The legacy of the MCS Theatre Club

For over two decades, Mount Carmel School’s Theatre Club has engaged thousands of students in a wide array of productions, including numerous plays by William Shakespeare, quite a few Disney shows, several musicals, a number of original stories, two drama camps, and a growing catalog of short and feature-length films.
As the club prepares for its production of Disney’s Mulan Jr. this weekend—the club’s 46th production in 21 years—AlumKnights of the program take stock of what the club has meant to them over the years.

ANASTASIA SCHWEIGER BASHIOUM ’13
Productions: Winter’s Tale (December 2009), A Comedy of Errors (January 2011), Rapunzeled (December 2011), Footloose (January 2013)

Mount Carmel’s Theater Club opened so many doors for me professionally. Even though I was only in four shows, that gave me enough experience to get a paid job working in 16 different plays throughout college. Thanks to Theatre Club, I have a strong work ethic, an innovative mind, and an ability to work well with a diverse group of people. Also, I met some of my best of friends through the club, and I’m happy that, years later, we are still friends today. I am also proud that my sister is keeping the spirit of theatre and the arts alive in our home community. I know her performance and role as Mulan will be an inspiration for many young girls that they can be whatever they aspire to be. Tessie already embodies the strength, confidence, and sass of Mulan, so I know that she will bring that to the stage and put on a memorable show.  

BROC CALVO ’08
Productions: Romeo and Juliet (May 2006), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (December 2006), The Nightmare Before Christmas (December 2007), Caesar (May 2008)

MCS Theatre Club was one of the greatest experiences in my lifetime. I was nervous getting in front of large crowds before Theatre Club. That all changed after I first performed in Romeo and Juliet. The confidence I possess today can be attributed to the club and I am most grateful to MCS and Mr. G for making this all possible.

ETHEL CASTILLO ’03
Productions: Grease (January 2000), Cyrano de Bergerac (May 2000), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (May 2001), Omega (May 2002), Stained (February 2003), Cinderella (May 2003)

I would never trade my MCS theatre experiences for anything, and I will forever treasure the memories that I’ve shared with everyone I got to work with. The auditions, the rehearsals, the memorizations, blocking, etc. The MCS Theatre Club under Mr. G’s mentorship taught me how to trust myself, be more confident, take constructive criticism. …It also taught me to live in the moment! To relish the moments on stage until the bright lights eventually dim and the curtain finally falls. I’m very proud to have been part of the MCS Theatre Club! 

MATTHEW DELEON GUERRERO ’07
Productions: Taming of the Shrew (May 2004), Anastasia (December 2005), Romeo and Juliet (May 2006)
My experience in the Theatre Club continues to be an important part of my life. The productions I was a part of have provided me with some of the best memories I have of my childhood and of high school. The performances themselves were only small part of the experience. The motivation to aim for some level of perfection in rehearsals, the friendships I was able to make with students of all grade levels, and the realization that, even in a small role, I could be a part of something larger and beautiful have all contributed in my life after high school.

VICTORIA CAMACHO DELEON GUERRERO ’13
Productions: Cinderella (May 2003), Anastasia (December 2005), Romeo & Juliet (May 2006), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (December 2006), The Nightmare Before Christmas (December 2007), It’s a Wonderful Life (December 2008), Winter’s Tale (December 2009), A Comedy of Errors (January 2011), Zero to Hero (May 2011), Rapunzeled (December 2011), Footloose (January 2013)

Mount Carmel School’s Theatre Club means so much to me because it was the space that I could be myself. For a long time I didn’t know how to navigate through many social groups because I didn’t feel like I belonged just to one. Throughout my education at MCS, Theatre Club was the place that I could be friends with everyone who stood out or didn’t completely fit in. When I went on to Seattle University for my higher education, I didn’t think I’d have the same love for my theatrical family until it still served as another home away from home.

ZENO DELEON GUERRERO ’17
Productions: A Comedy of Errors (January 2011) Zero to Hero (May 2011), Rapunzeled (December 2011), Dead Living (October 2013), Saipan Pride Rice (November 2013), 12th Knight (December 2013), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (May 2014), Shakespeare Meets Disney (July 2014), Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (October 2014), The Snow Queen (December 2014,) The Breakfast Club (November 2015), White Christmas (December 2015), For Realz (April 2016), Star Wars Fanfilm Festival (July 2016), Dracula (October 2016), Disney’s The Lion King Jr. (December 2016), #2ForRealz (March 2017), We Drank Our Tears Vol. 1 (September 2017)

It’s been said too many times, though only because it’s too true, but Theatre Club truly is home. Like many veterans, I first joined Theatre Club in grade school. At the time, it was just a place to have fun and was something extra to do after school. As I became involved in more productions and as I got older, theatre became a space that challenged me. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to control my fear of public speaking. I learned valuable skills like projecting, enunciating, and others that I still use even today in college. Theatre became a place to be myself or even someone I wasn’t—whether it be a floor manager, director, or a vampire. However, most of all, it was and still is home. The friends, or rather family, I’ve made there and grown to love will always have a special place in my heart. We’ve had our troubles—mostly shouting and complaining toward and about each other. But we’ve also had our triumphs—mostly producing amazing shows in seemingly impossible circumstances—all despite the drama that happens behind the scenes. After more than six years, Theatre Club has given me a lot: soft skills and networking, but more so memories and a home. But it’s still giving by having me be a part of an ever-growing legacy, a family, of Knights who keep the spirit of Theatre Club strong and vibrant.

JAQUELINE BERNARDO-DOCTOR ’16
Productions: What’s Going On (May 2010), Rapunzeled (December 2011), Dead Living (October 2013), Saipan Pride Rice (November 2013), 12th Knight (December 2013), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (May 2014), Shakespeare Meets Disney (July 2014), Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (October 2014), The Snow Queen (December 2014), The Breakfast Club (November 2015), White Christmas (December 2015), For Realz (April 2016), Dracula (October 2016) Disney’s The Lion King Jr. (December 2016), #2ForRealz (March 2017)

Mount Carmel’s Theatre Club allowed me to develop my skills as a student-leader, and to form strong relationships within the MCS community. As a stage manager for several productions, I was able to meet, interact, and communicate with students from various grade levels. As a result of our strengthened bonds, our Theatre Club eventually transformed into a family. It became a second home for me and many other students who fell in love with the arts.   

BRIANNA HUNTER ’17
Productions: Rapunzeled (December 2011), Saipan Pride Rice (November 2013), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (May 2014), Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (October 2014), The Snow Queen (December 2014), The Breakfast Club (November 2015), White Christmas (December 2015), Dracula (October 2016), Disney’s The Lion King Jr. (December 2016), #2ForRealz (March 2017), Disney’s Mulan (December 2017)

I am eternally grateful to Mount Carmel School’s Theatre Club, which will also always have a place in my heart because I consider it to be my second family. Joining the Theatre Club program is the best decision I have ever made. Not only has it provided me with an outlet to express myself and break barriers that I have had socially, it has also allowed me to do something that makes people happy. Every production has a story, and it is always my hope that the stories we tell find a place in the audience’s hearts. Theatre Club taught me how to be confident, that it takes teamwork to be successful, and most importantly, how to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Every moment that I’ve had in theatre is priceless, from dress rehearsals to being backstage during a production to having the ability to go on stage and entertain people. Theatre Club is a family that is always growing, and I’m always happy to know that there’s a place for everyone. 

ASAPMAR OGUMORO ’01
Productions: Much Ado About Nothing (January 1998), Macbeth (May 1998), White Christmas (December 1998), Legends of the Marianas (May 1999), Grease (January 2000), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (May 2001)

What I appreciate and respect most about the productions were the life skills that emerge from participating: practice, teamwork, setting and reaching goals.  What I loved about the productions was the excitement, fun and laughter, from practices to showtime!

JONATHAN PANGELINAN ’16
Productions: Winter’s Tale (December 2009) What’s Going On (May 2010), A Comedy of Errors (January 2011), Zero to Hero (May 2011), Rapunzeled (December 2011), Footloose (January 2013), 12th Knight (December 2013), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (May 2014), Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (October 2014), The Snow Queen (December 2014), White Christmas (December 2015)

The Mount Carmel School Theatre Club is such an amazing group. Every year, they put on such amazing productions and have managed to outdo themselves every single time. The club gives students all these great opportunities to share stories and celebrate creativity that no other club can manage to do. There is never a time when you’re with the club that you feel left out or unimportant. Every single person has something to contribute, and the club does an excellent job of turning that into beautiful art. I’ve come to love my time with the club because it taught me to value everyone’s uniqueness and appreciate stories that are not really emphasized in today’s world. I’ve learned to recognize how rewarding it is to see something I work super hard on with people I love come to life. The connections I’ve made, the things I’ve accomplished, and the confidence I’ve gain in myself are all thanks in part to my time with the Mount Carmel Theatre Club. 

AYSIA ADELE SANTOS ’15
Productions: Footloose (January 2013), Dead Living (October 2013), Saipan Pride Rice (November 2013), 12th Knight (December 2013), Little Mermaid (May 2014), Shakespeare Meets Disney (July 2014), Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (October 2014), Snow Queen (December 2014), For Realz (April 2016), #2ForRealz (March 2017), We Drank Our Tears Vol. 1 (September 2017), Disney’s Mulan Jr. (December 2017)

No offense to any clubs but Theatre Club is the best club here at MCS! Theatre is a place where all ages can shine on and off the stage. It’s the only place on campus that has a 1st grader working with a 12th grader. We treat everyone like family. Like a family, we all have our moments of crying or laughing. It felt like home whenever I walked into those doors. Because of Theatre Club, I gained a lot of friendships and now that I have graduated, I became a mentor for all students. It’s a place where you can be who you are without being judged. Growing up, I’d always wonder what it was like to join theatre, then when I transferred to MCS, I finally got the chance to do it. Now, I can’t imagine my life without it. We learn a lot of old and new things everyday, not just about theatre but also about life. What would I do for theatre? I am currently one of the advisors. I’ll do anything to give back to a place I call home. Anything theatre involved, I support it 100 percent.

MARKEL TOVES ’16
Productions: 12th Knight (December 2013), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (May 2014), Shakespeare Meets Disney (July 2014), Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (October 2014), The Snow Queen (December 2014), The Breakfast Club (November 2015), White Christmas (December 2015), We Drank Our Tears Vol. 1 (September 2017)

MCS Theatre Club completely changed my perspective in school and life! I never found a much better way to meet people very much like me! Meeting many talented and diverse peers that immediately got me to feel a part of the production and club was the best thing in my opinion! To me it felt like the perfect way to be involved and connect with younger students and students my age but as well a great way to learn from and teach while working on a production! Personally, at the end of every play where everyone takes photos and congratulates each other with family coming together and kids playing around, it never gave me a more heartwarming feeling than I thought it would. In my experience in Mount Carmel School, many of my friends, peers, and fellow students played a big role in my journey through high school and my muse in chasing the life of an artist, inspired by the deep connection I made with everyone! I have fallen in love with the arts and acting! It was a big breakthrough in my life! Connecting with people and working together to perform art and telling many great historic stories with my peers have made nothing but a great mark in my high school career and my career as an actor! Nothing but love and support to the Club! (PR)