When Los Gatos High’s drama teacher retired in 2024, the school never successfully hired a drama teacher for the 2024-25 school year. That void was filled this year when Saratoga High drama teacher Benjamin Brotzman stepped up to lead the drama department at both campuses.
Brotzman has taught at SHS since 2021 and previously advised SHSTV, the school-wide broadcast.
This year, Brotzman is teaching at Los Gatos during 1st and 3rd period, returning to SHS for his 7th period Stage Tech class. On Blue Days, he teaches Theatre at SHS. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, Brotzman also holds rehearsals for SHS theater productions.
As a result of his new schedule, he didn’t have room in his schedule for advising SHSTV, a contributing reason the class didn’t run this year.
With this busy schedule, Brotzman is learning to balance working at two campuses simultaneously.
“It’s been a little hard to manage conflicts with my family, but overall I have enough time to go back and forth,” Brotzman said. “It can be a challenge having two different offices, two different phone lines, checking messages all the time and then having to remember, ‘Which play are you talking about?’”
While Brotzman will be teaching drama classes at LGHS, his involvement in their mainstage productions is minimal. He assisted in selecting their fall play, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” and spring musical, “Hadestown.”
At SHS, Brotzman is directing the fall Play, “The Madwoman of Chaillot,” and spring musical, “Urinetown.”
Traveling between campuses, Brotzman has noticed very different attitudes among students at the two schools.
“There are a lot of differences in the mindset of how students interact with each other in class, and where their interest lies in terms of participating in shows,” Brotzman said. “All of the students are interested in theater, and I like them both very much, but it’s a different vibe.”
Brotzman is working to develop a drama program at LGHS to mirror the one at SHS — which includes forming a drama leadership team and inducting students into the International Thespian Society. He also hopes to include LGHS in SHS events through attending the California Thespian Festival in March.
LGHS Drama Department’s production of “Peter and the Starcatcher” will run from Nov. 13-15 at the Prentis Brown Auditorium, while SHS production of “The Madwoman of Chaillot” will run from Nov. 7-9 and Nov. 14-15 at the McAfee Center.
