playbill vip

Welcome back to our HISTORIC AUDITORIUM. The district made a wise decision to do some earthquake retrofitting, historical restoration, and added on a new lobby during the covid shutdown. The last time some of these students performed in this space was one day before the 2020 shut down right before we were to open Matilda the Musical. This is a bittersweet moment for us all. There have been moments over the last few weeks where we have had to remember how things operate in a theatre this large. This is not a complaint but really a sigh of relief. I am so happy to be back here! 

I am thrilled to announce that FUHS has been selected by the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) as a Premier Community for Theatre Education. We are one of 25 schools selected from around the world and the only California School chosen.  I am proud of the education students receive in the arts at FUHS and this distinction was awarded to us because we are part of a school and district that provides educators and students with the resources to go beyond the standards as outlined by the National Core Arts Standards in Theatre. I am proud to be part of this arts community!   

If you have been part of our theatrical journey over the years you will be in for a real treat with the performance you are about to see. Often shows are selected because there is a human need that needs to be addressed. Sometimes this is connected to current events or issues students see as important. We always strive to use our art to hold a mirror up to society, tell stories, and sometimes to even create closure around the things we are personally dealing with. Bright Star is a beautiful show about the importance of communication, the power of love, hope and perseverance no matter the circumstances. Navigating these topics with students has been a journey. They have been fearless and open to expressing their ideas and creativity throughout our time together. 

Bright Star opened at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on December 2, 2015. Despite financial support from Steve Martin and Edie Brickell and occasional appearances by Martin, the musical closed on June 26, 2016, after 30 previews and 109 regular performances. The national tour launched on October 11, 2017, at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

I would like to thank everyone who voted for Prop 28. This is life changing money for our Arts Programs on campus and throughout the State. Every student has the right to a fully funded creative education and this is one step towards that. I would also like to thank Genni Klein for all of her support, companionship, and energy. Andrea Oberlander and Lizzy Gimple  for always taking a vision and making it move on the stage. Stacey Kikkawa for her beautiful musical direction, Troy Trimble for all of his support, Stage Managers Janae Pease, Lucia Castrejon, and Karissa Lentz for their organization and leadership, Aiden Stephenson for his leadership and taking on extra responsibilities, Yae Eun Han  and Mykaela Sterris for the beautiful costumes which make us all look good, Sophia Galvan for leading this group through technical rehearsals, and Evan Shirk and Tony Gonzalez who strive to always help us tell the story through tech.    

Michael Despars

Theatrical Arts Director

Fullerton Union High School

Academy of the Arts