If you look through De Anza’s class schedule, you might be surprised to find more than five classes offered in theater arts.

Most likely, only three will involve acting, and if you’re lucky, there might be one that includes some type of performance.

Such is the sad state of De Anza’s drama department. Since the Creative Arts Administration fails to see any problem with it, don’t get your hopes up for an expansion in the near future.

Once upon a time, about 10 to 15 years ago, De Anza had quite a substantial theater program. The last full-length production done here was performed on a real stage and had a full orchestra.

Since then, the department has dwindled down to nothing more than aspiring students and frustrated teachers crammed into a small classroom.

The few drama department instructors that we have are part-time. So this leaves the department without a single, full-time faculty member.

“We have all of these part- timers who are supposed to be in control of the department, but part-timers have two to three other jobs as well. None of us could have the time to dedicate ourselves to the department unless we were hired full time,” said theater instructor Sarah Albertson. “We live in a real state of frustration. We see what needs to be done and we want to do it, but we just can’t.”

However, because the administration wants to help the department grow, they are trying to hire a full-time dance instructor who can also teach some theatre classes. But when proposed answer to a dying drama department is a dance instructor, it is no wonder why this department feels neglected.

“Sometimes I feel as though there is some sort of force pushing down on us, keeping us from becoming anything,” said Albertson.

As frustrated as the teachers are, students are the ones who suffer in the end. We use the term “drama major” lightly here at De Anza, partly because being a drama major entails extensive actual training of the art. Most drama students have taken every single theatre arts class here and have had little to no performing experience.

“I’m taking the same acting classes right now I took three years ago. There’s nowhere for me to advance to,” said student Anjelah Johnson.

“The closest thing we have to performing consists of five-minute skits. You can’t learn acting through five-minute skits,” said student Victoria Ritter.

“The faculty needs to help us harness our talent and let it grow. The way the department is set up, there’s no chance for that,” said student Angelica Moreno.

Although worries of budget cuts may be the number one factor keeping us out of the administration’s field of view, development of the program does not necessarily have to mean enlargement.

“You can have a thriving department just as small as this as long as it is given the chance to be something,” said Albertson. “Look at the student interest; the classes are filling every quarter. There’s incredible talent, too.”

“People who can’t make the commitment to Foothill’s conservatory or can’t get in should be able to go to its sister school, De Anza, to train in a less impacted environment, but still train,” said student Silas Parker.

In the end, all drama students want is to feel like a department. The theatre arts program should not be seen as a selection of classes, but as a real program where actors, directors and technicians all work together to create something of amazing proportions.

“Through a real department, you don’t just develop actors, you develop an ensemble,” said Albertson. “There’s so much potential in a small dynamic program. We’re not there yet, but the potential is.”