Theater

Throughout the school year, Froelicher Theatre is alive with instruction, role-playing, rehearsals, and performances. Colorado Academy students work under the instruction of teachers who are professional artists themselves.

Theater in Middle School

As students enter sixth grade, they build on skills acquired in Lower School music classes to learn character analysis, script approach, and audition preparation, as well as the basics of technical theater and dramatic production. In seventh and eighth grades, students undertake acting classes leading to performance in plays and musicals. They also receive comprehensive technical theater instruction, including equipment, carpentry, printing, lighting, and production. The Middle School theater program produces a play or a musical each year.

Theater in Upper School

In ninth and tenth grade acting classes, students learn the art of improvisation, mask training, monologues, cold reading, production, writing, and scene study. Technical theater students increase knowledge of shop tools and safety, learn computer-aided design, and participate in a production practicum, in addition to designing and executing stage sets for major and minor Middle and Upper School productions. During their junior and senior years, students enhance their acting and theater-production skills by participating in advanced or independent studies to increase their knowledge and practical experience. Our Theater Department also offers classes in film making, in which students learn techniques of filming, sound, lighting, editing, and film acting, while making films in a variety of genres. Students in the Upper School have myriad opportunities to participate in plays and musicals, both on the main stage and in the Basement Theatre.

Theater Faculty

List of 4 members.

Dr. Jan De Sal

Director of Visual & Performing Arts

Catholic University in America - BA
Catholic University in America - MAT
University of Rhode Island - PhD

At CA Since: 2015
Bio
Dr. Julianne De Sal is the Director of Visual and Performing Arts. De Sal came to CA from her position as Director of Arts at the Viewpoint School in Calabasas, Calif., where she worked since the year 2000. She held a similar position at Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena and also taught at the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay and at California State University in Los Angeles. Because of her work in California, the Viewpoint School program was honored with a BRAVO Award for Excellence in Arts Education from the Music Center of Los Angeles. She was one of four educators selected as a BRAVO honoree for individual excellence for her Conservatory of Theater and Dance Programs. De Sal holds a PhD in English Literature from the University of Rhode Island, a Master of Arts in Theater from Catholic University in America, with specialization in American Theater, and a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English and Theater Art, also from Catholic University.
Mr. Maclain Looper

University of Michigan - BFA

At CA Since: 2015
Bio
Maclain Looper is an award-winning educator with many years of experience in teaching theater on both the middle and upper school levels. He has a combination of teaching and professional performance experience, having been a professional actor in both New York City and Sarasota, Fla. He came to CA from Rocky Heights Middle School in Highlands Ranch, where he was nominated for the 2012 Douglas County Teacher of the Year. He also has directed and choreographed at Legend High School in Parker. Looper holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan and worked as an intern at Colorado Academy in the Upper School English Department.
Mr. James Meehan

MS & US Theater Tech

Middlesex University-London - BA

At CA Since: 2015
Bio
James Meehan joined Colorado Academy as a theater tech expert and teacher; he came to CA from the Viewpoint School in Calabasas, Cal. He has had an extensive career in the arts, technology and teaching. Meehan has written, produced, designed, directed, shot, lit, edited, acted, and sung in numerous productions, both on stage and in television and web productions, and both in the U.S. and the U.K. Meehan has worked for Apple Inc. and other tech and internet firms. He also has worked as a casting agent and is co-founder of an LA-based acting school, The Film Actors Academy. He received his BA in English from Middlesex University in London.
Mr. Stephen Scherer

MS & US Theater & Theater Tech

Eastern Illinois University - BA

At CA Since: 1994
Bio
Stephen Scherer, a Preceptor in theater arts, is originally from Plano, Ill. He teaches Grade 6 drama, Grade 7/8 technical theater, and Upper School technical theater and musical theater, He can often be found directing plays and musicals in both US and MS, and also does scenic design. In 2002, Scherer received the Francis Newton award for teaching excellence, and he is a member of the Educational Theatre Association and the Colorado Thespians. He received a BA from Eastern Illinois University in 1986, and from there went on to graduate studies at the University of Iowa. Scherer then moved to Chicago to pursue his theater and teaching careers. Scherer was employed by the Chicago Park District to run latch-key theater programs as well as run his own theater. He has worked with many professional, semi-professional, and educational theater companies in the Chicagoland area, including The Chicago Actor’s ensemble, Profiles Performance ensemble (of which he is a founding member), and Theatre on the Lake. He is also employed by the Chicago-based American Eagle Productions, for which he is scenic designer and artist. Scherer loves anything Christmas, so be sure to stop by to see his Christmas light display!