Hello Students,
Fall Theatre Festival sign ups are available. It is available to ALL OLSH students.
If you have any questions please reach out to me at dmanuel@olsh.org
Sign up here: Fall Theatre Festival Sign Up Form
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Arsenic and Old Lace - Student Production Team & Cast
Here are the hardworking students creating our Fall Play, Arsenic and Old Lace:
Production Team
Cast List
COMING SOON!
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Fall Play Information
Fall Play Is Officially Underway!
The OLSH Theatre Department is excited to officially begin work on our 2026 Fall Play, Arsenic and Old Lace!
Thank you to all of our students who expressed interest in joining the Production Team and to everyone who submitted audition videos. We are excited about the enthusiasm surrounding this production and can't wait to get everyone working together!
What's Next...
Callbacks & Read-Thru
- Acting callbacks will take place this week.
- Our first company read-thru will also be held this week.
- Production Team Leads should plan to attend the read-thru.
- Additional details will be sent soon.
📅 Rehearsal Schedule
- Our Fall Play schedule is available below.
- Actors cast in principal roles must commit to ALL scheduled rehearsals.
- Students should carefully review the entire schedule before submitting their conflicts.
📝 Schedule & Conflicts Form
- Please complete the Google Schedule & Conflicts Form and include ALL known conflicts.
- This includes school activities, sports, appointments, family commitments, and anything else that may affect your availability.
- Please complete the form even if you have no conflicts.
FALL PLAY SCHEDULE - please check the schedule daily, changes will be made as needed
Rehearsal Schedule - (tentative) - click for link
GOOGLE SCHEDULE & CONFLICTS FORM
2026 Fall Play- Rehearsal Availability - click for link
There is a lot of work ahead for our actors, student production team, and adult production staff! I also expect a lot of rewarding fun as we bring this classic comedy to our OLSH stage.
Reminder: Arsenic and Old Lace will be entered into this year's Prime Stage Drama Competition!
Monday, June 1, 2026
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
CONGRATULATIONS - 2026 GKA Awards
Dear OLSH Theatre Family,
I am still amazed, still reeling just a little, still exhausted, and so very proud. My heart is full. I feel so blessed to have had a hand in this show with you all...Hadestown: Teen Edition. Wow!
It is difficult to put into words what an incredible experience this year’s Gene Kelly Awards was for our OLSH Theatre family. To stand on the Benedum stage alongside some of the most talented students and programs in our region was truly an honor, and we could not be more proud of what our students accomplished.
Our production of Hadestown: Teen Edition was recognized with six Gene Kelly Awards:
- Outstanding Musical
- Outstanding Crew/Technical Execution
- Outstanding Dance Ensemble
- Outstanding Vocal Ensemble
- Outstanding Lighting Design
- Outstanding Scenic Design
While these awards are an extraordinary achievement, the real magic of the evening was watching our students shine onstage. Telling this story with heart, passion, honesty, and joy to a completely captivated audience. That is the part we will remember most.
To our cast and crew: thank you for your endless dedication, talent, resilience, and trust throughout this entire process. You gave countless hours to rehearsals, choreography, vocals, costume fittings...long weekends, and late nights...and you did it all with passion and pride. You represented OLSH beautifully.
To our parents and families: thank you for sharing your children with us for so much time this year. Thank you for the rides, the meals, the volunteer hours, the set building, the emotional support, and for encouraging your students to follow their dreams. None of this happens without you.
To our incredible production team: thank you for sharing your artistry, your knowledge, and your time with our students. Theatre education is built on passionate people willing to pour themselves into creating meaningful experiences for young artists. So much of what you do happens quietly behind the scenes, fueled by long hours, problem solving, creativity, teamwork, and even setting up generators to avert a crisis. You end up with little more than a slice of pizza and a quick “thank you.” Please know how deeply appreciated you are.
And finally, to our seniors: congratulations and thank you. For many of you, this was your fourth year performing on the Benedum stage. What a way to close this chapter! Watching you grow as performers, leaders, teammates, and people has been one of the greatest privileges imaginable. We are so proud of you and cannot wait to see where your journeys take you next.
This year was special. The awards are wonderful, but the memories, the friendships, the storytelling, and the moments shared together are what matter most.
Thank you, OLSH Theatre family, for an unforgettable season.
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Please see below a note from our Lighting Designer, Adam...
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Tips for Memorizing Lines
Dear Theatre Students:
Please use these tips to help you get offbook!
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Newsletter: Working with Actors
Please use these tips to help you get offbook!
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Newsletter: Working with Actors
Tricks and Treats of Memorizing Lines
By Brian Hampton
Brian Hampton
is an actor, playwright, and producer. He is a member of both the
Dramatists Guild of America and the Actors Equity Association. He is
passionate about theatre, animal rescue, and spreading the truth about Gossip, his play with Pioneer Drama.
Because I often act in my own plays, people always
assume it’s easier for me to memorize my lines because I wrote them. I
wish! Unfortunately, it’s not the case. In fact, it’s just as
difficult for me to get off-book as anyone else — whether it’s my own
writing or someone else’s.
In my over 20 years of acting, I’ve discovered some
great tricks to memorizing lines. Hopefully, these will help you out —
or perhaps inspire you to come up with your own!
TRICK #1: The traditional moving piece of paper. I
bet everyone has done this memorizing trick. You highlight your part(s)
and fold a separate piece of paper. You move it down the page as you
come to each of your lines. You pause while your line is covered, and
then you reveal it to see if you got it right or what you need to work
on. This is the first way I learned. And, it’s very useful.
TRICK #2: Use index cards. Here’s a
technique I use in almost every single show I’m in. Buy a stack of
index cards. First, be sure to number the cards! On one side, write
down the character’s name and his or her line before yours. (Note: If
the line is something short, like, “Yeah!” then write two). On the
other side, write (preferably in a different color ink) your line that
follows. If you need to, separate them into Acts (for longer plays and
musicals). When you’re done, go through them like flash cards until
you’re ready to... brace yourself ... SHUFFLE THEM. Yes. Try to do
them out of order. This trick not only creates memorization but
sharpens your memory recall for your cues.
TRICK #3: Use your voice memo on your phone or any
other recording device. This is especially good for scenes between two
people. Record only the other person’s lines. Read them out loud.
Then give a silent pause in the spot where your line will be spoken. Be
sure to give about 1 ½ times the amount of time for yourself. I like
to slowly (almost in slow motion) “mouth” my line so I know I’m
recording enough space to remember it. That way, if I make a mistake, I
have enough time to fix it before the next line is played. Play and
practice over and over until you can go through the entire recording
smoothly.
TRICK #4: For monologues, do the same thing as Trick
#3 with your voice memo or recording device. This time, though, say
your monologue and act it out. Then play it over and over while you go
about your day. Have you ever wondered how quickly you learn the lines
of a song? It’s because you listen to it over and over and over again.
Do the same with your monologue! It works!
TRICK #5: When you’re at least 90% memorized, ask
someone to “read lines” with you. But make it fun for them too. Tell
them they are more than welcome to act out the other roles. If you wait
until you know at least 90%, it will be way more fun for your reader,
and way more rewarding for you. Here’s a tip for this trick: make sure
you’re ready! Otherwise, it can be frustrating and a real bummer for
you both. Advanced memorizers: when you are 100% ready, ask your
reading partner to say the lines fast, and you do the same. This will
really solidify them and make you even quicker.
Memorizing lines can be difficult. Trust me, I
know! But, here’s the TREAT to your TRICKS. Your true acting choices
emerge once you know your lines. That’s when the real fun of being in a
play or musical happens. Your mind is not thinking, “What’s my next
line?” It’s thinking as the mind of the character you’re portraying.
You are in the moment. And that’s when great acting ignites!
Hope these help! Break a leg!
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