Performing Arts - Eagle Hill School | School for Diverse Learning Profiles

The performing arts program at Eagle Hill School encourages the growth of well-rounded performance artists, empowered to discover their own unique artistic voices.

Students study technique, develop skills in collaboration, learn to think creatively through exploration, and form deep understandings of themselves, their peers, and their cultural surroundings. The performing arts at Eagle Hill engage the whole person and connect students to the world around them.

“I learned not to be afraid. The faculty encouraged me to take risks and to put myself out there.”

Isa C., class of 2008

Theater Arts

Students interested in the theater arts have a rare opportunity at Eagle Hill School—the chance to perform in a world-class theater to an audience of regular patrons of The Center at Eagle Hill. The 468-seat Abby Theatre is home to both international music and dance ensembles and EHS student productions.

Three student productions (including one musical) are performed annually. Our students develop their acting skills through classes ranging from Acting Shakespeare to Stage Combat. For those students who are more interested in being behind the scenes rather than in front of an audience, stagecraft courses offer an introduction to lighting, sound, and set design.

Dance and Movement

Dance and movement at Eagle Hill School encourages the development of creative and well-rounded movement and performance artists. Students gain a deep understanding of movement through an exploration of technique, improvisation, choreography, and performance.

A studio-based academic course is offered, allowing students of all dance backgrounds to:

Build a movement vocabulary
Enhance dance technique
Develop compositional and collaborative skills
Cultivate an authentic creative voice
Discuss and critique dance works with a trained eye

The Open Mic Series

One Friday a month, an energetic group of people gathers in a community space around campus to share in the talents of Eagle Hill. The Open Mic Series is committed to bringing together the entire Eagle Hill community through the fine arts—music, theater, dance, creative writing, spoken word, poetry, and visual arts—by providing a welcoming space for artists to share their polished works or in process practice with an audience.

At the Open Mic Series at Eagle Hill, students and performers have taken great pride in learning to plan, prepare, set up, and run a community performance each month.

Sound and lighting, hosting, and set up is organized by students. All members of the Eagle Hill community are welcome and encouraged to perform.

One-Act Competition

The One-Act Competition is an advanced acting course for students who want to be involved in dramatic competitions with other schools. Students perform in a one-act theatrical production at the Massachusetts High School Drama Guild and can receive state recognition for their efforts as well as the experience of performing in a competitive venue.

Horse Girls

The school's One-Act Play, Horse Girls, featured an all-girls cast. This dark comedy explores the obsessions and insecurities of a group of pre-teens, culminating in a wicked plot twist.

The students performed the play at the METG Massachusetts High School Drama Festival's preliminary round. While EHS did not advance to the qualifying rounds, both the performers and the technical team delivered a highly entertaining production.

What I Hope I Would Say

In 2023, Eagle Hill student performers and technical teams produced a highly emotional and thought-provoking play in an outstanding production of, “𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙃𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙄 𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙎𝙖𝙮”.

The play takes place in a high school theater. As the set is being disassembled, actors recall the emotions of a possible campus shooting and what could have happened.

Congratulations to Andre L. ’23 and Grace W. ’23 for winning Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild’s (METG) 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴!

Games Played at Terryville High

For the second time in Eagle Hill’s theater history, the school’s one-act play advanced to the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild (METG) 2022 High School Festival State Finals. Eagle Hill is one of fourteen schools across the state to win the regional championship and is recognized amongst the very best in high school theater for this outstanding achievement.

Students performed an outstanding production of the school’s one-act play Games Played at Terryville High.

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Our Last Summer

In 2021, the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild (METG) one-act play competition was understandable postponed due to COVID, but that didn’t stop our One-Act Competition class from producing a top-notch show.

And for the first time in EHS history, a student wrote and directed the one-act play. Our Last Summer was written and direct by Collette Barnet ’21.

Sun-Kissed

In 2020, students performed the one-act play Sun-Kissed, written by Jeremy Geragotelis and adapted by EHS students and faculty. The play takes place in the year 2067, within a movie theatre near Edmonton, Alberta.

The one-act play was aided by over 30 students, who participated in everything from costume design, set design, tech crew, and construction.

A Picture's Worth

A Picture’s Worth

A Picture’s Worth, a one-act play performed by Eagle Hill School’s Theatre Department, advanced to the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild (METG) High School Drama Festival State Finals in 2019.

The METG High School Festival State Finals represent the very best in drama performances from high school theater organizations across Massachusetts.

Eagle Hill was one of only fourteen high schools chosen among one hundred and twelve secondary schools in Massachusetts to be recognized for this outstanding achievement.

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Music Program

The music program at Eagle Hill offers a unique variety of courses and experiences. Students interested in music have many opportunities for learning diverse musical concepts and sharing their talents with the wider community.

EHS Chorale, Jam Band, Introduction to Performing Arts, and IB Music share class creations and performances throughout the year. Music Theory, Music Appreciation, Introduction to Guitar, and original topic classes teach students about music from around the world.

Other musical opportunities at Eagle Hill include private music lessons, musical theater, and pick up jam sessions in the Music Shed after school. With a variety of musical experience, the music teachers are available to guide and teach student-led initiatives like the Open Mic Series, Ukulele Club, a cappella ensembles, and individual musical exploration throughout the year.

The Open Mic Series provides a space, each month, for music students to perform pieces that they are practicing and analyzing in their classes.

Jam Band Performs Renegades

The Jam Band class builds a band, chooses and writes music, and creates a track list for an album, culminating in a professional studio recording experience and a release party concert at the end of each year.

Jam Band Hot Mess created their own CD after an all-day recording session at a professional studio, .

Listen to Hot Mess perform Renegades.

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