The Theatre Department at Morton High School offers students a unique opportunity to explore and develop their talents in the performing and cooperative arts. Our curricular, co curricular, and extra curricular programs are among the most ambitious and successful in the state.

The curriculum consists of four basic courses: Theatre Performance, Theatre Stagecraft, Intermediate Performance, and Theatre Studio. Students in the Performance classes explore the many aspects of presenting dramatic literature in a variety of Theatrical forms. The Stagecraft classes work on the many activities that are involved in the National Landmark Chodl Auditorium with an emphasis on the interdisciplinary nature of what it takes to mount the many events that employ the facility. The Intermediate Performance class concentrates on the performance of literature in non traditional theatrical methods; story telling, readers theatre and oral interpretation of non scripted literature is emphasized in this class. The Studio Theatre class concentrates on the actual production of Theatre. It consists of students from the Performance and Stagecraft classes. The cooperative nature of Theatre as a collaborative art is stressed with an aire of mutual respect toward all the participants involved.

The co curricular program consists of a five show season and an IHSA Forensic Speech Team. Our season consists of a musical, classic, drama, comedy and a talent show. Morton competes with other area schools through the IHSA Forensic Speech Team. Students from East and West travel throughout the area participating in tournaments and contests that center on the laboratory speaking events. The number of students involved in our Speech Team has increased dramatically in the last year.

Many extra curricular events keep our students busy throughout the year. Morton is a member of the International Thespian Society. This group, primarily actors, conduct annual grade school workshops, produce commissioned productions and plan field trips and outings to seminars and conventions; most notably the ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE FESTIVAL held at either Illinois State University or the University of Illinois. Students earn admittance to The Thespian Society by performing in shows and participating in club sponsored activities.

Morton’s Drama club is open to all students who want to learn about drama activities such as Theatre Sports, improvisations and games.

The Technical Guild is a service oriented group that acts as stewards of the national landmark Chodl Auditorium and the Morton West Auditorium. The Chodl Auditorium, an expansive facility of over 2500 seats, hosts a variety of cultural events. An opera company, classical ethnic and dance music groups , classical ballet and religious rock groups are among those who use the facility. The West Auditorium plays host to The Western Electric Pioneers, and serves as the hub for meetings and cultural events in the Berwyn area. Students in the Guild work as stage hands for all of them. This symbiotic relationship gives our students an opportunity to use the skills taught in the department in a professional capacity while supplying the producers of these events with an affordable and capable site based crew. Admittance to the Guild is through the acquisition of points and experience and an acceptable grade point average.