Pacifica Stories

This spring has been a vibrant season for the performing and visual arts at Pacifica, with students sharing their creativity across theater, visual art, film, music, and dance.

PACARTS performers recently concluded an extraordinary theatrical run with two repertory productions presented for the first time in the program’s history: W;t by Margaret Edson and Twelve Angry Jurors by Reginald Rose. Across multiple performances from late February through mid-March, Pacifica’s student actors and crew brought both plays to life with remarkable dedication and emotional depth at the Santa Monica Playhouse. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew for an outstanding achievement and a memorable theater season. 

Pacifica’s visual arts students also celebrated the 20th Annual Winter Gallery, the department’s signature exhibition. Students from Drawing and Painting, Mixed Media, and Photography classes curated, installed, and publicly presented their strongest work, transforming the gallery into a vibrant space of exploration and expression. Opening night brought together students, families, and members of the local arts community, with awards recognizing artistic excellence and creative accomplishment. 

The momentum continues this spring with several exciting PACARTS events. On March 27, the community is invited to the Spring Dance and Music Concert, a beloved Pacifica tradition that showcases performances from dance class, dance team, and KPAC, along with vocal arrangements from WolfPacapella and musical theater and instrumental performances from Pacifica’s pop/funk band and commercial ensemble.

The following week brings one of Pacifica’s most anticipated creative events: the SCREEN Student Film Festival, now in its 21st year. Hosted at the historic Aero Theatre in partnership with the American Cinematheque, SCREEN has grown from a Pacifica initiative into one of the largest high school film festivals in Los Angeles. 

This year, Pacifica students will curate 15 films from more than 200 submissions, culminating in a red-carpet evening celebrating storytelling, collaboration between schools, and the creative energy of emerging filmmakers. 

Later in the spring, audiences can also look forward to I.Sight, PACARTS’ interdisciplinary collaboration bringing together students from across the arts to create a unique performance experience.

Together, these moments reflect what PACARTS does best: forming artists who think deeply, create boldly, and bring beauty into the world.