About Us
Mainstage Dearborn High, the theatre program of Dearborn High School, is the oldest continuous theatre group of any kind in the history of the city of Dearborn. Performances have been going on at Dearborn High School since 1901 and annually since 1922. A longtime member of the Educational Theatre Association and the International Thespian Society, Thespian Troupe 586 was chartered in 1944 and is the oldest Thespian Troupe in the City of Dearborn, and one of the oldest in both Wayne County and the State of Michigan. Dearborn's most famous actor (and one of Michigan's), film and television star George Peppard (Breakfast at Tiffany's, The A-Team), was an alumnus of DHS, a charter member of Troupe member 586, and the Drama Club President.
Since 1994, Mainstage Dearborn High has been under the direction of Greg Phillip Viscomi, presenting over 44 stage productions during that time period with a typical season consisting of a comedy or drama in the fall, a student directed production in the winter and a musical in the spring. Program honors during this time period include 8 consecutive nominations to perform at the American High School Theatre Festival as part of the famous Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, including 2008, over 40 state medalists at the annual State Thespian Festival, over 100 Press and Guide Entertainment (PAGE) Award nominations and 36 PAGE Awards, including the awards for both Outstanding Achievement in a Play and a Musical (Scholastic level) for 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Currently, over 25 recent alumni of the program are either working professionally or studying theatre or the performing arts at the university level and appearing on many local and regional stages. The 2007-08 Theatre season included productions of Ken Ludwig's comedy, Moon Over Buffalo, Student Directed Scenes XIV, an evening of student directed theatre and the Cole Porter's Musical Classic, Kiss Me, Kate. West Side Theatre Project also presented The Fantasticks in January to benefit the Dearborn High Theatre Program.
