| Support for 2024-25 Stage Productions - 2024 |
Amount Funded: $5,000.00 |
| SHS Fall Musical OLIVER! - 11/2024; SHS Spring Play/s TBD - 3/2025; River Bluff Musical TBD - 5/2025. The Stoughton High School Choir and Theatre Programs took a beating during COVID. It lost existing students, future students, money, and audience attendance. After COVID the theatre program ran a deficit the first time in the director’s 20+ years of service to the SASD. Despite the many challenges and hardships brought on by COVID restrictions, it was also one of SHS Theatre’s finest moments. While other area schools did not hold shows or events that entire year, in 2020-21 our high school filmed and streamed three virtual shows. That gave students a desperately-needed artistic and social outlet, and a rare opportunity to perform in a unique format (video). Although tickets were sold to the streaming events, the sales did not match what an audience typically pulls in and did not cover the multitude of expenses associated with producing a show (or a movie!), thereby gobbling up the theatre nest egg, and putting the program in debt. As of Fall 2024 the program has not been able to rebuild their account. The only source of income is through ticket sales, because theater does not charge a participation fee in order to keep it accessible for all students regardless of financial means. In the last few years ticket sales have not met expenses. (SACF’s assistance in 2023 was instrumental in helping the students produce both a Fall Musical and a Spring Play for that school year.) The requested ten thousand dollars would allow Choir Boosters to subsidize two or three performances at the high school and the middle school Spring Musical. The Fall musical alone costs upwards of $8,000 to put on, between show rights, set, and costumes. The school continues to support the program, but due to the low funds in the account, without outside financial help, productions will be bare bones until the account is replenished. Putting on high-quality shows is a point of pride in our district, and the better our shows look, the more attractive they are to future students. The theatre is a safe and accepting place that welcomes students of all walks. In my experience back stage as a costume volunteer, I can say with certainty that theatre saves young lives. It gives students an inclusive and accepting school home where they can express emotion and find kinship and joy. It also provides uplifting entertainment to the residents of Stoughton who attend the shows! |
| Choir Boosters of Stoughton Schools is asking for $10,000 of ARPA funds. 90% of those funds will go directly towards the expenses (set building, costumes, orchestral backing tracks, and show rights) associated with putting on the live theatre productions at Stoughton High School and River Bluff Middle School during the 2023-24 school year. This will help 50-75 student actors, singers, dancers, and stage crew. And it will bring joy to hundreds of audience members.The remaining 10% will be kept as reserve funds to support the choir department. Frequently Boosters are asked to supplement the Choir budget with unexpected purchases or to support students in need, and 1000 would give us the means to do so. |
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