AHS theatre arts instructor Steven Volpe takes students’ talents to new heights

The performing arts program at Arcadia High School has been growing the past several years. And Steven Volpe, instructor for the department, said that’s by design.
Volpe said the classes are quite popular. And they’re getting quite competitive.
“I started off with a couple of classes and have been building it from there,” said Volpe, who has been teaching these classes for seven years at the high school. “I have three different theater classes – beginning, intermediate and advanced – so freshman, naturally, are the beginners. They have to audition for intermediate and advanced. It created a sense of commitment that ‘I’ve worked to get here’ instead of just being placed by the counselor.”
The classes are so competitive that they’re now starting to win awards.
“Our advanced class we go to competitions in addition to doing main stage productions,” he said. “We’ve done really well in the past. We’ve done a competition at Disneyland and won first place. We’ve done theater competitions in Los Angeles and gotten first place, beating out all the performing arts schools in L.A., which is really great. Last year, we were invited to perform at the Pantages Theater for the National High School Theater Awards. “
There’s also a fall festival and a Shakespeare Festival in the spring, Volpe said.
“This is so they get a variety of different experiences,” he said.
Volpe said studying theater now will help these students in the future when they’re looking for a job.
“Theater is life,” he said. “It’s one of the only performing arts classes that are transferable to any career you get into. You have to speak in front of people. You have to work in groups. Working in theater you’re also learning history. You have to understand the play in its world and historical context.”
Volpe added the theater is much more difficult than many give it credit.
“It’s a higher level of learning,” he said. “Most people think that the theater is very easy and that anybody can do it. They don’t realize that it is very technical. Your body is your instrument. You’re using your body perform on stage. And everything that they learn in theater they’re learning in their classes.”
In addition, Volpe said the skills can take these students anywhere.
“We have various students who will actually major in theater in college,” he said. “Other students are taking it for the skills that they learn here.”
(Shel Segal can be reached at ssegal@beaconmedianews.com).

-Courtesy Photos

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