Show Opportunities
Your Xavier Theater Department is thriving! We are committed to finding a way to involve all interested, dedicated students who are willing to make a sincere commitment to the show.
Students are encouraged to participate in a variety of experiences during their time at Xavier. However, students interested in theatre should understand that some activities preclude involvement shows due to conflicting rehearsal and practice times. Notes about conflicts included below are intended to help students assess their options for co-curricular participation
Audition & crew notices are sent via email to every Xavier High School Student.
Rehearsals for Xavier shows are held after school, beginning at 3:30 to allow students to meet with teachers, relax, or have a snack after school between the end of classes and the beginning of rehearsal. Except for Christmas Stars and the Passion Play (which rehearse on Sunday nights), weekend rehearsals are minimal. A full rehearsal is provided to each actor and technician in advance.
With the exception of the Radio Play, all dialogue and lyrics are memorized. Rehearsal schedules include memorization deadlines.
Because of our high production values, timing and coordination of scene shifts, special effects, and other physical components is crucial to our overall presentation. Our technical crew are performers to no lesser degree than any actor involved in the show. This means a strong commitment by our technicians and stage crew is essential but also makes for a much more exciting production!
We strive to utilize and challenge our students. Therefore all stage management, board ops and pit musician positions are held by students unless the requirements of the show exceed the level of interested students.
Performance and technical positions are available for all shows.
Except for the orchestra conductor, a position that is held by our band director, each performance is managed completely by students.
Fall Musical
The fall musical is one of our largest, most involved productions and is performed on the main stage.
Auditions are held before classes begin, usually on student orientation days.
Rehearsals begin shortly after the start of the school year with performances in mid-November.
The musical requires a major commitment from cast, orchestra and stage management.
The crew joins in the rehearsal process later than the others but must be at most rehearsals for the final weeks of show preparation.
Stage management representatives attend every rehearsal on a rotating basis. (i.e.: they take turns covering rehearsals)
In most cases, participation in this production as a performer is not available to students on the involved in fall sports.
Christmas Stars
Christmas Stars is our annual holiday fund raiser. It is a Christmas- themed revue featuring about 250 performers from the Xavier system and the community age 5 to Senior Citizen.
There are 11 evening and matinee performances of this production, which attracts local audiences as well as motor coach travelers from around Wisconsin and nearby states. Performances are held in the first two weeks of December.
Auditions are held in May.
Rehearsals begin immediately at the start of the school year but are only held on Sunday evenings until production week. The crew consists of one light board operator and one stage manager/props person. The sound effects and music are managed by actors onstage.
The crew members usually attend three run-through rehearsals and the performances.
ALL RISE! The Northeast Wisconsin Passion Play
ALL RISE! The Northeast Wisconsin Passion Play is an original production which re-tells the story of Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection.
Like Christmas Stars, it features performers from our school system and the community 3rd grade through senior citizen. The cast numbers about 150.
There are 6 evening and matinee performances of this production, which attracts local audiences as well as motor coach travelers from around Wisconsin and nearby states.
Auditions are held in January. Performances are Wednesday through Thursday of Palm Sunday weekend.
Rehearsals are held on Sunday evenings for nine weeks with the starting date based on the date of Palm Sunday for that year.
The crew members usually attend three run-through rehearsals and the performances.
Winter Radio Play
Offered in certain years depending on other scheduling.
The Winter Radio Play is our most intimate production and is performed in the Green Room Theatre.
The cast size is small, typically 7-10 performers, although there are sometimes more, depending on the script.
There are usually three evening performances of this production.
Auditions are held in December.
Rehearsals begin immediately after Christmas break with performances in late January.
The rehearsal period for this production is very short. Scripts are used onstage, so the main focus of rehearsals is character development and coordination with the live/recorded sound effects and recorded music.
The crew consists of one light board operator and one stage manager/props person. The sound effects and music are managed by actors onstage. The crew members usually attend two run-through rehearsals before the performances begin.
In most cases, participation in this production is not available to students on the March for Life, some winter sports & Mock Trial)
Valentine Revue
Offered in certain years depending on other scheduling.
My Funny Valentine is a unique sketch comedy/music revue. Each sketch involves a couple on a blind date, usually with the situation or characters bordering on the ridiculous. This show is performed in the Green Room Theatre.
The cast size is large with most cast members performing in one or two sketches and a few performers performing musical numbers. Most students either perform songs or sketches but some do both.
There are usually 5-7 evening performances of this production.
Auditions for sketch actors are held in December. Auditions for singers are held in January.
Rehearsals begin in January, somewhat overlapping rehearsals for the radio play*, with performances in mid-February.
The rehearsal period for this production is very short and has an unusual schedule in that each sketch rehearses only once or twice with Mr. R. before the run-throughs.
There are usually two run-through rehearsals.
The crew consists of one light board operator, one sound board operator and one stage manager/props person.
The crew members usually attend the run-through rehearsals and performances only.
In most cases, participation in this production is not available to students in some winter sports & Mock Trial.
Spring Musical
Because of the increased level of interest in the arts, Xavier may produce a second musical in the spring.
This production is on a smaller scale than the fall musical. Because many smaller musicals are constructed differently, the rehearsal schedule may or not be similar to that of the fall musical.
This show would probably be performed on one weekend.
Curricular Offerings
Xavier offers a wide array of curricular arts opportunities including, choir, orchestra, band, music studies, acting and improve acting. Please see the curriculum guide for details.
Please contact Jim Romenesko at jromenesko@xaviercatholicschools.org if you have questions regarding any of our productions.
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