Northview Theatre has its roots in programs originally created by Margaret Fairchild in September of 1928. It was during these years that Ms. Fairchild developed speech and drama classes for Sylvania Schools and became affiliated with the Ohio Speech League and the National Thespian Society for High Schools (now, the International Thespian Society). The program enjoyed many successes. According to Robert Wyandt in A Century and a Quarter of Education: Sylvania Public Schools 1841 - 1966, Ms. Fairchild states "in 1941, we won first place in the state one act play contest with Lawd Does You Understand? ... and entered the National Thespian Contest at the University of Indiana and received a superior rating."
 
The Northview Theatre program has enjoyed recent success as well. The program has been invited to perform full length featured productions at the Ohio EdTA Thespian State Conference in 2001, 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2013. Northview Theatre also received a nomination to participate in the American High School Theatre Festival in 2008. Northview students have been selected to participate in the Ohio EdTA's "All Ohio Show," from 2006-2008 and 2010-2013. Most recently, Northview was selected to host the Ohio EdTA State Thespian Conference in March of 2013.
 
Some past directors (and years leading the program when known) include:
 
George Bang
Ron Elliot
Mark Ferguson, 1980 - 1983
Don Barnes
Brent Beerman, 1986 - 1989
Dan Dick
Judy Beebe, 1995 - 1998
Don Wachowiak, 1998 - 2001
Cori Krause, 2001 - 2002
Matt Kizaur, 2002 - 2004
Don Wachowiak, 2004 - present
 
The current Sylvania Northview High School Theatre Program is under the direction of Mr. Don Wachowiak. He is assisted by Mr. Jason Rahe, Technical Director and Mrs. Courtney Rahe, Assistant Director/Costumer. Mrs. Amy Johns, Vocal Director, Mr. Gene Bohland, Instrumental Director, and Ms. Brandi Shepard, Choreographer join the directing team for Northview's full-length musical productions.
 
Northview Theatre produces two full-length productions each school year. In the fall, Northview Theatre produces a full-length musical, rotating between classic/traditional and contemporary titles.  Acting roles for lead or featured characters are often very competitive. Technical positions are generally more available for the musical due to the number of positions required.
 
In the spring,  a full-length play is performed. To give Northview's theatre students exposure to a variety of acting opportunities, the program attempts to rotate between comedies and dramas in various styles. Acting roles for the play are highly competitive as most plays have a cast of 8 - 12 people. Technical positions are competitive for the play as well.
  
In the past, Drama Club has produced a Winter One Act Festival where students have the opportunity to write and direct their own scripts. They also sponsor and produce the annual Red Carpet Awards.
  
Mr. Don Wachowiak, Director

Mr. Don Wachowiak, Director

Mr. Wachowiak's Northview debut was directing Marvin's Room in 1998. After leaving Northview for three years, Mr. Wachowiak returned in 2004, and has led the program since. Mr. Wachowiak holds a bachelor's degree in Communication Education and a master's degree in Classroom Technology from Bowling Green State University. Mr. Wachowiak currently serves on the Board of the Ohio Educational Theatre Association and has most recently appeared on stage in 3B Productions' The All Night Strut! and Waterville Playshop's Seussical the Musical in 2012.

 

Mr. Jason Rahe, Technical Director

Mr. Jason Rahe, Technical Director

Mr. Rahe joined the Northview Theatre directing team in the spring of 2008 when Northview Theatre produced both male and female versions of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple. He has tech directed every full length production since. Mr. Rahe makes his onstage debut with 3B Productions' Titanic in October 2012.
 Mrs. Amy Johns, Vocal Director

Mrs. Amy Johns,
Vocal Director

Mrs. Johns joined the directing team in the spring of 2011 with the musical Fiddler on the Roof. Mrs. Johns teaches vocal music and is the Music Department Chair at Notre Dame Academy. She received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from Bowling Green State University. Formerly, Mrs. Johns was a resident artist with The Toledo Opera and is passionate about art, theatre and music technology.

 

 

 

 

Mr. Gene Bohland, Instrumental Director

Mr. Bohland has directed the pit orchestra for Northview musicals since the late 1980s. He is the Northview Music Department Chair, and director of Northview's Marching Band, Symphonic Band, both Jazz bands and Pep Band.

 
 

 Ms. Brandi Shepard, Choreographer

Ms. Shepard joined the directing team in the fall of 2009 as the choreographer for Seussical. She teaches, directs, choreographs, and coaches speech at Sylvania Southview HS. Ms. Shepard holds a bachelor’s degree in Language Arts Education and Theatre from Ohio Northern and a master’s degree in Theatre from the University of Akron. She has performed professionally in Ohio, Indiana, and Kansas and has directed and choreographed for Orphan Productions, Inc., Springfield Jr. High and the Toledo Rep.

 

 Photos courtesy of John Fenstamacher, INVU Portraits