Muirlands Theatre is Getting a JumpStart

Muirlands Middle School is preparing to launch an exciting new after-school theatre program led by a dynamic trio of our beloved educators: Lisa Granger, Amy Hunt, and Laura Preisman.

The program will be supported in part by the Muirlands Foundation and in part by JumpStart Theatre in partnership with La Jolla Playhouse--a world-renowned, Tony Award-winning regional theatre company celebrated for developing groundbreaking productions and nurturing the next generation of artists.

Through JumpStart Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse provides “hands-on mentoring and boot-camp style training” to middle school teachers producing their school’s first musical.

JumpStart Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse recently approved Muirlands’ application for mentoring support, marking the beginning of a five-year partnership designed to gradually build teacher capacity and establish a sustainable, high-quality theatre program. The goal is to produce one musical each year while engaging “as many students as possible in all aspects of theater, preparing them for high school, college, and the workforce.” (JumpStart Theatre Program by Educational Theatre Association.)

The Muirlands Foundation anticipates that a long-term financial investment will be essential to building and sustaining a robust program. Funding will primarily support the educators leading the program and provide essential technical equipment, set design, and costume materials. Ms. Granger, Ms. Preisman, and Ms. Hunt describe one another as "awesome partners," and each was inspired to launch the program after witnessing overwhelming student interest in creative outlets and performing arts opportunities.

Meet the Program Leaders

Lisa Granger (Program Leader & Director):

As an English teacher, with a lifelong passion for theatre, Ms. Granger has long volunteered her time to support the student-led Theatre Club. This year, she is spearheading the expansion of Muirlands theatre by teaching the new Theatre Elective and directing the theatre after-school program. To prepare for the program's official launch, she dedicated significant time over the summer to an Intensive Tech Theater Program at La Jolla Playhouse, immersing herself in professional-level training.

Laura Preisman (Performance & Connection): Ms. Preisman brings infectious enthusiasm and a deep belief in the importance of arts education for middle schoolers. "I was a musical theater kid, and I couldn't imagine not having an outlet like theater, especially in middle school," she shared. "There are so many transferable skills between theater and life when you think about performance and connections and emotional intelligence."

Amy Hunt (Technical Expertise): As our former ASB teacher, Ms. Hunt joined the partnership to maintain a creative outlet after transitioning away from her ASB elective duties. A self-described “musical person” and “technology person,” she brings valuable technical expertise to a program that will soon benefit from a newly upgraded auditorium sound system and other integrated production technologies.

What's Ahead

Auditions for the inaugural production, Madagascar, will be held in January, with performances scheduled for Spring 2027. Parents and community members can support the arts and theatre program at Muirlands by contributing to the DREAM Fund on the Muirlands Foundation website www.muirlandsfoundation.org.

The Foundation also welcomes messages of support for theatre and arts programming at vp@muirlandsfoundation.org as it evaluates funding levels throughout the school year.

Thank you to our Muirlands Sponsors

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