The Parkland High School Theatre Department is well known for its incredible fall plays and spring musicals. Each year, the casts of these shows, who are typically upperclassman, put together incredible productions for both students and faculty alike.

In addition to these two well-known productions, Parkland High School’s annual family show, occurring every fall, is designed specifically to entertain the younger audiences and families of the Parkland community.

This year, the PHS Family Show was a journey under the sea with Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR. This show is adapted from the classic Broadway production and motion picture and featured their award-winning music.

In addition to being an incredible experience for viewers, the family show serves as an opportunity for younger students at the high school to get involved in the high school’s theater productions, as the show only casts underclassmen (freshman/sophomores).

While the audition process for both the fall play and spring musical are vigorous and highly selective, typically featuring older students due to their experience, the family show provides underclassmen students who are newer to theater with a way to participate in a PHS production while adding on to their experience. By doing so, underclassmen can apply their learning and skills from doing the family show to their auditions for the fall play and spring musical.

Gavin Sachse, a senior at Parkland High School, has taken part in several of the high school’s theater productions, including the most recent fall play, “The Outsiders.” Sachse began his high school theater career by starring in the family show “Shrek The Musical JR.” during his freshman year.

“Doing the family show was a great way to start building my resume for future auditions, and a great experience overall,” Sachse said.