Tigard Theatre Students Bring Art, History and Teamwork to Is He Dead?

A fast-paced comedy about artists faking a death has sent Tigard High School Theatre Department students deep into the history of painting as they prepare to bring “Is He Dead?” to the stage. The first mainstage production of the 2026-27 season opens Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m.

Since staging work began in late September, students have explored the life of French artist Jean-Francois Millet and the world of the 1840s. Their preparation has included learning about the Barbizon school of painting that Millet helped make famous. That research gives the cast a historical foundation for a deliberately silly story, connecting the characters’ artistic ambitions with the world that inspired the comedy.

Written by Mark Twain and unpublished during Twain’s lifetime, the play was adapted by David Ives and made its Broadway debut in 2007. Its inspiration came from the posthumous bidding war between the United States and France over Millet’s painting “The Angelus.” Onstage, a group of struggling artists stages their mentor’s death to increase the value of the paintings. Keeping that scheme alive requires cross-dressing, a full-scale fake funeral and deceptions involving the characters’ romantic relationships.

The students’ contributions extend well beyond the cast. Technical theater, costume and lobby crews are working alongside the actors to put the production together. The department has also brought classroom collaborators into the process: the graphic design class has contributed to the poster design, while the Art Seminar class has created artwork for the props and set. Those pieces give students’ visual art a role in telling a story about painters.

Tickets are available online or at the door, with general admission priced at $15 and tickets for students, senior citizens and teachers at $10. Opening night on Nov. 12 is a pay-what-you-will performance. The schedule also includes 2 p.m. matinees on Nov. 14 and 21.

Next on the calendar is the spring musical “Kiss Me, Kate!” The classic backstage comedy by Cole Porter features Broadway standards including “Another Opening, Another Show,” “Too Darn Hot” and “Brush Up Your Shakespeare.” Performances are March 4, 5, 11 and 12 at 7 p.m., with matinees March 6 and 13 at 2 p.m.