By Kathryn Reed

When the $13 million Theater Arts and Design Academy opens in August it will be like a Hollywood studio.

Just how much like one students got to find out this month as they toured the real deal in Southern California. Five students and four adults ventured south to learn how what they will do in the classroom will translate to the real world.

Principal Ivone Larson takes a photo of students by old film cameras. Photo/Provided

Although retired teacher Doug Sprague started making this trip 24 years ago, the significance now is South Tahoe High School will begin offering more specialized classes that have applicable skills to post-graduation jobs.

The career tech path is part of the California Arts Media and Entertainment sector. The building is part of the $64.5 million voter approved bond.

Some of the professionals the group met were South Tahoe High grads. Casey Adams works in the stunt field, while Matt Lucas does promos for Warner Brothers.

Scott Ramirez, IT guru at the high school, was one of the adults on the trip. He will be an integral player in keeping everything running.

“By taking our tech person we gain experience in how to translate this to the classroom,” explained Principal Ivone Larson. “It gave us ideas for great lessons for the kids.”

The structure of the TADA building will be finished in two months, with the fun components put in place over the summer and ready for when school starts in August.

Classes like video editing, digital media arts, Garage Band, and website creation will be offered among others.

A collaborative approach is being taken so one student may be working on sound editing, while another is doing promotional work, someone else is directing, and others are getting things ready for the stage or campus television.

“South Tahoe High is where arts and academics take center stage,” is how Larson is billing it.