Plays and Musicals
The Dayton Christian Performing Arts Department is directed by Alan Shaeffer. Each school year the high school students are invited to audition for our fall play, which is typically scheduled in mid-November. In the spring, typically in March, our high school students present a musical with full sets, costumes, and a pit orchestra, creating multiple opportunities for student, faculty, and parental involvement and providing entertainment for the student body and surrounding community.
Upcoming Productions
A Message from Drama Director Alan Shaeffer
As a Dayton Christian Schools' graduate, it has been an honor serving as a teacher and the drama director this past year at DC. With the assistance of my wife, Bethany Shaeffer, we have had a wonderful first year directing our fall production Mousetrap and our spring production Pride and Prejudice. Both of us graduated with Speech Education degrees from Northland International University. We have had the exceptional privilege of using our training to help students develop as actors and actresses, as well as godly young men and women.
We believe that the skill of drama, properly performed, can be used to glorify God. Our philosophy of drama is simple: Everyone involved, cast or crew, is equally important. Just like Paul's description of the body of Christ, each member of our dramatic productions has a different role or function. Some roles are more seen and obvious, and some are behind the scenes and do not get as much recognition. However, without all roles being filled the production is not successful.
Our goal is to help students advance their acting skills through various exercises and techniques; however, discipleship is also an important aspect of our program. We desire not only to train students to act (onstage) and to serve (backstage), but also to build relationships with them and encourage them spiritually. We also desire every student involved in our productions to have a challenging, growing experience and to come out of the experience having learned something valuable. We emphasize that, in the end, God receives the glory for the outcome of the production, recognizing that without Him, it would not have been possible at all.
A special thanks to all students, faculty, and parents who have been or are involved with any of our dramatic productions. It is a wonderful thing to see people using their talents for the Lord. Thank you.
Alan Shaeffer
Drama Director