Performing Arts
City High puts on two theatrical shows a year in the state of the art Iver A. Opstad Auditorium; a fall play and a spring musical. Recent productions include: 2008-2009 "Teahouse of the August Moon" and "Evita"; 2009-2010 "Almost Maine" and "The Wizard of Oz"; 2010-2011 "The Odd Couple", "Fools", and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"; 2011-2012 "Peter Pan", "Crimes of the Heart", and "Chicago: The Muscial"
"Crimes of the Heart" was one of eight productions nationally to be selected to perform at the International Thespian Festival in June 2012.
City High's vocal department, under the direction of Dr. Greg Grove, has been recognized as one of the strongest in the Midwest. Select Women's Ensemble was selected to perform in Des Moines at the 2002 NACDA Convention and in Omaha at the 2006 NACDA convention. Chamber Choir was selected to perform in Sioux Falls at the 2004 NACDA Convention. The Concert Choir has been honored to be the recipient of several commissioned works from world renowned composers. Eric Barnum composed "Fair Ines" for the 2011 Concert Choir. Philip Lawson arranged and recently published "The William Tell Overture" for the 2009 Concert Choir. Most notably, in 2001, Moses Hogan arranged and published one of his finest works, "Ezekiel Saw de Wheel", dedicating it to Dr. Grove and the 2001 concert choir.
Fourth Avenue Jazz Company (commonly referred to as 4th Ave) is City High's premiere show choir. They have been considered one of the best show choirs in the nation, winning many awards. It earned its name from the street that the founding director Larry Monson took to school every day, ending in the school's gymnasium parking lot. City Lights, the mixed prep show choir, has also been very successful in the prep division. 4th Ave is under the direction of Dr. Greg Grove and Ann Berry and choreographed by Damon Brown. 4th Ave has won grand championships in the following years: '88, '89, '93, 94, '95, '02, '03, '04, '11. 4th Ave practices one time a week, for two and a half hours.
City High has been named a Signature School by the Grammy Foundation three times. (2000, 2001, and 2004). City High is one of only three schools nationwide to accomplish this. In 2004, Dr. Grove and Bill Pringle (former band director) were flown to Washington D.C. for a small congratulatory event, by the Grammy Foundation.
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Famous quotes related to performing arts:
“More than in any other performing arts the lack of respect for acting seems to spring from the fact that every layman considers himself a valid critic.”
—Uta Hagen (b. 1919)