If you’ve been to a theatre performance at Empire High School, you’ve probably seen the incredible sets, lighting, and makeup and thought it was professionally done. Well, that’s because the technical theatre program at Empire is just that: professional. Richard Gremel has been teaching the theatre classes at Empire for the 14 years the school has been open.
They have been named the #1 High School Theatre Department in Southern Arizona on multiple occasions, and they have won countless other awards. This success is because of
Gremel’s motto, “We are not a high school theatre department. We are a theatre department in a high school.” Gremel’s students are successful in their acting competitions, but the
theater program is so much more. Students in the Technical Theatre program design sets, scenes, costumes, props, and more. The program is giving students real-world theatre
experience, along with problem-solving and teamwork skills. Students who participate in this
program also leave the program with OSHA 10 certification, a workplace safety and health certification. Further, many students who have completed Mr. Gremel’s program have gone on
to pursue remarkable careers in the industry.