FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Club Takes Productions Off Campus

A group of students and parents who had been involved in Fountain Valley High School’s drama productions have moved off the campus to form their own community theater group.

The Theater Arts Parents Assn., a booster club that in previous years raised money to put on plays and musicals at the high school, will present their first independent production, “Up the Down Staircase,” Saturday night and next week at Kazuo Masuda Middle School.

The move defied a district decision that major productions would be held at the School for the Performing Arts at Huntington Beach High School. That school was started this school year for students districtwide interested in pursuing studies in performing arts.

But some involved in the Theater Arts Parents Assn. “wanted to keep the opportunity to put on their own productions,” said president Marlene Peroutka. So they took the cast and crew of nearly 40 to another stage.

Parent and director Bob Hoxsie, who has worked with children’s theater groups for more than 20 years, added, “We wanted to continue to do what we had been doing in previous years--but we no longer were welcome on campus.”

Students such as senior Beth Foster, 17, a cast member of “Up the Down Staircase,” opted to be part of that production because it gives her the chance to perform.

“I couldn’t fit drama class into my schedule. Because of that, it means I can’t have theater at my school? It’s ridiculous. I don’t like having one performance center,” she said.

In past years, Peroutka said, the booster club raised money to put on one musical a year, a two-act play and theater workshops, and gave a senior the chance to direct a play in the spring. The group also gave out awards and scholarships.

“We no longer wanted to be a part of Fountain Valley High School,” Peroutka said. “It was doing no good to stay on campus because we couldn’t do anything anyway: no more productions, no more awards, no more scholarships.”

Principal Gary Ernst that said under the district’s new performing arts guidelines, the school agreed not to put on musical performances and a drama teacher was hired this year to teach beginning drama.

But some members of the booster club didn’t agree with their new role on campus or the new drama program.

“There were some philosophical differences on who was going to control the program and the direction of the booster club,” Ernst said. “A portion of this parent group chose to withdraw and form a community production group.”

Ernst said under the school’s new theater program, classroom productions will be allowed.

“What we’re trying to do is not compete with (the School for the Performing Arts) but still provide entry-level students theatrical experiences to help them get ready to go to the performing arts school if they choose,” he said.

Performances of “Up the Down Staircase” will also be held Wednesday--captioned for the deaf--and Thursday at Masuda Middle School, 17415 Los Jardines West.

Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. for all performances. Tickets are $3 for seniors and students and $5 general admission.