The stage lights are shining bright at Harmony School of Excellence in Central Texas, where a newly founded Theater Club is opening a world of dramatic opportunity for students in grades 6 through 12.

The after-school club, launched this fall under the direction of Adrienne Harmon, an AP English and Composition teacher and sponsor of both the Theater Club and the Speech Club, marks the school’s first official introduction to live performing arts. Harmon said the idea grew out of a desire to give students more exposure to the liberal arts and a chance to experience the magic of live theater firsthand.

In its first semester, the Theater Club has already offered students remarkable opportunities to engage with professional productions and be introduced to the Austin theater community. Earlier this fall, 36 students and staff attended a performance of Much Ado About Nothing presented by The Baron’s Men at the historic Curtain Theater. The evening was particularly memorable, not just because it was a famous Shakpeare play, but because it was the final performance at the venue.

“It was almost a magical feeling,” said Jessie Hansen-Freeman, a 10th-grade student who was one of two Harmony Public Schools–Central Texas students invited on stage at The Curtain Theater before the performance of Much Ado About Nothing. “The theater seemed to wrap around me. I liked seeing all the seats surrounding me.”

According to Harmon, several students received T-shirts from ATX Theatre, while others were upgraded to box seats. Two students even got the chance to join performers from another high school onstage to read lines and explore the theater’s trap doors, a behind-the-scenes look that few play enthusiasts get to experience.

Soon after, 43 students and staff attended Austin Playhouse’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest. The outing was equally exciting, featuring free shirts, balcony seats, and an opportunity for students to experience professional theater at its finest. Harmon, who describes Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy as one of her personal favorites, said she was thrilled to bring students along.

“It’s one of my favorite plays! When I heard it was being performed, I jumped at the chance to take students,” Harmon said.

The outings were made possible through the generosity of ATX Theatre and the Bennett Raccah Charitable Fund (BRCF), organizations that support access to live performance for Title I schools and student groups.

Due to a fortunate mistake, the partnership began when Harmon accidentally clicked the wrong email link while inquiring about tickets. The error led her to a BRCF representative. This unexpected connection quickly turned into a blessing. The organization offered to sponsor 50 tickets for each play, ensuring not only Theater Club members but also students from other grades and clubs could attend high-quality performances at no cost.

“Going to the plays definitely made my high school life feel like a real high school, you know?” said Justin Solorzano Nataren, a 12th-grade student who attended both performances. “It was my best experience. The characters were amazing, the stories were interesting.”

The Bennett Raccah Charitable Fund focuses its Central Texas efforts on supporting live performances through grants for theaters. A portion of its funds is awarded specifically to initiatives like this one, subsidizing tickets for students who might not otherwise be able to experience live performance.

Looking ahead, Harmon and her students plan to take their inspiration from the professionals they’ve seen on stage. The Theater Club has announced plans to perform both Much Ado About Nothing and The Importance of Being Earnest themselves during the spring of 2026.
For Harmon, this is just the beginning of what she hopes will become a long-standing tradition of theater at Harmony School of Excellence.

“The arts teach empathy, confidence, and communication—skills that extend far beyond the stage,” Harmon said. “If our students leave this club with those lessons and a love for the craft, then we’ve already succeeded.”