Theater Boosters Families/Alumni –

Since we are now a 401[3]C, there are certain things we need to do to close out the year. This email will serve as our final parent/board meeting for 2019-2020. We will convey all upcoming theater information as we know it, and provide the current financial statement. If anyone has any questions, please send them in and we will get back to you ASAP. Here goes:

AUDIO EQUIPMENT FUNDRAISER

We did it!! HUGE THANK YOU.

  • Through the generosity of all of you, your friends, family and TB alumni – we raised $5,100.

  • In addition, VP of TB Fundraising, Rachel Burnett [Marissa’s mom], secured us a grant from the CCPTA in the amount of $1,719.

  • With the guidance of Duane Loomis [video systems engineer for APS/AETV], we were able to purchase:

    • eight new SLX lavaliere mic system sets

    • six new lavaliere mics to replace the broken ones on the existing BLX sets

    • four new headset mics that can be interchanged with the lavalieres as needed

    • all necessary antenna power distribution + cables + rack/storage cases

The W-L Theater department is in good stead on the audio front for years to come. Sadly, we were not able to enjoy the benefits with the cancellation of Kiss Me Kate, but the equipment did arrive the week school shut down and Ms. Burnett made sure that it was accounted for and under lock and key in Mr. Cassidy’s room.

AUDITORIUM EVALUATION

The long-awaited evaluation of the auditorium by ACG took place, and any repairs that could be done under the budget in hand got resolved. Jimmy Sterns [head of facilities at W-L] has really been advocating for us and making sure things that he can take care of on his “in house” budget get fixed.

  • Audio was returned back to its original working state

  • For lighting, ACG rehung, replaced bulbs, refocused, added gels. They also updated the software on the lighting board and added something called a “magic sheet” which is similar to a rep. plot but on the light board itself.

  • Both Keith and Danny were there as well as the tech kids when ACG gave an overview of what they had done.

  • Mr. Sterns also called in mechanics to fix a huge rolling door backstage [that had been unoperational for a while] so the huge Noises Off set pieces could get moved off stage!

  • Mr. Sterns placed a work order with APS regarding the purchase/installation of a scrim sheet on the stage – but there has been no movement on this so far.

TB OFFICERS/VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

We are looking for someone to take over the Secretary position on the Board ASAP. This is a fairly easy job that basically requires being at the 2-3 Parent Meetings a year to take minutes and assist in any group-wide communications. Please email us at wltheaterboosters@gmail.com.

WHAT IS FALL 2020 LOOKING LIKE?

We asked Mr. Cassidy what we might be able to expect. Since there is no definite plan of how the students will return to school, Mr. Cassidy offered the following scenarios – but please remember all of this is fluid and dependent on how APS moves forward: We do have a theatre season planned for next year. For now, we plan on moving forward with the assumption that we will be back to normal in the fall. If that is not the case, we will augment the plans to conform with whatever the new schedule will be. I was hoping to have a scaled down concert style version of “Kiss Me, Kate” performed in the fall. We tried very hard to find a way to make this happen. However, conflicting schedules with the music department and the needs of the auditorium were making such an endeavor a logistical nightmare. For now, it looks like that won’t happen. For now, students should hold on to their music and scripts, just in case. When a final decision is made, and it is, indeed, cancelled, I will provide information on how to return the materials. If we are able to return to school under normal conditions in the fall, we will be going back to the schedule we followed a couple of years ago. One Acts will be performed sometime during the week of November 2 – 6. We can work out the actual performance dates, once we know how many shows there will be and how long each show is. This will mean that anyone wishing to direct a one-act needs to return to school with a script ready. The Musical will be performed January 28, 29 & 30. It will most likely be “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Auditions for one-acts and the musical will happen pretty soon after school begins. The musical will rehearse only once or twice a week until November 6th, allowing the one-act directors to rehearse their shows without conflict. After that, the musical will begin rehearsing full time. The spring play will most likely be either “Our Town” or “The Laramie Project”. It will perform April 15, 16, & 17. Should we not return to school in the fall, we may decide to switch it up and perform our play online. Either “Our Town” or “The Laramie Project” will work fine under those conditions. We would then try to reschedule the musical for later. I’m not sure, exactly how this would work, but, if that is the case, I will work with Ms. Severin, the music dept, and the admin team, to find the best solution.

CAPPIES SHOUT OUT

As you know, Noises Off was the W-L CAPPIE show this year. The show got a great write up in the Sun Gazette, and the critiques can also be read on the CAPPIE website at https://www.cappies.com/nca/Home/ArticleID/700. We like to think that some awards would have come our way this year at the Kennedy Center -- it was such a great show! Mr. Cassidy shared the following: Even though the Cappies Gala and Awards were cancelled this year, I did receive permission to honor four Cappies Commendees. These medallions are awarded to students who have greatly contributed to the success of their school’s theatre program. This year, I have awarded those medallions to: Sydney Fisher, Sydney Miller, Lyndsey Gradowski, and Brady Dunne. I have the medallions and will either mail them personally, or deliver them to the admin team, who will mail them along with other awards.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Thanks to our Treasurer Anna Darin [Sebastian’s mom], attached is the 2019-2020 financial statement that we are required to maintain. If you have any questions, please let us know. We have done our best to account for all the unique ins-and-outs that a theater season entails – and welcome any suggestions for the future. We hope everyone has a wonderful summer. The website will get updated with any information we have to pass on. Please tell your thespians to reach out to Mr. Cassidy and Mr. Issa, keep up with their various chat groups and look for auditions etc. when the new school year starts.

—Susan + Anna + Rachel 2019-2020 Theater Booster Officers