“We pray best before beauty.”  St. Francis de Sales 

These words by our school’s patron—words that adorn the main entrance of the Garwood Whaley Auditorium—call to mind the purpose and goal of the Bishop Ireton Theatre Arts program.  Since 1964, the Bishop Ireton Theatre Arts Program has introduced its students to the excitement, joys, and challenges of the theatre.  In a field that is often dominated by awards and the bottom-line, Bishop Ireton focuses these four year on developing the fundamentals of and appreciation for the arts in each of our students.

Because we strive to instill recognition of the many varied gifts and talents each student brings, our program allows them the flexibility to focus on their greatest interest, while emphasizing the importance of a strong academic foundation.  In addition to one of the strongest high school theatre seasons in the region, Bishop Ireton offers twelve credited classes across a range of disciplines, including acting, stage crafts, costumes, lighting, and rigging.  Our program also takes advantage of the resources of the school and the immediate community of Alexandria, as well as the epicenters of Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.

The list of courses, productions, and academic opportunities cannot describe the excitement of working closely with some of the brightest and most creative students in the region. Working relationships and friendships are forged that last a lifetime. Each year about forty students focus their time in theatre studies, but a near-equal number focus their energies in other areas while remaining actively involved in the program.