Deleah graduated from LACHSA in 1998 from the Theatre program. Her love for LACHSA runs so deep that she currently has 3 children attending! We were able to ask her a few questions about LACHSA around her tremendously busy schedule:

– Tell us a little about your time at LACHSA
LACHSA was only 10-12 grade in those days, and most of our classes were in King Hall. Our lockers were in King Hall as well. We shared all spaces with Cal State students, so we had to mature quickly!

I was in one of the first classes of the “Film Dept”, when it was only a Friday class. There was an acting track and a directing track – I did the acting. But we still were able to create our own scenes and edit them in the Main Office – our edit lab was located in a tiny room in the back corner of the office when it was next to the library.

Design and Production wasn’t yet an official department, but by the end of my senior year, most actors had decided to focus on stage management and design, rather than acting. LACHSA gave the students the freedom to do that and explore other options and talents. The schedule was still the same, and theatre kids had to change into all black every day then too. Alan Mautner was there back then and is still a legend. As was Mr. Friedman!

– How did your time at LACHSA help and nurture you?
I can’t say enough how crucial those adolescent years are and how LACHSA not only kept me so busy (and out of trouble!) but also gave me a purpose. The incredible faculty instilled in me a sense of value in my own identity and what I was able to accomplish and what I had the potential to become. This has stayed with me throughout my life and given me the drive to set out for and accomplish things I don’t think I would have otherwise. Through the challenges and the creativity, LACHSA showed me what I was capable of.

– Why are you glad you went to LACHSA?
Primarily, LACHSA was SUCH an adventure. Again – at that age, taking control of my life’s journey was incredibly empowering. I was also able to blend with people of different backgrounds where we all had a mutual respect for each other. The unifying environment gave me a positive view of the world.
I also developed friendships that are still with me today. My LACHSA friends understand and know me in such a special way.

– What do you do now? How did you get there? (what was your career path and how did the arts figure into it?)
After graduating from LACHSA, I received my BA from USC – with a Major in Theatre and Minor in Cinema Television. I also studied for a semester at the British American Drama Academy in London. After college, I worked in post-production for a while as an online editor and production coordinator, before returning to theatre to get my MA and begin my PhD in Theatre History and Criticism where I focused on I9th Century Irish Theatre.

Right now, I am a biller for Picture Shop (post production). I chose this because it gives me the availability to support my children in their activities. I also serve on the LACHSA Parent Association Board as the Theatre Design and Prod representative and as their Freshman parent lead as well (naturally, the theatre dept holds a very special place in my heart!).

– Tell us a little about your family. You have three children at LACHSA currently? That’s a huge endorsement of LACHSA! 
I have 5 children total – 3 children currently at LACHSA!
I have a senior in the Music Department, a Freshman in the Theatre Department (Design and Production), and another Freshman (they’re twins) in the Cinematic Arts Department.

– Why did your children decide to apply to LACHSA?
My senior started it! She wasn’t getting what she wanted out of her local high school program and as a Sophomore relentlessly asked the Music Dept to allow her to apply. Fortunately for all of us, they were in need of a French horn player! The twins were also not happy in their local school, so we decided to homeschool them for a year while they worked on their applications and focused on getting into LACHSA, knowing it was where they also needed to be.

– How are their journeys at LACHSA going so far? 
INCREDIBLE!!! They have grown so much in the amount of time they have been there. I can’t believe all that they have accomplished already! The twins have already won an award for their work in the Cinema Dept and worked on numerous projects for both the Cinema and Theatre depts, and my Senior is playing music in every way that she can and is currently working on her own compositions. Mr. Carr has taught her how to use the programs and facilities there to write and record her own work. Each of the girls have branched over into each others’ depts to gain experience and make connections. The opportunities for collaboration that are made available to them has been invaluable.

– How would you describe what makes LACHSA unique? Why do you think it remains the number one public arts high school in the nation?
What makes LACHSA unique is the people!! First of all, LACHSA has Dr. Vartanian as their principal. She is clearly invested in the students and values each individually. She cares about who is there and why, she attends their performances and supports them in the way that she leads the school. She is the absolute BEST!

LACHSA has equally incredible faculty. My girls have worked with professionals from Jazz to Costuming and ALL of them not only care about the students enough to guide them but also have the professional experience to help them create and take advantage of incredible opportunities. If they’re not already a part of the faculty – they bring in working professionals for master classes to give the students real world examples of what they’re learning. LACHSA is progressive – as I’ve said before, they don’t lock the students into the typical routes, they allow them to try different things and discover who they are as artists.

LACHSA also has incredible resources. The programs are demanding, where life already is at that age. Many students come from different backgrounds with different needs- LACHSA offers the Wellness office where students can go to talk or decompress if they need it. They support them as they adapt and strengthen themselves!

The school is also invested in where the students go after. The counselors have helped Keighley prepare for college applications while her teachers in the music department have offered to support her in every way, from recording auditions to letters of recommendation. They’ve also worked with her outside of school, really shaping her as her own unique musician.

This year I’ve also had the opportunity to work with more parents – and they’re amazing. They’re just as creative and driven as their children and are such an asset to the school. LACHSA was more “grass roots” when I was there – which offered its own sense of magic. However now, the programs and facilities have grown so much and there are really so many resources that are offered to the students. I’m amazed at the curriculum each dept offers! As well as the technology and expertise available. Plus, it’s in Los Angeles – you just can’t beat what’s available because of its location.