Welcome to the Da Vinci Dragon Theatre Program
My Background
My experience in theatre goes back well over 40 years. From my earliest days performing in my elementary school's musical production of the operetta Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti in which I performed as Baltazar, one of the three wise men on his way to Bethlehem following a star in the sky, to my last, in October of 2012, as King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot at the UTEP Dinner Theatre, my passion of performing before an audience has remained steadfast. It is my desire to build a program in the Theatre Arts here at Da Vinci that helps equip our students who desire to pursue theatre, whether it be as art or as a vocation, with the tools, knowledge, and experience necessary to be able to realize their own passions. We will study the full range of what is involved in putting a production on the stage, from the historical background, to acting and directing, including stops in between studying the art of stagecraft and technical theatre. We will look at lighting, sound, costuming, set construction, makeup, and publicity, as well as the art of filmmaking and playwrighting.
One of the ways we will prepare or students in these disciplines, is for our high school Theatre program to participate and compete in UIL One-Act Play Competition. This competition will take place on March 3 & 4 in Van Horn,, Texas, when we will be competing against productions from other schools in our district, which includes Fort Hancock, Iraan, McCamey, Van Horn, and Wink High Schools at the District level. Shows advancing to the next level will be competing possibly at bi-district, zone, and regional levels, which would eventually conclude with shows that are chosen to advance to the state level the opportunity to perform in Austin, on the University of Texas at Austin stage, with opportunities to be seen by college recruiters to compete and audition for scholarships in Theatre. It is my hope that our Dragon Players program will continue to grow, and build on last years incredible showing. It is my hope to eventually be able to present a full season of theatrical productions on our stage, including full length dramatic and musical productions.
Our program will also be working to develop our young talent with our middle school students as well. While our district is too small to have a UIL One Act Play competition for middle school, we will be producing a spring middle school production this year to help prepare our young performers the opportunity to develop and grow. The middle school program will be working closely with our high school students, who will mentor our younger students as they develop their talent and grow in their craft.
We will also continue to realize and recognize the talent of our students, and the contributions of the educator that helped to provide the foundation we are building our program on, through the continuation of the Lynn Strelzin Pollock Poetry and
Drama Competition in May. This year, we will also be providing a platform for our students who have an interest in playwriting, by including an opportunity for them to write and perform original monologues for an audience. In the future, we will also include the opportunity for student filmmakers to present their work as well.
I must take this opportunity to thank our Administration, Faculty and Staff, and the parents of our students, who have supported and continue to support our efforts in this endeavor. Without your support, none of these efforts in building our program would be possible. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
One of the ways we will prepare or students in these disciplines, is for our high school Theatre program to participate and compete in UIL One-Act Play Competition. This competition will take place on March 3 & 4 in Van Horn,, Texas, when we will be competing against productions from other schools in our district, which includes Fort Hancock, Iraan, McCamey, Van Horn, and Wink High Schools at the District level. Shows advancing to the next level will be competing possibly at bi-district, zone, and regional levels, which would eventually conclude with shows that are chosen to advance to the state level the opportunity to perform in Austin, on the University of Texas at Austin stage, with opportunities to be seen by college recruiters to compete and audition for scholarships in Theatre. It is my hope that our Dragon Players program will continue to grow, and build on last years incredible showing. It is my hope to eventually be able to present a full season of theatrical productions on our stage, including full length dramatic and musical productions.
Our program will also be working to develop our young talent with our middle school students as well. While our district is too small to have a UIL One Act Play competition for middle school, we will be producing a spring middle school production this year to help prepare our young performers the opportunity to develop and grow. The middle school program will be working closely with our high school students, who will mentor our younger students as they develop their talent and grow in their craft.
We will also continue to realize and recognize the talent of our students, and the contributions of the educator that helped to provide the foundation we are building our program on, through the continuation of the Lynn Strelzin Pollock Poetry and
Drama Competition in May. This year, we will also be providing a platform for our students who have an interest in playwriting, by including an opportunity for them to write and perform original monologues for an audience. In the future, we will also include the opportunity for student filmmakers to present their work as well.
I must take this opportunity to thank our Administration, Faculty and Staff, and the parents of our students, who have supported and continue to support our efforts in this endeavor. Without your support, none of these efforts in building our program would be possible. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
On stage at the UTEP Dinner Theatre following our April 11, 1985 opening night performance of the American Premiere of the Tim Rice musical Blondel. I am the 3rd monk from the left. Director Greg Taylor (2nd from right) is being presented a gold record from the original concept album of Chess: The Musical from Sir Tim Rice, lyricist of both musicals.
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Here I am, on stage once again at the UTEP Dinner Theatre, in October of 2012, performing as Arthur, King of the Britons, in Monty Python's Spamalot. One of my all-time favorite roles.
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