Every Friday night, students look forward to attending football games or other sporting events. However, athletic performances are not the only events for students to watch. Advanced Drama puts on incredible shows each year for everyone to come see. This talented group of performers deserves more credit than they get. A lot of time and commitment go toward their shows. Being in Advanced Drama (AD) is a unique opportunity, and the only way to find out what it is like to be in AD is to ask AD students themselves.

Everyone in AD is very excited for this upcoming year. AD teacher Kathi Grau said “I have never been so excited for a group in a long time!” The group not only focuses on the plays and musicals, but also works towards unity; in the beginning of the school year, AD decided that their number one goal was to be a family.

The group’s emphasis on becoming a family was put to the test during the rehearsals of the first production of the year. From October 16-18, AD put on, “Dracula: The Musical?” The show was a spoof of the original play and had the audience laughing the whole time. Larry Glanton, Class of 2015, played the role of Dracula. Unfortunately, Glanton wound up having vocal problems, so Amol Dhaliwal, Class of 2016, stepped in to play the role of Dracula for two of the four performances. Glanton took the time to really teach Dhaliwal how to embrace his inner Dracula, making sure his younger counterpart was as prepared as possible.  This is just one example of how the group is working together as a family. Senior Saskia Hennecke, a returning AD member, said, “Advanced Drama is really fun this year. We all get along so well. We are like one big happy family.”

Van Pittman, Class of 2017, admitted he was really nervous at first to come into AD as a sophomore. Thankfully, he knew almost everyone in the drama class from last year’s spring musical, “How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying.”He felt welcomed in the AD family instantly. Everyone was kind and eager to perform and help out.

In November, the group traveled together to New York City. Not only did AD go, but many AD tech members went also. Everyone enjoyed seeing Broadway shows and meeting alumni from Berkeley who are now living the dream and performing in New York City.

Needless to say, AD is definitely a big responsibility. “Just like any other honors course, there is a lot of commitment involved,” Grau states. Although the class requires hard work, the students in AD are very dedicated and love what they do.

AD is already hard at work preparing for their next show, “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”  Make sure to get your tickets to the show in January and come support the AD family!