The John Burroughs High School (JBHS) Drama Department is celebrating a major milestone. Under the leadership of drama director Ms. Beth Meberg, JBHS Drama’s production of Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins was selected to perform at the prestigious California Educational Theatre Association (CETA) High School Theater Festival, held January 16–18, 2026, in Fullerton.
Out of approximately 65 productions from across Southern California, JBHS earned the highest possible adjudication scores, receiving straight 4s across the board and placing the program among the top four productions evaluated at the festival. The selection to perform on CETA’s mainstage alone is a rare honor, and pairing that with top marks is an extraordinary achievement that speaks to the talent, discipline, and heart of the students involved.
While the cast shined onstage, the JBHS Stagecraft Team was quietly performing a feat of its own. Tasked with transporting the entire set and technical elements to Fullerton, the team had just four hours (a process that typically takes two days) to load in and rebuild the show on a new stage with different dimensions and unfamiliar technical equipment.
They rose to the challenge with professionalism and precision. Festival staff and the Fullerton tech team took note of the students’ deep technical knowledge, seamless teamwork, efficiency, and calmness under pressure. For their outstanding work, JBHS Stagecraft was awarded the “Best Tech Crew at CETA Weekend” Award, a distinction that underscores the program’s strength both onstage and behind the scenes…