The high school hosted the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild , a regional interscholastic theater competition, on February 28, marking the school’s first time hosting the event since 2019 and showing that the high school’s theater program has grown in recent years.

METG brings together student performers, technicians, and directors from schools across the state. Hosting the competition requires months of planning, much of which began well before rehearsals officially started. According to Mr. Skylar Grossman, drama teacher and director at the high school, hosting the event is both a recognition of the program’s progress and a major logistical undertaking.

“This is a significant honor and an opportunity to be one of the hubs for the dramatic performing arts,” Grossman said. “Hosting is a significant lift and requires many moving parts. Students serve as hosts for visiting schools, providing a warm and inclusive environment for those who appreciate theater arts.” 

While auditions, rehearsals, and meetings began after winter break, organizers had been preparing since the beginning of the school year.

“We just started auditions, rehearsals, and meetings when we got back from winter break, but our director and I have been slowly preparing since the beginning of the year,” said Addison Kinney ’26, the production stage manager who is involved in coordinating the event.

Since the high school is serving as the host school, planning extends beyond preparing its own production. Organizers must coordinate with participating schools and their directors while also working closely with the high school’s administration. 

“The administration is incredibly supportive in making this possible,” Grossman said. “However, it is up to my performing arts team to make this event possible. Of course, we have to rent out spaces and rooms and work with our facilities team to ensure a smooth event.”

According to Kinney, much of the preparation involves securing access to classrooms, the cafeteria, and additional spaces for judges and directors to ensure visiting schools have the resources they need.

Another key component of METG is student organization. Participants are divided into actors, technicians, and hosts, each with specific responsibilities. 

Hosts are assigned to visiting schools and guide them throughout the day, helping them navigate the building and ensuring they feel welcome.

 “A big part of it is organizing people, making sure everyone has a role and that we have enough people to successfully host,” Kinney said.

Behind the scenes, the preparation process has required months of coordination among students, parents, and staff.

“This event takes months to plan,” Grossman said. “Parents, students, and colleagues have been working around the clock since the end of December to get the preliminary round underway.”

Grossman explained that schools cannot simply volunteer to host the competition without demonstrating they have the resources and organization required.

“A school cannot simply state that it wants to host the METG rounds,” Grossman said. “It requires the spaces, people, organization, and planning to make it happen.”

Technical preparation also plays a major role in the event’s success. From coordinating rehearsals to managing sets and props, students are responsible for ensuring performances run smoothly while accommodating the needs of visiting productions. 

“I coordinate the majority of what happens with the production,” Kinney said. 

Kinney noted that clear communication among actors, technicians, and hosts helps minimize confusion on the day of the competition.

Hosting METG holds particular significance for the theater department. The high school has not hosted the event since 2019, and prior to reaching the finals last year, a feat the school has not been able to achieve since 2010.

“You said it — the program is progressing,” Grossman said. “It has achieved many successes and accolades, but we will always have our work cut out for us.”

Beyond competition results, METG also emphasizes learning and collaboration among theater students.

According to Grossman, students gain valuable educational experience by watching other productions and receiving feedback from adjudicators.

“Theater students have the opportunity to observe other districts’ programs, learn from them, and ask deep questions about their work,” Grossman said. “The productions also receive feedback from adjudicators who visit and watch these one-acts.”

Grossman added that using this feedback to improve productions is a central part of the learning process.

“It is our responsibility to take the feedback and apply it to the work so the production continues to grow,” Grossman said.

For the high school, hosting the event is not only about competition results but also about showcasing student dedication to the performing arts.

“METG is a staple of our season and helps elevate our program and showcase our students’ passion for this work,” Grossman said. 

 “Representing WHS to other schools means ensuring they have the best experience possible in an organized program and a nice space, while also making sure they feel welcomed here and are able to perform to the best of their abilities without any unnecessary obstacles,” Kinney said.

As the event approaches, students involved in METG are looking forward to both the competitive and social aspects of the experience. “I am looking forward to meeting a lot of people, as well as being able to perform our show and hopefully make it to later rounds of the competition,” Kinney said. 

For the high school, hosting METG represents both a logistical challenge and a milestone for the theater program, highlighting student leadership and the department’s continued growth.