After earning a top-two finish in Virginia, TheatreCHS is moving on to represent the state at the Southeast Theatre Conference in Chattanooga in March. Students are offering a pay-what you-can performance of their winning one-act this Friday at 7 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Center at CHS. The show – which was honored for its use of music – is based on scenes selected from Mary Zimmerman's The Secret in the Wings. Supporters can reserve free tickets here and make donations here. The students were recognized -- and performed -- at the November School Board meeting. Find video and press release, below.

The Charlottesville High School Theatre program achieved a top-two finish at the Virginia Theatre Association competition in October, earning the honor of representing Virginia at the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in March 2026. They are offering a final local performance of the show on Friday night to showcase their work and begin raising funds to support the trip.

Led by CHS theatre teacher David Becker, a group of 45 student performers and crew members captivated audiences and the judges with their one-act, scenes selected from Mary Zimmerman's The Secret in the Wings.

Overall, TheatreCHS was named one of the top two schools in all of Virginia The conference does not announce a winner and runner-up since both of the two top schools go on to represent Virginia at the southeastern competition.

Other honors from the state competition include Best Ensemble, Best Musicians, Best Use of Music, and a 1st Place Individual Costume Design award for Esme Ogden Amt. Additional kudos go to senior Sil Leva for creating a beautiful performance poster.

TheatreCHS has scheduled a pay-what-you-can performance of the one-act this Friday, November 14 at 7pm in the Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Center at CHS. Supporters can reserve free tickets here and make donations here. Keep in mind that since this is a ticketed event, the clear bag policy will be in place.

The annual Southeastern Theatre Conference is a premier event for high school, college, and professional theatre artists, bringing together the top student performances from ten states. The four-day event offers CHS students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform, participate in professional workshops, and attend college auditions and interviews with dozens of universities. 

"This experience is vital for student development," stated director David Becker, emphasizing that the program helps students build confidence, teamwork, empathy, and creativity. "The community’s support will enable these students to gain valuable real-world experience and represent Charlottesville on a larger stage."