Daniella Trujillo is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Centennial High School for AzPreps365.com

Each year, the Theatre Company at Centennial High School puts on at least four different productions, from musicals and student-directed one-acts, to a haunted house and improv performances. In the past, the company has put on productions such as Shrek the Musical, Clue, High School Musical. 

The theatre company’s goal is to give students the opportunity to express themselves and make friendships through theatre, by either performing on stage or behind the scenes, as well as raise funds for its productions and increase involvement, said theatre teacher Laura Colletti.

This year, seniors Hope Estle and Mikalya Bullis have big roles in the drama club. Estle is president and head of costumes, and Bullis is the drama club officer.

They have both been a part of theatre since their freshman year of high school. They each have been a part of many shows and know what goes into making each performance happen. To save money, they reuse different sets. 

“The students in my production design class build the sets,” Colletti said. “I also have students who volunteer after school to build the set as well.”

Past sets are stored in a scene shop. New sets are also built in the scene shop.

“We reuse different sets by either painting over them, taking them apart to make something new, or reusing something for the same purpose,” Bullis said. “For example, the dice boxes for ‘Clue’ were reused by simply painting them gray with some crosshatching for the set of ‘I Never Saw Another Butterfly,’ which are two very different plays.”

They said their money is accrued through fundraising. To raise money for shows, they have fundraisers at popular food places such as Chipotle or Mod Pizza. Anyone who wants to help just needs to purchase an item and a portion of the money goes back to the theatre company. 

“One of our biggest fundraisers aside from ticket sales is the Haunted House at Centennial’s fair every year,” Bullis said.

All of the money raised goes back to the theatre company and wil be used for things such as “the rights to the show, scripts, rehearsal tracks, costumes, paints, and props,” Estle said.

Students can get involved with theatre by joining the drama club, improv troupe, and International Thespian Society.

“Centennial theatre is a welcoming place that provides opportunities for any student who would like to explore the world of the theatre,” Colletti said.