A Brief history of the woodrow wilson
high school musical
Woodrow Wilson High School has a long and delightful musical tradition. The department began in 1929, with the production of Daniel Steele's Giants' Stairs. Under the direction of H. Bush Morgan, the production swept all of the city's contests. Woodrow continued performing a variety of productions to standing room only crowds during Morgan's tenure.
In 1957, the department came under the capable direction of Helen Eckelman, who produced the first Woodrow Broadway musical, Oklahoma! Woodrow performances continued to garner rave reviews and awards all the way up to the state level for both plays and musicals. In 1970, Jerry McKinney joined Woodrow as choir director. The scope and complexity of performances increased by introducing features such as a functional carousel during the production of Rogers and Hammerstein's Carousel! in 1973.
Many Woodrow alum and community members remember well the revered Marca Lee Bircher and Patricia Hardman, who arrived in 1975 bringing ever more sophistication to the productions. They introduced more elaborate sets than ever, including a water recycling system that made it rain on stage for the 1994 production of Singin in the Rain, and a rigging system that allowed monkeys to fly during The Wizard of Oz in 1998. The Woodrow Wilson show choir, Variations, owes its creation and development to the pair as well, initially beginning in honor of the school's 50th anniversary. Variations still continues to garner awards and accolades.
The 75th anniversary of Woodrow Wilson High School ushered in a new era of theatrical innovation and excellence with two new directors, John Beaird for theatre, and Sean Morrison for choir. Contemporary performances of Les Miserables and City of Angels played to packed houses, and more traditional offerings, Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music were presented with outstanding sets and imaginative staging. Mr. Beaird instituted a new school tradition with the addition of the Fall Play to the annual theatre arts offerings. At his initiative, Woodrow has participated in numerous community awards competitions, raking in an impressive collection of nominations and awards for both musicals and Fall Play. Woodrow has also captured more than its fair share of UIL awards for the One Act Play competition.
Kent Ellington, Larissa Kiefer, and Albert Torres each spent a short time on the Woodrow choir stage until another Woodrow alumni, Katie Cunningham Anderson, returned to Woodrow as musical director in spring of 2015 and choir director in the fall of 2015. During her years teaching at Woodrow, she created and directed the Varsity Treble Choir Bella Voce, as well as directing two Treble Choirs, Men's Choir, and Variations. Eli Lopez became choir and musical director after Mrs. Anderson in 2019.
Jenci Pavageaux was added as a second theatre teacher in 2018 and has added an incredible dimension to the program. She works closely with Mr. Beaird on all theatre departmental productions. In 2022, Nicole Dickerson joined the Woodrow family as choral director, with her first Woodrow musical being Frozen, Jr.
The Woodrow Wilson Choir and Theatre Department, currently directed by John Beaird, Jenci Pavageaux, and Nicole Dickerson, has provided thousands of students with extraordinarily qualified teachers and mentors, creating a unique and meaningful opportunity to learn and grow in the arts.
In 1957, the department came under the capable direction of Helen Eckelman, who produced the first Woodrow Broadway musical, Oklahoma! Woodrow performances continued to garner rave reviews and awards all the way up to the state level for both plays and musicals. In 1970, Jerry McKinney joined Woodrow as choir director. The scope and complexity of performances increased by introducing features such as a functional carousel during the production of Rogers and Hammerstein's Carousel! in 1973.
Many Woodrow alum and community members remember well the revered Marca Lee Bircher and Patricia Hardman, who arrived in 1975 bringing ever more sophistication to the productions. They introduced more elaborate sets than ever, including a water recycling system that made it rain on stage for the 1994 production of Singin in the Rain, and a rigging system that allowed monkeys to fly during The Wizard of Oz in 1998. The Woodrow Wilson show choir, Variations, owes its creation and development to the pair as well, initially beginning in honor of the school's 50th anniversary. Variations still continues to garner awards and accolades.
The 75th anniversary of Woodrow Wilson High School ushered in a new era of theatrical innovation and excellence with two new directors, John Beaird for theatre, and Sean Morrison for choir. Contemporary performances of Les Miserables and City of Angels played to packed houses, and more traditional offerings, Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music were presented with outstanding sets and imaginative staging. Mr. Beaird instituted a new school tradition with the addition of the Fall Play to the annual theatre arts offerings. At his initiative, Woodrow has participated in numerous community awards competitions, raking in an impressive collection of nominations and awards for both musicals and Fall Play. Woodrow has also captured more than its fair share of UIL awards for the One Act Play competition.
Kent Ellington, Larissa Kiefer, and Albert Torres each spent a short time on the Woodrow choir stage until another Woodrow alumni, Katie Cunningham Anderson, returned to Woodrow as musical director in spring of 2015 and choir director in the fall of 2015. During her years teaching at Woodrow, she created and directed the Varsity Treble Choir Bella Voce, as well as directing two Treble Choirs, Men's Choir, and Variations. Eli Lopez became choir and musical director after Mrs. Anderson in 2019.
Jenci Pavageaux was added as a second theatre teacher in 2018 and has added an incredible dimension to the program. She works closely with Mr. Beaird on all theatre departmental productions. In 2022, Nicole Dickerson joined the Woodrow family as choral director, with her first Woodrow musical being Frozen, Jr.
The Woodrow Wilson Choir and Theatre Department, currently directed by John Beaird, Jenci Pavageaux, and Nicole Dickerson, has provided thousands of students with extraordinarily qualified teachers and mentors, creating a unique and meaningful opportunity to learn and grow in the arts.
