In The News
2022-23 School Year
Nov
10
Children's Play Field Trip
Monarch Theatre took the play The Wonderful World of Imagination to Sweetwater Springs Community School to entertain the K-3 students.
SEPT
7
Techfest 2022
Grossmont College hosted Techfest for the first time since the pandemic and we finally got to check out their new Performing and Visual Art Center. Students learned about set construction, the fly system, lighting, Qlab, and costuming.
Summer
'22
The Big Move 2022
Monarch Theatre will be moving to Rm 13 and the Event Center starting August 2022, so we are in the process of a Big Move. We have over 26 years of stuff to sort through and find new places to be in our new location.
2021-22 School Year
MAY
1
Tech Theatre Projects 2022
Monarch Theatre thinks it is important to be well rounded in all aspects of Theatre so each Spring we focus on projects like creating prop food and learning hand sewing.
Students created food using toilet paper and paint. Note the use of sawdust for the onion rings. :)
Students learned how to do a running stitch, a whip stitch, and how to sew on a button while sewing the Log Cabin Pillow Project.
2020-21 School Year
Jan
15
National Youth Arts-Theatre Awards 2020
Monarch Theatre is so very proud of Thomas Wilcox (Pony Boy) for his win as Lead Performer in a Play in The Outsiders and to Madison Burdette (Cherry) and Olesia Winbush (Dallas) for their nominations as Supporting Performers in a Play in The Outsiders.
2019-20 School Year
FEB
20
Old Globe Field Trip
Monarch Theatre had the opportunity to attend JITNEY at the Old Globe. Thanks to the Old Globe for providing us this opportunity!
FEB
8
Grossmont College Dramafest 2020
Monarch Theatre attended the Dramafest conference sponsored by SDTEA and Grossmont College where students participated in workshops and competed in Scene and Monologue categories. Tess Whaley was a finalist in the Monologue category and Alina Lopez, Sam Orosco, and Thomas Wilcox brought home Third place in the Scene Category. Way to represent, Monarchs!
SEPT
21
Grossmont College Techfest 2019
Monarch Theatre attended the Techfest conference sponsored by SDTEA and Grossmont College where students learned about costuming, set construction, lights, sound, stage management, and publicity. The conference ended with a Tech Olympics and here are our proud Monarchs!
2018-19 School Year
JUNE
14
National Youth Arts-Theatre Awards 2019
Monarch Theatre attended the award ceremony at Helix High where we received awards for Lead Performance in a Musical (LaSane Robertson as Capt. Hook in Peter Pan), Lead Performance in a Play (Olesia Winbush as Katherine in Taming of the Shrew), Supporting Performance-Junior Division (Crosby James as Michael in Peter Pan), and Choreography (MJ Turner for Peter Pan). Congrats to all the winners and nominees and thanks to Piper Joy for standing in for LaSane!
MARCH
18
Children's Theatre Touring Show
Monarch Theatre’s Performance Class toured THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF IMAGINATION, a children’s play geared for grades K-3 to Loma Elementary on 3/18 and Sweetwater Springs Community School on 3/19. The play encouraged imagination and discussed being an individual, dealing with anger, and overcoming one’s fears. Just another example of Monarch students reaching out to their community!
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JAN
19
Monte Vista Wrestling Invitational
Our very own Thomas Wilcox missed our first PETER PAN singing rehearsal because he was busying winning first place in his weight class last Saturday! Monarch Theatre understands that when students are involved with other academic, philanthropic, and athletic endeavors it creates a more well-rounded student! Come see Thomas as Smee in PETER PAN in April!
SEPT
15
TECHFEST 2018
Grossmont College hosted the San Diego Theatre Educators Alliance (SDTEA) Techfest on Saturday. Students from around the county met to learn about skills that are vital to a thriving theatre program. Students did hands-on work with professionals in the industry in the areas of Stage Management, Publicity, Set Construction, Lights, Sound, Props, and Costuming (Check out the Harry Potter inspired hats students made!). Arely Ayala, Madison Burdette, Kaila Castillo, TaMaya Grice, Ashley Malli, Zaina Price, LaSane Robertson, Thomas Wilcox represented Monte Vista proudly!
2017-18 School Year
JULY
16
National Youth Arts-Theatre Awards Ceremony
Monarch Theatre attended the National Youth Arts Awards to receive our awards for Outstanding Production (KISSED THE GIRLS AND MADE THEM CRY), Best Direction (KISSED THE GIRLS AND MADE THEM CRY), and Lead Actor in a Play for Madison Burdette, Samantha Olvera, and Zaina Price (KISSED THE GIRLS AND MADE THEM CRY). Congrats to all the winners and thanks to Aubrie Ibasco for standing in for Zaina!
JULY
07
National Youth Arts-Theatre Awards 2017-18
Monarch Theatre won 5 awards and was further nominated for 11! Congrats to the cast of KISSED THE GIRLS AND MADE THEM CRY for winning Outstanding Production, Best Direction, and Lead Actor in a Play for Madison Burdette, Samantha Olvera, and Zaina Price. See the rest of the nominees and full list by clicking here.
JUNE
02
Prom 2018
Jorge Partida was crowned Prom King at the MVHS 2018 Prom held at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa. Congratulations to the first Theatre kid to make it to Prom Royalty! He was just seen as Roger in Grease and he played our King in Once Upon A Mattress last year...and now he has his own crown! What a way to end the year!
MAY
10
Safety Officers Appreciation Event
The Spring Valley Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club invited Monarch Theatre to provide some entertainment for their Appreciation Dinner for local Safety Officers. Zaina Price, Jocelyne Garica, Olesia Winbush, Sam Olvera, Ashley Malli, Najee Gordon, Jorge Partida, Jonathan Kooyman, Erick Valdez, and Adrian Murillo reprised several songs from our recent production of GREASE!
MAY
3
Teacher of the Year
Our very own Department of One, Julie Benitez, earned the distinction as Monte Vista's Teacher of the Year for 2018. She was further honored at the District's Celebrating Excellence event. It was wonderful for all the hard work and endless hours that it takes to make a great theatre program was acknowledged. Thanks to the Monte Vista staff for this privilege!
MARCH
14
#enoughisenough
Monarch Theatre helped the Equality Club organize Monte Vista's response to the National Walkout of School in support of the victims of the Parkland shooting. Students researched the victims and spoke about each one, prepared a platform for change, and rallied for students to practice kindness and to vote. The rally happened from 10:00 to 10:17 to honor the 17 victims of the shooting. Way to be active in Civics and support those in mourning.
#parklandstrong
MARCH
2
Donorschoose.org
Monarch Theatre was blessed to be part of a Donors Choose campaign where a Monte Vista alumnus matched all donations by 10x, and we were able to get some amazing things for the Theatre! We got some wireless mic elements, new scene books, lots of ear plugs, and....(drum roll, please!) a Little Giant multipurpose ladder that will allow us to put a ladder safely on uneven surfaces! This will be welcome news to anyone who has done lights at the theatre.
16
FEB
Freshman Showcase
Our Thespian President, Jonathan Kooyman, and Vice President, Aubrie Ibasco, speaking at the Freshman Showcase. LaSane Robertson, (Treasurer/Secretary) is in the background holding down the Monarch Theatre "fort." Jonathan and Aubrie spoke from a personal standpoint about how theatre has affected their lives and the importance of all Visual and Performing Arts to the well being of students. Way to represent Monarch Theatre!
FEB
10
Grossmont College DRAMAFEST 2018
Jonathan Kooyman and Zaina Price bring home the Third Place Scene in the Grossmont College Dramafest 2018! Israel Garcia and Christian Najee Gordon also make it to the Final Round.
09
FEB
Articulation Breakfast
Jonathan Kooyman and Aubrie Ibasco represent Monarch Theatre to the Administrations of our feeder Middle Schools. They made us proud as they spoke about how Monarch Theatre had made a positive impact on their lives and the importance of the Arts at Monte Vista.
