Decatur Performs

MUSICAL THEATRE: We produced the fall extra-curricular musical Sound of Music and the spring curricular musical 9 to 5 both at DHS. We produced Beacon Hill Middle School's show Wizard of Oz with 100 student performers as well. Sound of Music had 128 student cast and crew members and 9 to 5 had 65. A total of 18 shows were enjoyed by over 7000 audience members with capacity crowds. 9 to 5 was nominated for Best Overall Musical and performed live at the Shuler Awards Show at the Cobb Energy Center and a DHS student received the Shuler Award for Best Supporting Performer.

DRAMA: In the fall, we produced the play Letters to Sala with 50 performers and gave a special performance as a fundraiser for the Holocaust Memorial at Greenwood Cemetery. In the Spring, we produced the play Clue featuring a cast and crew of 60 students with an amazing moving set. In addition, Decatur Performs produced the middle school play Circus Olympus with 60 student performers. The thespians were active in the DHS International Thespian Troupe #5905 and 33 Thespians attended the Thescon conference in Columbus, GA in February.

CHORUS: Decatur High School has 130 chorus students. DHS consistently ranks in the top number of chorus students at All State Chorus and All State Reading Chorus of any public high school in Georgia. Beacon Hill Middle School Chorus has over 200 students in the program. Both choruses perform their own fall, winter and spring concerts as well as participate in special events for combined choruses. Decatur Performs sponsored a Body Rhythm Workshop for high school choristers this year. The DHS Men's Chorus had the special honor of being invited to sing for the Georgia Music Education Association's In-Service Performance.

CLASSROOM SUPPORT: Our high school musical theatre classes serve 65 students, acting-70 students, technical theatre -130 students and orchestra 100 students. We support teachers in the classroom by providing wish list items like wireless mic sets, light system upgrades (with support from the PTSA) and the purchase of a double bass for classroom use in the orchestra. We also make possible bringing in special instructors such as a lighting expert for a tech theatre workshop, and a guest violin teacher and a guest conductor for orchestra.

TEACHER STIPENDS: We provide money to help compensate teachers for the valuable time they put in outside the classroom including concert rehearsals, tech weeks spent after school, weekends creating sets, etc.