At Xavier College Preparatory, theater isn’t just about the performance, but the formation of it. Each production begins long before opening night, with careful character study, artistic collaboration and thoughtful consideration of how a musical aligns with the school’s Catholic mission.
When Xavier performs, preparation extends well beyond memorizing lines and learning choreography. Students immerse themselves in character development through guidance from fine arts teacher and director Sarah White.
“Students are able to get into character in a few different ways,” Nora Smith ‘28 said. “For shows, all named characters had a meeting with Mrs. White to discuss the aspects and motivations of our characters.”
Rather than focusing solely on performance, these productions emphasize the understanding of the emotions and morals that drive each role.
Smith said that cast members were encouraged to analyze the script closely, tracking their characters to better understand how others perceived them. Students were also advised to watch a Broadway production to observe how professional actors interpreted similar roles.
“This helps us build our own characters while being able to use aspects from past productions,” Smith said.
Alana Thomas ‘26 describes the process as collaborative. Character development often includes group discussion designed to explore motives and relationships within the story.
“Ms. White leads in-depth discussions with the cast about our characters to help us connect with them on a deeper level,” Thomas said.
Thomas said the cast participates in guided meditation to reflect on their characters’ internal conflicts. Students are also assigned to create playlists that reflect their character’s personality or assembling mood boards to visualize tone and emotion.
While character development is crucial to the production process, selecting a musical requires a different kind of discernment. As a Catholic school, Xavier must consider both an artistic degree with alignment of its values.
“I do some research and bring some options to the administration and we decide together which shows would be best,” White said.
Multiple factors influence this decision. The team considers student demographics, what will challenge and showcase performers, what will engage technical crew and what audiences will want to see.
Musical licensing agreements also play a significant role. Schools are required to obtain performance rights from licensing companies, which dictate how scripts and music may be used. Performances must adhere strictly to guidelines, meaning dialogue, lyrics and staging cannot be altered without permission.
Choosing a production therefore, becomes both an artistic and ethical decision. Directors must balance student interest, vocal and casting needs, licensing availability and the school’s faith-based mission.
Through that balance, Xavier’s theater program fosters both creative expression and Catholic values. Students are challenged not only to perform convincingly, but to think critically about the stories they tell and the messages they communicate.
Because these productions are co-ed, students are encouraged to embrace teamwork to bring their unique skills in order to put together a well-thought-out performance. Whether on stage or behind the scenes, Xavier puts on performances to remember.
