About Us

Avenger Theater is the core drama program at East Greenwich High School. Participation in the program spans across all aspects of life at the high school; our members are performers, athletes, artists, writers, and engineers. Any and all students are encouraged to participate at the level that suits their interests and availability — whether onstage or offstage — and in just one event per season… or all of them!

Avenger Theater is dedicated to teaching students about the many facets of the theatrical arts: performing, designing, directing, stage crew, tech crew, prop crafting and scenic arts. There are several opportunities each season to participate:

  • Full-scale musical production (double-cast and with live pit orchestra)
  • Student-directed Cabaret evenings (including a double-cast one-act play)
  • Rhode Island State Drama Festival (a single cast student-directed one-act play)
  • Ocean State Star Awards (new!)

There are also performance-based events run in partnership with other student organizations in addition to the Avenger Theater offerings, including the annual Talent Show (spring) and Air Band (autumn).

An informational meeting will kick-off each year in September where interested students can learn more details about the upcoming season.

If you are not a current EGHS student but interested in learning how you can support the program as a volunteer, donor, or booster group member, please contact us!

Musical Production

  • Auditions are held in mid-October; cast sizes range from 50-100 students including the large ensembles. The technical crew is also assembled around this time and will work on lights, sound, and scenic production.
  • Rehearsals continue after school several days a week (attendance requirements vary depending on the role cast, i.e.: lead or ensemble).
  • Six performances are held over one week in December, including two weekday previews and four weekend shows (two matinees and two evening performances).

Cabaret

  • Performances take place on a Friday and Saturday in January/February. Each night has a different lineup of acts (usually 30 or more in total), with multiple student hosts/emcees, and students designing and running sound & light tech for the show.
  • All students are encouraged to audition; participation in the musical production is not required. Placement auditions are held the month prior to the performances, but planning for songs and the one-act usually begins much earlier in the season.
  • Most acts are live-singing with pre-recorded tracks; rehearsals will span the month leading up to the event so that each act has a chance to practice onstage a few times before they perform.

Rhode Island State Drama Festival

  • The Rhode Island State Drama Festival is an annual event supported by the RI Theatre Education Association (RITEA), and held over an entire weekend in March. Participating schools attend the entire festival, watching other school performances and cheering on all the performers.
  • In February, we will select a one-act play and hold auditions for a single-cast. There is only one performance for this production at the festival; tickets can be purchased through the RITEA.
  • Two schools from Rhode Island will be selected to showcase their one-act at the New England Drama Festival in April.

Ocean State Star Awards

  • Avenger Theater participates in the Ocean State Star Awards program through the Providence Performing Arts Center. This annual program concludes with a showcase event for the participating schools in June and includes performance numbers from selected musicals, medley highlights for nominated performers, and large ensemble musical numbers orchestrated specifically for students chosen to perform during the awards showcase. See more details here: https://www.ppacri.org/outreach/ocean-state-star-awards