department history
A Historical Perspective
Founded by Mr. Larry Cure when James Martin High School opened in the fall of 1982, the Martin Theatre department has proven to be a strong part of the overall success of the school's 40 year history. The award-winning Martin Theatre is now regarded as one of the most successful and largest in the State of Texas. We house two full time theatre directors/instructors who teach approximately 300 theatre students in various levels of theatre instruction.
In Martin's first year of existence, only three classes of theatre were offered to a student population consisting mostly of sophomore level students. We only performed two plays that year: Neil Simon's THE GOOD DOCTOR and our UIL One Act Play entry: I NEVER SAW ANOTHER BUTTERFLY by Celeste Raspanti.
In the years following, the program began to increase in size thus began the need to create addition performance opportunities. The theatre season now includes a Fall Main Stage production, a Fall Little Theatre production, A Black Box Series of original student-written, student-produced plays, the UIL One Act Play, and a Spring Musical in May, in association with the award-winning MHS Choir, Band, and Orchestra programs.
Throughout our history, the Martin Theatre program has been very successful in UIL One Act Play competition. We have won the District and BiDistrict contest and advanced to the Area contest 32 times in 36 years. We have advanced to Regional competition 23 times and we have advanced to the State UIL One Act Play Contest 17 times, most recently in 2019 and 2024. At the State contest we were selected First-Runner Up in 1990, 1999, 2012, and 2013. We won the State Championship in 1996 and 1998.
Founded by Mr. Larry Cure when James Martin High School opened in the fall of 1982, the Martin Theatre department has proven to be a strong part of the overall success of the school's 40 year history. The award-winning Martin Theatre is now regarded as one of the most successful and largest in the State of Texas. We house two full time theatre directors/instructors who teach approximately 300 theatre students in various levels of theatre instruction.
In Martin's first year of existence, only three classes of theatre were offered to a student population consisting mostly of sophomore level students. We only performed two plays that year: Neil Simon's THE GOOD DOCTOR and our UIL One Act Play entry: I NEVER SAW ANOTHER BUTTERFLY by Celeste Raspanti.
In the years following, the program began to increase in size thus began the need to create addition performance opportunities. The theatre season now includes a Fall Main Stage production, a Fall Little Theatre production, A Black Box Series of original student-written, student-produced plays, the UIL One Act Play, and a Spring Musical in May, in association with the award-winning MHS Choir, Band, and Orchestra programs.
Throughout our history, the Martin Theatre program has been very successful in UIL One Act Play competition. We have won the District and BiDistrict contest and advanced to the Area contest 32 times in 36 years. We have advanced to Regional competition 23 times and we have advanced to the State UIL One Act Play Contest 17 times, most recently in 2019 and 2024. At the State contest we were selected First-Runner Up in 1990, 1999, 2012, and 2013. We won the State Championship in 1996 and 1998.
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State Advancing UIL One Act Plays
*=Selected First Runner Up at the State Contest **=Won the State Championship |
Martin Musicals Through the Years
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