mission

The Theatre Program at the McCallum Fine Arts Academy is dedicated to:

Exposing students and the community to the satisfaction of work in the theatre as performers, technicians, front of house staff, and as audience.

Exposing students and the community to a craft that:

  • combines all of the arts;
  • provides a link to other cultures;
  • supports the understanding of literature through performance;
  • allows exploration of history, science, and mathematics on and off stage.

Exposing students and the community to the satisfaction of ensemble work.

To engage students in opportunities for growth in

  • confidence
  • creativity
  • problem-solving
  • responsibility
  • work ethic
  • community and world service

To equip students with skills that enhance their gifts in performance, design, support, and management.

goals

any student who indicates an interest in theatre will have an opportunity to participate in some aspect of theatrical production, whether it be on the stage in the acting company, or working behind the scenes in the technical areas of stage management, lighting, costumes, scenery, properties, sound, or house management and publicity.

as the theatre arts curriculum of mccallum high school is designed after the framework mandated by the texas education agency, any student who enrolls in a theatre arts course will study theatre as an academic discipline.

classes

Students in the Fine Arts Academy and McCallum at large can enroll in any classes we offer. If the stage is where we practice our skills, the classroom is where we learn them. Each class offers curriculum that challenges every level of student while creating a strong community of performers and designers.

Our classes include:

  • Academy Theatre 1
  • Theatre 2 - Genre Styles and Improvisation
  • Theatre 3 Honors - Integration of Abilities and Acting Styles
  • Theatre 4 Honors - Careers in Theatre and Dramatic Literature
  • Academy Technical Theatre 1
  • Technical Theatre 2 - Lighting and Costume Design - Offered Alternating Years
  • Technical Theatre 3 Honors - Scenic Design and Scenic Painting - Offered Alternating Years
  • Technical Theatre 4 Honors - Special Projects in Design
  • Musical Theatre 1 - Greeks to West Side Story - Offered Alternating Years
  • Musical Theatre 2 - West Side Story to Today - Offered Alternating Years
  • Production 1 & 2
  • Production 3 & 4 Honors

faculty

M. Scott Tatum (Head of Theatre, Technical Director) has designed, directed, performed, or produced over 60 shows in the last six years. Including at McCallum: The Pillowman, Charlie Brown, Anything Goes, Big Love, Metamorphoses, Once On This Island, Little Shop of Horrors, Chicago, WASP, Into the Woods, The Laramie Project. At UT: The Last Five Years, Scission, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Regionally: The Prince and the Caterpillar, Beauty and the Beast, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Scott received his BFA in Theatre studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2004 and currently is the director of Technical Theatre and Design and serves as Head of Theatre at the McCallum Fine Arts Academy in AISD. He is a freelance professional designer of lighting and scenery based in Austin. Recently, he has been working on a new project to develop a musical theatre festival with the Institute for the Digital Performing Arts in San Jose, Costa Rica. Contact.

Julianna Wright (Theatre Director) A.A., B.A., is a recent addition to The McCallum Fine Arts Academy. A native of San Antonio, Julie moved to Austin in 2000 to begin her undergraduate training in the Theatre and Dance Department at the University of Texas at Austin. After receiving her B.A. in Theatre Studies from U.T. in 2003, she assumed the position of Co-Producing Artistic Director of Second Youth Family Theatre, a non-profit corporation that produces family oriented theater productions and arts education programs for the residents of Austin, and surrounding communities. Julie is actively involved in the Austin Theatre Community. She is the Co-Chair of the B. Iden Payne Nominating Committee; a committee charged with the task of selecting outstanding theatrical elements in theatrical productions produced by local theatre companies. Those elements the committee feels reflect the artistic quality, diversity, and voice of Austin, are nominated to become recipients of a B. Iden Payne Award; an award that recognizes outstanding contributions to the Austin theater community by local theatre companies and organizations. Julie is an active member of the local theatre community. She has received multiple Payne nominations in categories that include Outstanding Performer in a Play for Youth, Outstanding Director of a Play for Youth, Outstanding Original Script, and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy. During her “off” time, Julie is a writer, director, producer, actor, designer, music lover, and mom to her Chihuahua, Zoe. Contact.