About
Andrean Theatre Company is Andrean High School's performing arts group, located on-campus in Merrillville, IN. The company performs three shows a year: a fall play, a one-act competition play, and a spring musical. The theatre company is open for anyone to join in any of the following positions: performer, stage manager, lighting technician, sound technician, prop manager, set construction, set design, makeup artist, hair stylist, costume designer, and many more. Whatever you have a passion for, the Andrean Theatre Company has a place for you! In addition to our regular performing arts company, hard-working actors and technicians who go above and beyond what is expected of them have the opportunity to be inducted into Andrean's esteemed award-winning thespian troupe: Troupe #8002. For years, this distinguished troupe has had the ability to compete at the regional, state, and even international theatre competition level. The group itself has received several prestigious awards, but in addition, Troupe #8002 has produced many promising young thespians who have also earned several honorable individual awards and have been offered thousands of dollars in scholarship money. With such an elite legacy, the troupe holds itself to a high standard of theatrical performance, staying true to the values set by professional broadway performers while also creating a warm and accepting environment for whoever needs a loving theatre family. You’re welcome to browse our site to learn more, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
2021-2022 Season
Fall Musical: You're A Good Man Charlie Brown
Andrean is well-known for their traditional fall plays. However, in order to make-up for their past musical, "Seussical", which was unfortunately cancelled due to Covid-19, Andrean decided to change their play to a musical! The show that was chosen was "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown", a playfully comedic musical featuring the classic Peanuts comic characters you know and love! The theatrical sensation featured all sorts of fun surprises: customized Peanuts character cookies, Snoopy's 50/50 intermission raffle, and an audience interactive rabbit chase! The cast and crew were very excited to perform this musical masterpiece for a sold out show and full audience every single night! The show qualified for the Indiana State Thespian Competition and the theatre troupe travelled down to Indiana Wesleyan University this past January to compete for a chance to perform at the International Thespian Conference! While the show didn't qualify for Internationals, "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" placed in the Top 10 Shows in Indiana! What an incredible run! Congratulations to the cast and crew!
For more information on "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown"'s success, click the button below!
Thespian Regional Competition
This past November, the cast and crew of our fall musical “You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" drove down to Kokomo, Indiana to compete with their show at one of the four regional competitions in the state. The event showcased six shows from six different high schools, offered many different theatre-oriented educational workshops, and ultimately determined which of the schools would have the opportunity to win awards and move on to the state competition level. The cast and crew had a blast performing for more than 200 people and were beyond excited to learn that their performance had ranked 2nd overall and that their musical would advance to state! In addition to their impressive overall ranking, there were several other awards given: our cast was awarded “Best Ensemble” in our regionals, Eileen Shea and Bri Loza were awarded Thespian All-Star awards for their out-standing set design, and one of our Thespian Officers, Zoe Irving, was awarded “Best Supporting Actress” in our regionals! Congratulations to all our individual award winners! We are so proud of your Regional Achievements!
Indiana Thespian State Conference
This past January, Andrean High School's thespian troupe, Troupe #8002, was able to compete at the Indiana Thespian State Conference at Indiana Wesleyan University. The group showcased Andrean's fall musical "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" and the show ended up placing in the Top 10! Our technicians from Charlie Brown decided to compete in the annual State Tech Olympics. Our team, composed of Josh West (senior), Dominic Rund (junior), Sabina Barnard (junior), and Eileen Shea (sophomore), placed 1st in the curtain folding event with the fastest time in Indiana; 24.38 seconds! Josh and Dominic also placed 2nd overall in the leg a platform event. Congratulations techies! Troupe #8002 had several individuals compete in IE's, all of which either earned a State Excellence or a State Superior. Our State Excellence Award winners were as follows: Eileen Shea (sophomore- Monologues), Gianna Coduti (senior- Musical Solo), Nicole Cespedes (senior- Musical Solo), Kennedy Heath and Aidan Conley (sophomore and junior- Musical Duet), and Zoe Irving and Gianna Coduti (senior and senior- Musical Duet). Bravo to our State Excellence Award winners! Troupe #8002 had three State Superior Award winners. These three individuals earned the highest performance scores in the state of Indiana and they have qualified to compete at the International Thespian Conference this June. Our State Superior Award winners were as follows: Eleanor Nohos (sophomore- Musical Solo), Stephen Grata (sophomore- Musical Solo), and finally Zoe Irving a senior who received a perfect score on her musical solo performance! Congratulations to our State Superior Award winners- break a leg at Internationals!
Spring Musical: The Addams Family
The Andrean Theatre Company just closed the curtain on this year's 2022 spring musical: The Addams Family; A New Musical! The show followed the comedically macabre members of the Addams Family as they all dealt with Wednesday Addams' most recent news: she's falling in love and getting married. This shocking announcement caused each family member to spiral out of control in their own unique way and forced the Addams Family to unite in a bone-rattling musical conclusion! This show contained torture devices, sword fighting, apologetic tango-ing, and an 8-foot singing zombie butler! We were also able to sell custom made Addams' themed cookies along with our regular concessions. The show was a huge hit and brought in over 600 patrons! Thank you to everyone who donated and supported our amazing spring musical!
Thespian Banquet/Induction
Commitment to theatre is what the International Thespian Society is all about. The Society was established in 1929 by a group of college and high school teachers in Fairmont, West Virginia. They named their organization for Thespis, the Greek who, according to legend, was the first actor; their guiding principle was a dedication to excellence in theatre arts in secondary schools. That is what these students have proven. They are all about commitment and dedication to theatre.
The following students will be inducted at the end of May and I could not be more proud of them!
Trinity Armstead, Nikita Fogg, Kaden Ford, Zeke Grey, Alaina Kielbasa, Cynthia Medina, Simone Cunningham, Bri Loza, Meg Moberley, Avery Thomas.
Spring Coffeehouse Showcase
Andrean Theatre Company proudly showcased their annual Coffeehouse! Every spring, the Andrean Theatre Company organizes a relaxing night of coffee, treats, and entertainment as a final theatre fundraiser event for the school year. This year, the drama club raised money for their Thespian Banquet which celebrates the accomplishments of experienced thespians at Andrean and welcomes in new members to join the esteemed troupe. While admission to Coffeehouse is free, we did charge money for coffee, baked goods, snacks, and donations were welcomed and appreciated! The event featured the talents of your favorite AHS theatre performers as they showcased their incredible acting, dancing, and vocal abilities:
Meg Moberly - Girl Scout from Beetlejuice | Avery Thomas - Improvised Monologues | Kennedy Heath - Waiting For Life from Once On This Island | Steve Grata and Mr. K - You and Me (But Mostly Me) from The Book of Mormon | Eileen Shea - When He Sees Me from Waitress | Aidan Conley and Kennedy Heath - Ready Set from Beetlejuice | Eleanor Nohos - I Love Play Rehearsal from Be More Chill | Kaden Ford - Don't Let Me Go from Shrek the Musical | Eleanor Nohos and Zoe Irving - For Good from Wicked | Nikita Fogg - Reflection, an original piano composition | Aidan Conely - Michael in the Bathroom from Be More Chill | Sabina Barnard - Funny Honey from Chicago the Musical | Nicole Cespedes, Bridget Sherman, and Madison Whitfield - Cruisin' For A Bruisin' from Teen Beach Movie | Alianna Quinones - Breathe from In The Heights | Gianna Coduti - Never Fall In Love With An Elf from Elf the Musical | Nicole Cespedes - World Burn from Mean Girls the Musical | Gianna Coduti and Steve Grata - scene from the pla Eurydice | Kaden Ford and Aliana Quinones - Therapy from Tick, Tick, Boom! | Zoe Irving - Don't Rain On My Parade from Funny Girl | Company - Faith, Trust, and Fairy Dust from Peter Pan Goes Wrong
Missed the show? Watch it here!