A STAGE LIKE NO OTHER.
For over 50 years, Pearce Theatre has been setting the standard for excellence in high school theatre through relentless passion and an unyielding work ethic.
As a result, Pearce has become a proving ground for school adaptations of Broadway shows. These student versions are generally adapted with the cooperation of the Broadway show's original creators, lyricists, and composers. Then these "pilot productions" are tried out at select schools in different regions around the country.
​
Pearce has premiered the high school adaptations of Mean Girls and Blood Brothers as well as the world premiere of the off-Broadway musical, Heathers.
And Pearce was one of a handful of schools across the country to premiere Shakespeare in Love — which was more an adapted film with music than a full-fledged musical.
Biddle credits her predecessor, Lynn "Zed" Shaw, with having the skills and the foresight to be one of the first theater teachers to take on big, challenging shows like Miss Saigon — challenging not just in mature material but also in cost and production design.
​
"Everyone else felt we do theater to do some nice, like, educational shows," she said, "and she always felt there was more."
MEET THE DIRECTORS
OUR MISSION
The goals is to foster the love of theater in all students. To encourage, enrich and grow the talents and esteem of all actors on and off the stage. Pearce Theatre wants students to work and grow in a safe and structured environment. And we hope that every student takes away one moment that they can hold onto forever as a positive experience.
RESERVED FOR "ZED"
The program came to prominence under the direction of Lynn “Zed” Shaw, who passed away in 2009 from cancer at the age of 59.
She had a two-act formula for success during her 25 years teaching and directing at Pearce Theatre. First, encourage a diverse group of students to audition for productions and, second, match each talent to a role. She made high school theater cool for virtually every segment of the student body.
The proof was seen in the the sold out shows and the students who learned to share her passion for the stage. There will always be a seat reserved for Lynn at Pearce Theatre.