Students Bring 150 Years Of East High History To Life
by Elizabeth McCubbins
East Theatre History: While waiting for the play to begin, patrons could peruse posters of East’s past and buy merchandise to support the arts.
East High School (EHS) observed 150 Years of Excellence this September, marking the sesquicentennial milestone with a weekend of celebration. Founded in 1875, EHS claims the title of Denver’s original high school. Beginning Thursday, September 18, the 150th Committee held a re-dedication to kick off the remembrance. Followed by Homecoming, a breakfast, and an open house, students, staff, and alumni joined together to honor the history of the building and its community.
150 Years is a big accomplishment, and the occasion brought together decades of Angels to commemorate the legacy. In a modern society that is ever changing, East has clung to its traditions and honored the history well. Along with the foundation of the school, 2025 marks 100 years of the building itself. Constructed in 1925, the Jacobean architecture aimed to aesthetize the neighborhood, and in 1991 was declared a Denver Historic Landmark.
In celebration of the anniversary, East Theater Company put on a special play of their own creation. Written by the cast performing it, “Study No More” is a one-of-a-kind look into the history of the school.
History Of The Building: Former East student George Williamson designed the building, which was completed in 1925, and has been a beauty of the City Park neighborhood ever since.
The artistic director, Deborah Voss, conceptualized the idea last spring to chronicle the history of EHS. with a piece that told a story and moved throughout the actual building. About 20 theater students worked collaboratively to write the script, with the senior students claiming most of the work.
Relying on records, the East’s past was researched for the production. Luckily, historians have analogued the accounts for today’s society. “Flights of Angels: A History of Denver East High School” by Richard Nelson was relied on in the writing process of this play. Nelson, now retired, wrote the book after teaching English at East for 31 years. Along with his book, the students used the library of records at East and yearbooks from school years past.
Though the play narrates true historical events, the students used some creative liberties: fictionalizing characters and plot points to tell a cohesive story. With two main characters acting as a guide for the audience, together they travel back in time on a journey through the decades of East. Senior Mira Ghosh, one of the tour guides in the show, explained that there were no main characters, rather, everyone contributing equally to the production as a team. “We cast as an ensemble,” said Ghosh, “not individual characters.”
This performance was a special experience for the seniors who had the chance to direct individual scenes and revise the script as a team. Running from October 21-30, the ensemble put on four shows a night to audiences sized of 25 people. The nature of the show had audience members moving from classrooms to various spaces throughout the school, following the guides back into history through each scene.
Beautiful Architecture: East High School’s beautiful 100-year-old building shines on Colfax. The historic clock tower, which stands over 100 feet tall, was the location of the play’s final act.
It was a really unique show for the cast and audience members alike. East Theater Company delights in the arts promoting togetherness, which is the overall goal of the theater experience. This anniversary has brought the student body and neighborhood together, and through the immersive play, the crowd was connected to the cast in a feeling of community.
The show was an ode to the legacy we leave behind. The actors played high school characters who learned to embrace their current day experiences through inspiration from the past. As the audience was taken on a tour through the school building and previous decades, we watched and learned along with our navigators that it is possible for high school students to have an impact. And while progressive change is always important, the story also reminds us that the relationships we form and the memories we make along the way should never be forgotten.
