OnSTAGE was founded in January of 2011, as the result of the drama program being eliminated at the local high school. There continued to be a group of students who were excited about drama who no longer had the opportunity. Some of these students were returning students from the drama program at HNRH who had just returned from the Edinburgh, Scotland and their opportunity to perform at the American High School Theatre Festival. Others were new to the group who wanted to experience drama in a social setting.
Initially, there was also an elementary component in this program but after a year and the dedication required for the enthusiastic youth at the teen level, the elementary group was given over to another community programming group and still continues today.
From this point in time the group grew to 14 youth, ages 14 – 18, who are active in many aspects of the program. Together this group has written and performed three shows in the local area, the most recent being a dinner theatre production with a mystery theme. They have also written very serious shows based on alcoholism and its effects on families, and children’s shows. Currently the show that has been written to be performed over the fall – winter season and will formally debut on the world stage next August at the Fringe Festival, in Edinburgh, is a romantic comedy about the trials of wedding planning.
