The Academy of Visual and Performing Arts Theatre department offers dynamic, experienced – based theatrical training. Students participate in collegiate level academic courses in Theatre History, Playwriting, Acting and Directing. Specialty performance-based courses include Voice, Movement, Shakespeare and Improvisation. Students interested in technical theatre are offered classes in Lighting and Set Design, Costuming, Makeup and Set Construction.

Culver City High School has two beautiful performances spaces: the newly renovated Robert Frost Auditorium, an 1100 seat proscenium stage; and The Studio Theatre, our intimate space that can be arranged in thrust, arena and fourth wall theatre. Our Blurred Vision Theatre Company produces two major productions each year where AVPA Theatre students take the lead on stage and in the technical areas. Mentored and taught by top professionals in their fields, our students are empowered as performing artists in all areas of theatre production. Our year culminates with “JAVA- GALA” and all –AVPA arts celebration at the Robert Frost Auditorium.

AVPA is a proud partner of “Front and Center,” a Culver City Arts Collaborative with SONY Pictures, The Center Theatre Group, We Tell Stories, The Actors’ Gang. Theatre students receive tickets to many performances at The Kirk Douglas Theatre, The Mark Taper Forum and The Ahmanson Theatre, followed by “talk backs” with directors, actors, playwrights and performers. Students take classes taught at The Actors’ Gang by resident actors, performing in their performance space at The Ivy Substation. Our partnership with The American Classic and Contemporary Theatre Company brings our students to staged readings three times each year at the Pico Playhouse where they experience the vitality of the written word on stage. And our participation with Comedy Sportz, High School League entertains audience with laughs through the art of improvisation! AVPA theatre majors also serve on the Student Advisory Boards of The Center Theatre Group and The Actors’ Gang.

Participating in statewide theatre festival finds AVPA theatre students preparing for the Fall DTASC Festival, the annual CETA festival and the Spring Shakespeare Festival. At each of these events, up to 2000 theatre students come together to perform for one another, attend intensive workshops and see wonderful theatrical productions. The collegiality and joy of theatre are shared by all! Students of all levels and talents are invited to audition. Come join us in AVPA Theatre – where “All The World’s A Stage!”