Drama

Another source of creativity and learning at Hillcrest Academy is in the drama program. Hillcrest has a long history of performing arts including drama and musicals. Each year we perform classic musicals or dramas as well as contemporary and period pieces. 

Lights, Camera, Action! All theater enthusiasts, get ready to be swept away by the magic of live theater as we unveil the enthralling lineup drama each school year. All performances take place in our state-of-the-art 557 seat Fine Arts center, Celebration Hall.

Upcoming Performance

Get ready for the curtain to rise! We are thrilled to announce our next musical production!

Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka

Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka follows enigmatic candy manufacturer, Willy Wonka, as he stages a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whomever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy. Four of the five winning children are insufferable brats: the fifth is a likeable young lad named Charlie Bucket, who takes the tour in the company of his equally amiable grandfather. The children must learn to follow Mr. Wonka’s rules in the factory… or suffer the consequences.

Stay tuned for more details including dates, times, and ticket information. We promise a scrumdidilyumptious theatrical experience!

Past Performances

Spring of 2025, Hillcrest Academy’s Celebration Hall stage comes alive with two captivating productions! Our talented middle school students present The Ants and the Grasshoppers, a delightful fable exploring themes of hard work, responsibility, and the importance of planning ahead. Meanwhile, our high school actors explore the magical world of Waking Sleeping Beauty. This delightful play reimagines the classic fairytale, exploring themes of love, destiny, and the power of true awakening. Both shows were performed back-to-back in Celebration Hall for three performances on March 7-8.

The timeless classic story about the irrepressible Annie, a spunky orphan with a heart of gold, on her unforgettable journey. Featuring iconic songs like “Tomorrow” and “I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here,” Annie was full of laughter, hope, and musical magic for three performances on November 9-10, 2024.

The spring production of A Seussified Pride & Prejudice featured three performances on March 22-23, 2024. The performance was directed by Andrea Farrier and Natalie Silbaugh.

The fall production of Our Miss Brooks featured three performances on November 4-5, 2023. The performance was directed by Andrea Farrier and Natalie Silbaugh.

The spring ORIGINAL production of The Show Must Go On! featured three performances on March 24-25, 2023. The performance was written and directed by Andrea Farrier. 

The fall production of Around The World In 80 Days featured three performances on November 4-6, 2022. The performance was directed by Andrea Farrier with technical support from Michael Swartzendruber ’07. 

The spring musical production of Mary Poppins featured three performances on March 25-27, 2022. The performance was directed by Michael Swartzendruber ’07 and Andrea Farrier. 

The fall drama production of Mom’s Gift featured three performances on November 5-7, 2021. The performance was directed by Michael Swartzendruber ’07. 

The spring drama production of Women Who Weave featured three performances on April 10 & 11, 2021. The performance was directed by Michael Swartzendruber ’07. 

Monologues

The fall of 2020’s scheduled production will took a new direction due to limitations on traditional performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Three students selected Monologues to prepare and perform in the three standard genres: dramatic, classic and comedic. After memorization and direction, Meredith Blossom ’21, Ivana Ebersole ’22, and Sarah Miller ’21 were recorded in audition format on the Celebration Hall stage.

The performances of the musical Beauty and the Beast were held on Saturday, November 9 and Sunday, November 10, 2019. The musical was directed by Michael Swartzendruber ’07 and Mike Wagner.

Peter Pan and Wendy was performed on May 4-5, 2019 and was directed by Michael Swartzendruber ’07. 

The 2018 Children’s Drama was performed on April 28-29, 2018. The dramas featured fresh tellings of the old stories of Hansel and Gretel, 3 Little Wolves (and the big bad pig) and Mushkil Gusha.

The performances of the musical Anne of Green Gables were held on November 4-5, 2017 and directed by Michael Swartzendruber ’07 and Alisa Kandel.

The spring children’s drama under the direction of Donna Swartzendruber, Amy Drayfahl ’95, Lorene Bender ’70 and Laurie Miller ’99 was held on April 29-30, 2017. The three productions were Jack and the Three Sillies, The Pretender Hen, and The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Between these plays were fun-loving performances of Dancing, Gymnastics, Stomp, and Synchronized Swimming. 

Performances were held November 5-6, 2016 for Those Crazy Ladies in the House on the Corner by Pat Cook and directed by Megan Miller ’06 and Allison Yoder ’09.