Bloomington High School North Theatre
News Bulletin
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About the Program
Due to its commitment to participate and perform in the community of Bloomington, Bloomington High School North Theatre is an integral part of the arts in the community of Bloomington.
North theatre presents two all school --anyone in school may audition for a production whether they take theatre classes or not—productions a year; one standard production in the fall, and a musical in the spring. Auditions for productions are announced at least two weeks prior to the audition time. To help those interested to present their best possible auditions, audition workshops are held one week prior to auditions.
Performance classes (see course offerings) also offer opportunities to perform. The Advanced Acting Class does an annual tour of area elementary schools with a children’s play. The Advanced Production class presents two full standard performances a year. Both classes participate in the Living Statue project as well as perform for local charitable organizations upon invitation.
Past North Theatre productions have included Sadako and a Thousand Cranes, Wiley and the Hairy Man, After the Fall, A Christmas Carol, The Dining Room, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Madwomen of Chaillot, Waiting for Lefty, The Crucible, The Importance of Being Ernest, Babes in Arms, Pippin, Damn Yankees, The Fantasticks, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, dust, and How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
About the Director
Francesca Sobrer has been the director of North Theatre since the fall of 1999. She has studied acting at the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts (now American Academy of Music and Drama), as well as private study with Patricia Mullen (The Alexander Voice technique) and George Zagoren (Method Acting). Mrs. Sobrer earned her Bachelors Degree in Theatre from Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1985. After graduating from Smith, she was the Assistant Concert Hall Manager for the UMASS Fine Arts Center and then Special Event Fundraiser for the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts before moving to Bloomington in 1991. Mrs. Sobrer received her certification to teach English, Speech and Theatre from Indiana University in 1994. Her teaching career began at Bloomington High School South in 1996 where she taught Freshman and Sophomore Honors English before coming to head up the North Theatre program in 1999.
In Mrs. Sobrer’s tenure the theatre program has grown significantly, from a total enrollment of 64 students, there are now over 120 students enrolled in four sections of theatre classes, with over 50 or so other students who participate in the program, but are not enrolled in theatre classes.
An actress as well as a director Mrs. Sobrer has also recently performed leading roles in the plays Julie D (Julie D.), Bloomington Playwrights Project, and Dinner with Friends (Karen), Miró Productions as well as do voice-over work for MindoverEar Productions.
When asked about her philosophy towards training students in theater Mrs. Sobrer responded:
I believe that the best way to learn about theatre is to do it! Theatre is not a passive art. In order to really understand and appreciate theatre you have to fully participate in the acting and production process. Theatre is learned by experience and a great part of that experience is in performance. To fully understand what is needed to make great theatre a student must take the risk of performing in front of an audience, whether it is in front of their peers or the general public. Until they do that, they will not understand the art: the importance of attention to detail, of being in the moment, and working together as a team.