Seeing a need for student-directed theater at City, as well as a need for more opportunities for students to get involved in drama, a group of students created SMAC (Student Managed Actors and Crew) last year.
“It started last year thanks to Jared Moninger and Whit Jury (‘23), both recent City High graduates,” SMAC Leader Abril Bejarano Hamity ‘25 said. “[They] decided they wanted to make something similar to what Liberty High and West High had already started and established a long time ago [in terms of student-led theater].”
However, according to Bejarano Hamity, there are some differences between City’s program and West and Liberty’s programs.
“I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from what they do at Liberty and at West but also [we have] some unique factors to the one at City,” Bejarano Hamity said. “For example, we’re going to start doing these dance workshops, improv workshops, [and other workshops] every [month], which they don’t do at the other schools. That aspect will be solely unique to City.”
SMAC will be putting on two productions a year in addition to the workshops.
“We’re hoping to be able to do two plays each year, one in the winter and one in the summer after the musical,” Bejarano Hamity said.
SMAC is hoping to reach every student at City regardless of grade level or experience with theater.
“Even upperclassmen may not have a bunch of experience in theater [and] think they’re too late to get in at this point and whatnot,” Bejarano Hamity said. “And this is a good way to start. You don’t have to join theater after doing SMAC. It could also just be a fun thing but it’s very low stakes [and] kind of for fun in the way that speech and theater at [City] can’t really give you.”
Anora Klauke ‘25, a SMAC participant, feels that SMAC is a great opportunity for students.
“I think [SMAC is] great because it gives a lot more opportunities to be involved in theater outside of just the main two productions,” Klauke said. “You can try a lot more like student directing or trying roles you haven’t tried previously.”
SMAC will be holding auditions for their winter play, 13 Ways to Screw Up Your College Interview on September 28 and 29. For more information, visit their Instagram @chs.smac
