Alerts Sign-up
March marks Theatre in Our Schools Month, a period dedicated to celebrating student theatre programs and highlighting the importance of theatre in nurturing well-rounded leaders. Research indicates that students involved in theatre show improved social emotional skills and a better understanding of plot and vocabulary compared to those who watch film adaptations.
The Coal City Theatre Department plays a significant role in this celebration, producing three main stage productions annually: a high school play, a high school musical, and a middle school musical. Additionally, the high school Drama Club produces an intermediate school musical. The department also offers summer theatre and camp programming.
This academic year, over 130 students participated in Coal City Theatre Department productions, with thousands attending performances at the Coal City Performing Arts Center. Two students were chosen to perform in the Illinois Theatre Festival’s All-State Production.
The department has received recognition from Broadway in Chicago's Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards with nominations for Best Actor and Best Actress, Best Performance, Best Direction, and Set Design—winning awards for the latter two categories.
Notable achievements include being selected for the high school premiere of "Alice by Heart" and presenting it at the 2024 Illinois Theatre Festival. The department was also chosen for the Illinois high school premiere of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: High School Edition" in fall 2024 and presented one of the first productions of "Hadestown" during summer 2024.
To celebrate Theatre In Our Schools Month, Coal City School District invites everyone to attend their spring musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" on Friday, March 14; Saturday, March 15 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 16 at 2 p.m.
