Follow us on social media! PVA Theatre Arts & PVA Technical Theatre

PVA Applications for 2027-2028 open November 1, 2026

2026-2027 Theatre & Technical Theatre Season

Legally Blonde (Fall Musical Production) December 8 - 12, 2025

Hamlet (Spring Play Production) April 27 - May 1, 2027

Chicago (Spring Musical Production) May 11 - 15, 2027

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PVA Theatre Arts Program Overview

The Centre for Performing & Visual Arts (PVA) Theatre Arts program is a three-year, enriched program open to all students across Calgary. This enriched program is divided into the following components:

Studio Work

Every day, PVA Theatre Arts students work with a well rounded team of professional artist/teachers to develop skills required to confidently find success in performance work. Through a conservatory approach focused on specialized instruction, students are encouraged to develop strong acting, movement/dance, and vocal skills. Area of study across three years are: acting technique, physical theatre/movement, collective creation/devised theatre, improvisation, mask, clown, puppetry, choreography, singing, acting on camera, audition and monologue, directing, and playwriting. Each year, students will earn 10 credits for Drama 10/20/30 and Theatre Performance 15/25/35. 

Production Work

PVA Theatre Arts students can audition to be in one main-stage production (for the length of a single semester) every school year. Through main-stage involvement, students are given the opportunity to participate as either a performer or as a member of the creative leadership team. Production work requires commitment to an extended school schedule as rehearsals are after the regular school day and performances are in the evenings. We are proud to offer a program that can produce musical theatre and a play productions each year. Our performers also have opportunity to with guest-artists-in-residence who are seasoned music directors, choreographers, costumers, and directors. A single production is a 5-credit Advanced Acting/Touring 15/25/35 or Musical Theatre Performance 15-25-35.

PVA Technical Theatre Program Overview

The PVA Technical Theatre Program is a practical learning experience that provides hands-on opportunities for students interested in development of skills, knowledge and experience in the technical side of the theatrical world. The experiences and skills developed in this program are directly transferrable to post-secondary technical theatre programs as well as preparation for exploration of technical work in broadcasting, motion pictures, stage and multi-media. Students can enrol in year-long tech theatre courses that include practical classroom exercises, theory instruction, design instruction, safety training and working roles that support school productions and events.

Students will explore the following six components of technical theatre:

• Set Design and Construction
• Props
• Make-up and Costuming
• Sound and Audio Mixing
• Lighting
• Management (Stage and Front-of-House)

Theatre Arts &/or Technical Theatre FAQ

What happens during the interview and audition process?

The PVA Theatre Arts application process has two parts, and the Technical Theatre application process has only one part:

1. Interview (Theatre and Technical Theatre applicants): A 10 minute conversation between the applicant and a PVA teacher. We want to learn about your passion for theatre performance or technical theatre, your previous experiences, your commitment to training through high school with us, and your future goals. This is also a great opportunity for applicants to ask questions and discover if PVA Theatre Arts or PVA Technical Theatre is the right fit and for PVA teachers to assess a student's readiness for the program.

2. Solo Audition (Theatre applicants only): Students are asked to prepare a polished and memorized contemporary monologue that reflects consideration for characterization, physicality, objective and relationship to whom your character is speaking to. Avoid monologue selections from television, film, and novels, and try to choose something from a play you have read before the audition.

• Can I participate in two PVA programs simultaneously, for example Theatre Arts and Vocal? Due to the intense study and extracurricular commitment required for one PVA performance program, it can be challenging to complete two PVA performance programs during your high school career. We would like for students to apply and audition for the PVA programs they hope to get into. At the audition, we will have clear information to share with you and your parents about whether Dual PVA (specifically:Theatre Arts and a Music program) is possible, and what parameters will exist should an offer for Dual PVA placement be made.
• Can PVA Theatre Arts students perform in shows or take extra-curricular classes outside of the school day? We want our performers to be well-rounded and involved in community theatre opportunities.That said, our program asks for dedicated time and commitment from its students, therefore we ask that the semester you are scheduled in for main-stage production with us is your chance to focus primarily on our rehearsals and performance opportunities. The other semester is your chance to audition for other companies or take classes after school or in the evening with studios. Many of our students do both and find the semester separation between the two to be manageable and fulfilling.
• I am not good at either dancing or singing but I love to act. As part of the PVA Theatre Arts program, do I need to participate in vocal and dance instruction? Our goal is to encourage young actors to develop a broad range of skills that include both singing and dancing. Instruction in these areas will be fun and will provide a strong foundation for all students regardless of their previous experience or comfort level. In auditions, applicants do not need to be highly skilled at either singing or dancing.
• Can I do Tech Theatre and perform in a main stage PVA performance each year? Technical Theatre is offered inside the school timetable and outside the school timetable, both semesters, so there are a variety of options for taking the course along with other commitments.  This allows PVA Theatre Arts students to potentially perform in one semester and be enrolled in Technical Theatre for the other. These situations must be discussed and approved in September with teachers.
• When do PVA Theatre Arts students take Leadership in the Arts 35? All PVA students are required to complete Leadership in the Arts 35. Students will experience a combination of teacher-directed assignments/activities combined with student-directed and/or on-line projects and will learn about drama related careers, attend workshops and meet local artists. This course occurs in grade 12 and completing this course is mandatory for students who wish to attend the PVA Grade 12 Travel Experience.

Theatre Arts &/or Technical Theatre Post-Secondary Pathways

Alumni graduates from our programs have gone on to study across Canada, the USA, and the United Kingdom in both arts-related and non-arts related undergraduate university programs. We have alumni who have earned a Canadian Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance or Technical Theatre from Sheridan College of Musical Theatre, Toronto Metropolitan University, MacEwan University, Capilano University, University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, University of Lethbridge, University of Calgary, and Ambrose University. We encourage students through their coursework to research after-high school options and understand the value of planning for their next chapter.

To be considered for our specialized PVA program, students are required to apply online and audition/interview with our staff. More information on the application process can be found on the PVA homepage

For Theatre program inquiries, please email Braden Griffiths btgriffiths@cbe.ab.ca

For Technical Theatre program inquiries, please email Andrew Simon ajsimon@cbe.ab.ca