
Pretend that the audition room is your home.
Remember you are the light/brightness in the room

Prepare for mistakes

Practice not reacting to or stopping when you make minor mistakes
Rehearse recovering after missing a note or line

Know that the Auditioners want you to do well! They are

not judging you
thinking about where you fit into the show
performers who know firsthand what it's like to audition

Past Productions

Jackson-Reed Theater's Fall Play presents “She Kills Monsters,” a dramatic comedy celebrating family, friendship, and the power of imagination. “She Kills Monsters” tells the story of Agnes Evans, the classic girl-next-door who stumbles upon the Dungeons & Dragons notebook of her deceased younger sister, Tilly. As Agnes immerses herself in her sister’s imaginary world, we join her on an action-packed adventure discovering demons, cheerleaders, and the spirit of sisterhood along the way.

“She Kills Monsters” is a must-see for fans of geek culture, 90's nostalgia, and anyone who's ever felt like they didn't belong.

*This production contains disturbing language, and mature themes including death, grief, bullying, violence, and sexuality. It may not be appropriate for younger audiences. (PG-13)