School began this year on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 — with two new theatre classrooms featuring high ceilings and lighting equipment. There is new furniture and shelves to display the department's numerous UIL trophies, plus an office for Mrs. Tolleson and a small kitchen.

Because of COVID, the Temple High School Theatre Arts department has made some changes and announcements for its 2020-21 season. These dates and productions are all subject to change.
     In October, there will be an outdoor show in the new art courtyard featuring monologues.
     In November, Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play will be presented. This is by the same author and has the same format as A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play that was performed in December 2019.
     The annual Texas Thespians State Festival will be virtual this year because of COVID.
     Performances of the musical Chicago High School Edition will be delayed until January 28-31, 2021, with auditions in October 2020.
     May 2021 will feature Spring Spotlight, an evening of short plays. This will be similar to Fall Footlights from October 2019.
     The Lion King will be a district-wide summer musical performed in July 2021 with auditions in April. All Temple ISD students, faculty, staff and 2021 graduates will be able to audition. Rehearsals will be flexible.
     "Doing this incredible musical in the summer will be a great celebration for Temple ISD," said Natasha Tolleson, director of the theatre arts department.
     "I am very excited about this coming year," she added. "We are going to put more focus on studying non-European based theatre. We will be hosting play studies and readings for our student body using works by artists of color. Theatre evolves based on what is going on in our world."
     "This is our opportunity, as theatre artists, to introduce change for good and to help our peers discover the importance of theatre," Tolleson concluded.

The department will now have full access to the stage and auditorium because construction has finished. The two theatre classrooms have been re-designed. The department also welcomes Brad LaMotte back as technical director.

The UIL has announced new district alignments for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years. District 12-6A will change from nine schools to eight. Waco High and Waco Midway will leave our district and Bryan High will be added. The newest school in our area, Lake Belton High, will be in the 4A classification.

Posted on April 17, 2020 — With the announcement from Governor Greg Abbott that all Texas schools are to remain closed to in-person learning for the remainder of this school year, and in an effort to help protect the health and safety of Texans, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) is canceling all remaining 2019-2020 spring activities and state championships.

Temple High School's One-Act Play Team advanced to bi-district during the district 12-6A contest on Saturday, March 7. 2020, at the Midway ISD Performing Arts Center. Other advancing schools included Midway and Waco High. Belton was the alternate. This marks the 28th year in a row that Temple has been a District Champion.

Named to the all-star cast were Sereniti Patterson (Macbeth) and Olivia Cabrera (Lady Macbeth). Named to the honorable mention all-star cast was Kerynn Eckenrode (Banquo). Named to the all-star tech team was Michael Jones (sound designer).

The remainder of this year's competitions was cancelled by the UIL because of the COVID-19 virus.

CLICK HERE for a Facebook Photo Album of the Production

FACEBOOK PHOTO ALBUM from district contest by Mimansha Shrestha

In a statewide contest, Temple High School was named as one of six Outstanding Troupes for the 2019-2020 school year by the Texas Thespians. Below is a photo showing students in their convention t-shirts holding the banner presented at the convention awards ceremonies.

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