Seven Catalina Foothills High School students have done what many have tried but few have succeeded at: launched their own theater company.
Acting Innocent, which performs out of The Community Playhouse, opens its second production, “Leveling Up,” next week.
The students select the plays, cast, direct, create scenery, sell tickets, raise money, act and design costumes — all tasks that have defeated older and more experienced artists.
They have done it with the intent to bring in younger audiences, discuss issues with after-performance talks and raise money for nonprofit organizations.
“We are looking at shows that have a social implication and that we can talk about afterwards, and taking it a step further by donating profits to charities,” said Griffin Johnston, the company’s founding artistic director.
And it’s working.
Their first performance, February’s “Dog Sees God,” which dealt with subjects such as drugs and homosexuality, started Acting Innocent on an encouraging note.
“We sold out about half of our performances,” says Johnston, an 18-year-old senior. “We had enough attendance to see our efforts pay off and to hopefully continue.”
That’s not surprising: The production was very good, with acting that was rooted and honest.
The show, which ran over three weekends and drew about 350 audience members made up of friends, parents and theater fans, both provoked and entertained.
They raised $165 for the Tucson Lesbian and Gay Alliance.
A project the students did together in the 2014-15 school year planted the seed for Acting Innocent.
The students produced the play “The Boys Next Door,” and entered it into the Arizona State Thespian Festival.
Though they represented Catalina Foothills High, the school had nothing to do with the production — the students did it all.
“They got it into their heads they wanted to do the one-act play,” recalls Terry Erbe, the students’ teacher at Foothills until this school year, when he left to teach in Kansas City, Missouri.
“They adapted it themselves, rehearsed after school at each other’s homes, found all their own props and costumes.
“They were the most highly self-motivated group of kids I’ve ever seen,” says Erbe, a longtime and well-respected actor and director when he was here.
Their staging of “The Boys Next Door” won the state title at the thespian fest.
“That production dealt with social issues and treatment of special-needs individuals,” Johnston says.
He realized that the thrill of creating theater independent of the school didn’t have to end there.
“I texted everyone and said we could produce our own play,” he recalls. “It started with just one play and molded into a full-fledged idea.”
The idea of developing plays that spoke to younger audiences and staging works that inspired conversation about sometimes-difficult subjects was essential to the idea.
“What appealed to me most was Griffin’s concept of putting on provocative shows,” says Justyn Zeider, 16, the lone junior in the group.
“I have always wanted social change, but it’s hard to do by myself. But then Griffin brought up the idea of social change through theater. I was skeptical, but the idea was really interesting.”
That concept also sold Margot Vasquez, 17.
“I think theater has always been one of the art forms that people connect to,” she says. “It forces you to think about a certain topic. It really makes you think and makes the mind work.”
It has also given these teens an up-close-and-personal look at running a theater company. While each has a title, it is a formality: Everyone does everything. That helps them zero in on what they might want to pursue in college.
“I’ve learned I don’t love the producing aspect,” says Savannah Runge, 18. Acting Innocent has “allowed us to branch out and experience more of what’s out there. … It’s a good way to understand that acting is not all that goes into the art.”
It hasn’t always been easy.
“It’s been a roller coaster,” says Vaughn Sherman, 17. “I was hesitant about doing it. Running a business while in high school seemed mind-blowing to me. But to do it with my friends and for a good cause has been awesome. And if you always keep in mind why you are doing it, it’s worth the headaches.”
Headaches weren’t apparent at a recent rehearsal of “Leveling Up” at Johnston’s home. He is sitting on the floor directing, furiously taking notes on a yellow pad as a few of the actors run through scenes. Those with backstage jobs sit around and watch. When a scene finishes, Johnston, with authority but no arrogance, makes suggestions. The others watching do the same. While Johnston is clearly in charge, they all seem to have equal say and power in the process.
“We are a team,” Johnston says. “I oversee what everyone’s doing, but for the most part, everyone is very equal. We vote on things; it’s been cohesive and team-based. I don’t think it could have been done any other way.”
Since all but Zeider graduate next month, it begs the question: Will Acting Innocent go away when the bulk of the founders go off to college?
“It would be a little intimidating to carry on, but I do want to,” Zeider says. “If we have new members, I definitely want to.”
While most of the other founders are headed out of state, they don’t plan to abandon Zeider and the company.
Vasquez, who will attend Arizona State University, said she will do what she can.
As will Runge, who wants to major in theater and do pre-med.
And then there is Johnston, who is undecided about which out-of-state school he’ll attend.
“I want to give any support I can,” he says. “I really do love the company.”
The founding members of Acting Innocent and their job titles:
Griffin Johnston, 18
Founding artistic director.
What’s next: I might go into producing, but my main focus is theater and/or acting, depending on the university.” He is still deciding where to go. He has been accepted at Northwestern and Columbia universities, and California Institute of Arts. He is also on the Harvard University waiting list.
Vaughn Sherman, 17
General manager.
What’s next: His plan is to study musical theater, though he hasn’t decided on a school yet. He is considering the University of Miami, Indiana University, Arizona State University and Collaborative Arts Project 21 (CAP 21) in New York City.
Gabriela Yadegari, 18
Technical director.
What’s next: She’ll study filmmaking at New York University, an avenue she thinks will allow her to pursue her passion about social issues. “I think film is similar to theater, but I think it can reach a lot more people.”
Stefanie Tedards, 18
Outreach coordinator.
What’s next: Tedards is thinking about taking a gap year before going to college. “I’ve gotten into modeling, so I’m hoping to pursue that and do some traveling.”
Savannah Runge, 18
Educational director.
What’s next: “I plan to major in theater and do pre-med. I don’t want to decide, and those are two things I love, so I’ve found programs that make that possible.” Runge is trying to decide between Northwestern University and University of California, Irvine, though Wagner College (New York City) and ASU are still in consideration.
Margot Vazquez, 17
Marketing director.
What’s next: “I just committed to ASU. My major is business and global politics — I am passionate about getting messages (about social change) out.”
Justin Zeider, 16
Production manager.
What’s next: Graduation from high school next year, then college. “I’m not sure what I want to do. I think right now I want to pursue engineering, but I still would want to be involved with theater.”
