There is a School Board meeting on Thursday, January 17th at 7:30 PM, at the high school. It's in the Lecture Hall.
There are campus renovations planned. The old 100 Building is slated for destruction, taking the Ford Theater with it. There are no plans to replace the theater. There is a "performance space," separated from the cafeteria by an accordion wall. This area serves as a set construction and rehearsal shed.
Where are the kids supposed to perform? The PAC is shared by over a dozen schools, and is very expensive. Yes, the schools have to pay to use a building that our tax dollars have paid to build. Gotta pay the light bill, you know. And theater is not the only elective to use the PAC. There are band, choir and orchestra productions performed there. In short, there is a lot of competition for the space.
Each school needs to have some reasonable facsimile of a theater. We're not asking for a PAC for every school. Just a performance space that can seat 100 or so.
The theater students have created a presentation that they intend to make at the meeting.
If you have any idea that theater is a good thing for kids, go to the meeting just to let the School Board know that you care.
I'd be there if I could, but I have Final Dress for "Shakespeare in Hollywood." Brendan will be there, though.
I hope you get loads of support for this, Ronni. A worthy cause indeed.
ReplyDeleteWith education being free in Scotland, we get very few extras for our children and grandchildren. There is always private tutoring, though.
Theater and choir have always been the cheapest of electives. No uniforms, no instruments, no equipment. The kids in the musical have to put up $75 each toward their costume rental, but that's about it for expenses.
ReplyDeleteThey learn so much in these classes that it just seems so unfair that some schools have theaters and others have nothing.
I wish you lived closer because that is just wrong and needs to be addressed. I am wishing you good luck in finding a better solution.
ReplyDeleteRonni,
ReplyDeletego to the livonia.k12.mi.us site and then to the "programs" under there, go to the creative and performing arts section....
you will see just how important the arts are here!
Hey Ronster,
ReplyDeleteOne of the things percolating in my mind about what NxNW can bring to the community, is a theatre that can also be used by the RRISD. Beryl at Westwood would use it. I'd happily manage it. I have yet to get past it just being an idea. Maybe you or those you know could let it marinate too -- and we could come up with a plan.
There's PLENTY of empty space ripe for renovation in the RRISD.