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1% Funded

Only $9,950.00 Needed

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Goal

Drama is a unique class, even within the world of fine arts! My students aren't just expected to "do plays," they also design, write, direct, and sing. We want to be a full-fledged drama classroom, complete with costumes, props, art supplies, and a script library.  

What will be done with my students

Our program is divided into three categories: drama class, school plays, and our Jr. Thespians troupe.

We have several units in our drama class which focus on designing, writing, performing, and directing. Some of our projects include a group pantomime, costume design, radio plays, storytelling, set design, and scene writing. Aside from the standard classroom supplies (pencils, markers, etc.) we need funding for a classroom script library, costumes, props, furniture, fabric, sewing supplies, and makeup.

Jr. Thespians is an honor's society for drama students. These students will choose different event categories in performance or design, and showcase their work at the district festival. Our Jr. Thespians Troupe 89506 was founded towards the end of October. In just a little over a month, our kids earned the prestigious rankings of Superior and Excellent, and earned the right to present at the State Festival! At this three day festival in February, our kids will present their work to professional actors, designers, and writers. They will also get the opportunity to take master classes from industry professionals. Our students will remember this experience for the rest of their lives.

Hands down, the most exciting activity for a drama student is the school play. The purpose of this extracurricular activity is to expose our students to a professional drama experience. Many of our students hope to be accepted into fine arts high schools or to earn scholarships to private schools through their work int he performing arts, so we will hold them to a very high standard. Performers will stretch their acting, singing, and dancing skills as they work together to tell a compelling story. Designers and tech crew will collaborate to bring the world of the play to life. By the end of each performance, the cast and crew will have bonded and created life-long friendships. 

Benefits to my students

While most of our students will not grow up to be professional thespians, the skills and experiences gained by participating in drama are innumerable. With the invention of social media, teenagers today are struggling to develop interpersonal skills. This is not a problem for drama students. By performing a role, actors practice empathy and compassion for others. They will also develop a physical and vocal awareness that is vital in the professional world. Technical design students will be constantly developing their innovative and creative problem-solving skills. Someone has to figure out how to make an actor look like an ogre in Shrek: the Musical, or how to make Mary Poppins fly!

Most important of all, drama is a community art form. The actors, technical crew, designers, and directors all have to work like a fine-tuned machine. In the drama classroom, we constantly practice collaboration, effective communication, and self-advocacy. 

Budget Narrative

Putting a play together is expensive, even if you have the equipment available. The items I am requesting are based on the average cost for a musical. The first play we did at ELMS cost over $1000 and we were really pinching pennies. As you can see, the licensing and script fees alone average $1000. As we are a brand new program, we do not have costumes, props, or even scripts on hand. Almost all of the items requested will be reused for years to come.  

Items