History
The Hampton High School Theatre Company opened their first season in the fall of 1992. This followed on the heels of a massive community fundraising effort that resulted in the construction of a 440 seat auditorium. It was therefore only fitting that the company’s first effort was a production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town.
The company’s first director was noted Saint John actor Carl Killen. He was joined on staff by an impressive group of local artists and teachers that included Peter Guravich, Jayne Wilbur, Kathy Guravich and John Murphy. When it came to choice of material, Killen advocated a balanced approach that catered to a broad range of student skill levels: a drama in the fall and a musical in the spring – a formula that continues to be used to this day.
Shane MacMillan, co-founder of the Saint John Theatre Company, joined the staff in 1993. Beginning with The Mousetrap in 1994, he soon took on the responsibility of staging the company’s fall productions. When Killen transferred to St. Malachy’s in 1997, MacMillan became their full time director. Under his leadership, HHS has emerged as one of the strongest extra-curricular drama programs in New Brunswick.
In addition to two annual main stage productions, the company has participated in the New Brunswick Provincial Drama Festival and Conference since the spring of 1993. Notable highlights include Andrea’s Got Two Boyfriends, for which lead actress Patricia Quinlin won the much coveted Mardi Cockburn Award in 1996. Following a successful performance of The Actor’s Nightmare in 2000, they were invited to the International Maytime Festival in Dundalk, Ireland. Subsequent festival entries enjoyed equal success, especially Never Swim Alone and The Bald Soprano – both of which were later invited to St. Thomas University.
In 2008, it was announced that Peter Guravich , the company’s technical designer since 1992, would be directing the 2009 spring production. |
Production History
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1992 – 1993
Our Town
The Wizard of Oz
Steak Night |
1993 – 1994
The High School that Dripped Gooseflesh
Macbeth
Amber Waves
An Over-Praised Season (student directed) |
1994 – 1995
The Mousetrap Nobody Sleeps
Sparks in the Park
Stolen Identity |
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1995-1996
The Diary of Anne Frank
The Secret Garden
Andrea’s Got Two Boyfriends
Just Me (student directed) |
1996-1997
Dracula The Secret Garden
The Bald Soprano
The Bathroom Door (student directed) |
1997 – 1998
Pygmalion
The Sound of Music
Tom Jones
Us and Them (student directed) |
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1998 - 1999
All the World’s a Stage
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
The Birthday Present
The Brute (student directed) |
1999 – 2000
The Skin of Our Teeth
The Wind in the Willows
The Actor’s Nightmare
Steak Night |
2000 – 2001
Antigone
Anne of Green Gables
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Kaleidoscope (student directed)
The Actor’s Nightmare (Maytime Festival, Dundalk Ireland) |
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2001 – 2002
Inherit the Wind
Guys and Dolls
Why Do We Laugh?
Inside Al (student directed) |
2002 – 2003
A Christmas Carol
The Wizard of Oz
Never Swim Alone
This is a Test (student directed) |
2003- 2004
Never Swim Alone (Theatre St.Thomas)
Amadeus
Into the Woods
The Bald Soprano
My Life is a Feature Film (Student Directed) |
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2004 -2005
The Bald Soprano (Theatre St.Thomas)
Oklahoma!
The Laramie Project |
2005 – 2006
The Secret Garden
This is a Play
Minority (student directed) |
2006 – 2007
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Music Man
Cowboys #2
Postponing the Heat Death of the Universe (student directed |
2007 – 2008
Ascension Day
Spar (student directed)
The Sound of Music |
2008 – 2009
Our Town
Macbeth
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Press Reviews
The Diary of Anne Frank
“Their awareness that they are involved not only in an important piece of theatre but also in an important slice of history, seldom, if ever, flags.”
- The Telegraph Journal
Fiddler on the Roof
"Hampton High has put together an impressive production of this difficult musical."
- The Telegraph Journal
Never Swim Alone
We should be grateful to Ilkay Silk for having recognized the power of this production during the school drama festival last June, and inviting Hampton High back this fall.
- Russ Hunt, St. Thomas University |
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Current Season 2009-2010
Dracula
written by Steven Dietz from the novel by Bram Stoker
Performance Dates: November 25-28
Tickets: Tickets: $10 advance/$12 at the door
Outlets: Hampton Pharmasave and Hampton High
Spring Musical TBA - January 2010
Performance Dates: April 14-17 2010
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