The high school, known for its varying majors and ability to assist students in their artistic interests, is getting ready for the upcoming year of 2019-2020 with admission auditions later this month. Majors include Visual Art, Literary Arts, Instrumental/Vocal Music, Production Design, Dance, and Theatre. Students in grades eighth through 10th are welcome to audition for their preferred majors for next school year, and, if accepted, are welcomed into the 2019-2020 school year as a freshman, sophomore or junior. The artistic and open atmosphere encourages creativity and hard work, and while also focusing on the arts, concentrates strongly on students’ academic career as well.

Charter Arts’ theatre line-up is performing a play called “She Kills Monsters” by Qui Nguyen Jan. 18, 19 and 20. The dramatic comedy stars many eye-catching components such as “colorful characters, fast-paced action, 90’s nostalgia, sword play, wild leaps of logic, fantastic magical creatures, heart-warming realizations and....FUN,” according to guest director of the Theatre Department Christopher Cantelmi. He said he wanted to do a play that focuses on themes relevant to teenagers,and one that would open up a doorway for conversation with current students based on his own experiences as a teenager in the 90s. He’s hoping that the play will resonate with many people, and notes that it applies to teens and adults who have ever sought to escape reality through imaginative play or struggled with the reality of love, loss and identity.

Again regarding theatre, Charter Arts has recently begun the process of preparing for the annual spring musical, which is, arguably, one of the biggest events for students. “Sweeney Todd: School Edition” is expected to be an exciting process with performances April 3-7. The musical is widely noted to be difficult and tricky, but the directors of the production are confident it will be a fantastic production done by the currently-unknown cast.

Auditions were held Jan. 2 and 3 for the large, multifaceted cast. Students from all majors, even outside of theatre, have been anticipating the auditions since the beginning of the school year, especially since Nov. 13 when a workshop was held for those interested.

Auditions were attended with a diverse crowd of students, all in different majors. Most students said that they were looking to try something new, and they felt this musical would be both exciting and enjoyable to be a part of.

Director Kelly Bickert and musical director Neil Chaban have been planning the production for a while, and expect to see it flourish naturally with the school. While they note the difficulty of this production, as well as the darker content, they are both in firm belief that the students will be ready to take on this tough production and portray the classic characters. The hair-raising (pun intended) events throughout the tale are expected to result in a fantastic production.