By Johnathan Gonzalez
Hays CISD will be getting a little taste of Broadway as Hays High theater students prepare to put on their production of “Peter and the Starcatcher.”
It will be the fall premiere of the play, which ran on Broadway for more than 18 months.
It’s also the start of a guest-series program where Hays High theater director Catherine Crafton will invite local artists to bring their talents and expertise to students as they put together their own productions.
Crafton said the premise behind the guest-series program stemmed from the increasing number of students participating in the theater program.
Crafton, who is currently working in her second year as theater director, said the number of students participating in the program has “tripled” during her tenure.
“Because of our growth, I knew I needed to add an additional show for our students to perform, but being a one person team, I could not direct two shows at once,” Crafton said.
The directors for this production include Crafton and guest Luis Muñoz, who is the UIL One Act Play director for Texas. Muñoz’s involvement in the play brings buzz due to his 25-plus years of experience in theater.
“Number one, it’s nice to work with the kids and I think Crafton is doing an exceptional job with those kids… They’ve all been working hard putting together the show, making the sets and costumes. It’s something I couldn’t pass up.” Mr. Munoz said about choosing to get involved with the production.
Aside from his responsibilities as the UIL State Theatre Director, Munoz is also a professor at San Jacinto College. He previously taught at Southwest Texas State University, now Texas State, and the University of Texas at Austin, as well as the University of Texas Pan-American.
Muñoz is also the former president of the Texas Educational Theatre Association, recipient of the association’s Founders Award and has been inducted into the Texas Thespians Hall of Fame.
“I contacted Mr. Luis Muñoz to see if he knew of any local directors that would be interested in directing my students in our first show of the season.” Crafton said about Muñoz’s involvement. “I was stunned that he said yes, and that he, himself, was interested.”
The students participating in the play tried out at the start of the school year and have been hard at work to ensure the production is successful.
Crafton stated that the students rehearse over eight hours a week during the school week with some weekend hours closer to the performance opening.
“It was a huge hit on broadway, and we hope it will be a big hit with the community of Hays County,” Crafton said.
Peter and the Starcatcher
The production of Peter and the Starcatcher will debut at the Burdine Johnson Theatre from October 13-16 starting at 7 p.m. each night, except for the the 16, which will start at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, and $5 for students/seniors/children. Tickets can purchased online at hayslegacyplayers.com or at the door.
