CO-PRODUCER Christiane Olson, at [email protected] Christiane Olson, at [email protected] in 2003, Housatonic Musical Theatre Society is the musical theatre organization at HVRHS; students of all levels are encouraged to participate, either onstage or backstage. The annual March production teaches team-building and empowers students with strengthened self-esteem, pride and confidence. Both of its founders, Lori Belter and Michael Berkeley, had extraordinary high school musical theatre experiences and were committed to passing that on to future generations. In 2021, they passed the torch to Michael Baldwin and then to Christian Olson and Thomas Krupa Jr. in 2022.

Each HMTS production involves 35 or more students. Auditions are held in the fall and interested students are encouraged to participate in the friendliest audition experience possible. They reflect HMTS’s commitment to the principle that everyone has something to offer and developing each student’s strengths and belief in themselves. In addition to being on-stage, students can help design show posters, build and paint set pieces, run spotlights, manage props, aid our professional Costume, Lights, and Sound Designers, be stage hands, and serve as Stage and Assistant Stage Managers.

Approximately 20% of the yearly budget is provided by the school; the remaining amount is raised through fundraising events, sponsorships, program ads, donations, concessions, and ticket sales. Parent volunteers are an intrinsic part of the success of the program and help with fundraising, set building, painting, concessions, and marketing.

Past shows include: Beauty and the Beast, Mean Girls, Into the Woods, Sound of Music, Grease, Bye Bye Birdie, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Little Shop Of Horrors, Guys And Dolls, Anything Goes, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, South Pacific and Fiddler On The Roof.

If you have any questions, contact Housatonic Musical Theatre Society CO PRODUCER CHRISTIANE OLSON at [email protected] or CO-PRODUCER THOMAS KRUPA at [email protected]