The high school lent its new theater facilities to a hands-on performing arts conservatory for kids ages 11 through 18.

For three hours each morning, students chose from a wide selection of classes that ranged from standup comedy and choir to costume design and ballet. And after a half-hour lunch, the participants rehearsed for their performance of The Wiz.

For some students, like Maureen Babiarz, these jam-packed days of classes and rehearsing were the answer to an otherwise ordinary summer.

"I'm just doing it for the experience. I like acting, but I like doing a lot of the other stuff, too," she said.

But others like Babiarz's friend, Eileen Jao, enrolled at the conservatory to buff up her acting and singing skills.

"I've only done one musical before this, and I felt like I could get more experience here," said the Presentation High sophomore. "I've learned to have more confidence, and I've made some new friends."

And even though only 45 percent of the students had prior theater experience, those not considering a future in the arts said they still enjoyed the courses that the program offered.

Saint Francis freshman Katie Petersen, who especially liked the conservatory's comedy-analysis class, said, "I'm not funny enough to become a comedian; I have to actually take a class to be funny. But I still learned a lot from the program, and I met a lot of cool people."

Standup-comedy instructor Mike Welch said his classes were designed to teach children more than just the art of comedy.

"I hope that they'll get an appreciation of how you can turn your stress into comedy and not let it affect you," said Welch, who has worked in comedy clubs across the country for more than 14 years. "We all encounter stress and it builds inside of you, and comedy is a good outlet to get rid of it."

Instead of using a traditional classroom setting, Welch set up a microphone and speaker in front of his class and allowed students to take turns practicing their acts. At the end of each routine, Welch joined his students in critiquing material and making suggestions.

After taking one of Welch's comedy classes, Los Gatos High School senior Reese Zecchin is considering standup comedy as a profession.

"Either that, or I'll run for president," said Zecchin, who also happens to be the only male participating in this summer's conservatory.

Welch's casual classroom manner was the norm throughout the program, with teachers and students on a first-name basis.

The conservatory's director, Jeff Hicks, said this kind of casual instruction emphasized that performing arts is about teamwork.

"Education, specifically theater-arts education, is not a dictatorship. There needs to be an equal respect," said Hicks, who has been running conservatories in California for more than seven years.

Presentation High senior Katie Brennan said her instructors' hands-on approach to teaching was what she liked best about the conservatory.

"It was a very interactive program, where I got to learn all of the aspects that go into a show, and that was really cool," Brennan said.

Hicks said the greatest part of this summer's conservatory was watching his students grow.

"There are a number of students here who could follow a professional career in the arts," he said. "Whether it be in front of the footlights or behind the footlights."