About Us

MISSION STATEMENT:

We as Torrance High Theater strive to build a community of confident and socially intelligent artists that have the ability to express themselves, inspire our audience, and spark thoughtful conversations.

​

CORE VALUES:

​

• As an ensemble, we do theater to build community and foster connections between us, our audience, and our community at large.​

​

• We want to gain confidence as artists and people, and strengthen our collaborative skills.​

​

• Our ensemble stands for a community that provides a safe space to be vulnerable, to take risks, and help bring out. the best in ourselves and others.

​​

• We are at our best when we are present with each other, challenging ourselves artistically, and help each other grow and change as a troupe.

​​

• We want to have a lasting positive impact that sparks joy, whimsy and reflection, and continued conversation that leads toa stronger and better world.

​​

• In hard moments, we treat each other with patience, empathy and compassion in an honest and truthful way. In addition, we will hold ourselves and each other accountable both as artists and people.

​

HISTORY:

Torrance High  Theater seeks to maintain a supportive and creative culture of live theatre on the historic Torrance High School campus. By providing a safe place for students to step out of their comfort zone,  Torrance High Theater seeks to build artists of outstanding character as well as equipping them with skills that will provide them with a lifetime of learning. 

Built on the legacy set by  former theater teachers Casie Duvall and Charles Slater, Torrance is led by artist-educator Darryl B. Hovis. Darryl  earned his M.A. in Theatre Production at Central Washington University and studied acting at the Professional Conservatory at UCSD under Anna Shapiro (Steppenwolf) as well as South Coast Repertory under Karen Hensel. He is the co-founder and former artistic director of the Culver City Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, where he developed an intensive arts program for high school students in theatre, film, music, and art, and has gone on to develop theatre programs at other Southern California high schools, as well as Theatre International at Leysin American School in Leysin, Switzerland.  He is a resident artist with Chance Theater where he serves as Associate Producer of the Theater for Young Audience series as well as the director of the Teens Speak Up! program working with teens in finding their voice in theater.

Torrance Theater performs in two venues on campus. ASSEMBLY HALL a 700 seat WPA landmark in the center of campus, built in 1938 and beautifully renovated in 2004. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and  is an outstanding example of PWA Moderne work. THE LITTLE THEATER, an intimate space with various configurations holding up to 120 people.
 

To promote your business and support arts education, consider placing an advertisement in one of our attractive programs. For information, contact hovis.darryl@tusd.org.