Hello NH Drama Club Parents,

What a fantastic group who gathered at the recent Drama Club  kick-off meeting!

Attached are the meeting notes from the Parent Meeting held on September 9, 2019. 

Also thank you to those who volunteered to help with the upcoming events! If you haven't signed up already, please consider it as your time supports the students. If you already signed up, feel free to sign up for more time slots too!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0b4daea822a3f85-clue

We look forward to seeing all of you more this Fall!

The NH Drama Club Officers 
Casie Beran, Angela Arlia and Chris Kubala

Dear TUCK EVERLASTING Cast/Crew/Orchestra Families,
 
Please read the attached information carefully, as it details the process of our new online ticketing and box office system through ShowClix.  We’ve been talking about making this move for the better part of 5 years now and have for some reason or another not followed through.  With a new leadership team of directors and changes to the program, this seemed to be the logical time to make the switch.  Note that the majority of the schools around us do the exact same thing with comparable pricing, though we opted to include all fees into the price of the ticket rather than passing them on to you at checkout.  So, there is an increase in prices to account for this, though it’s been 11 years since the last increase so we see this price point staying where it is for quite some time!  We’ve also accounted for giving the cast/crew/pit orchestra time to reserve their seats ahead of time just as we used to with the paper pre-sale.  The difference is instead of turning in a form with a check and waiting for your orders to be filled and tickets sent home, you’ll log on, choose your seats, pay for them right then, and decide how you want them to be delivered.  And we’ve figured out a way to offer a (modest) discount during the pre-sale period as well that was never offered in the past.
 
Hopefully the attached document will answer any questions you may have.  We’ve been talking through this process for several months, trying to think of any possible situation that may arise, and think we’ve streamlined everything to make it as easy on all as possible.
 
Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you next month at the shows!

(Click "read more" to see the information)

Hello Drama Club Families,
 
We covered a lot of ground at the meeting on Tuesday evening. For those unable to attend, there are several attachments to this email that will help you to know what we have planned for this spring with the musical, showcase, and alumni Gala fundraiser. Some highlights:
 

• You can always find any information you might need to know at www.nhchoiranddrama.net.  Every piece of paper we distribute is posted under the FORMS tab as well as on the specific show page under the High School Drama link.  Our full rehearsal calendar is also posted as a Google calendar under the CALENDARS link.
• Program ads – we’re asking that each cast, crew, and orchestra member sell one ad (of any size) for the program.  Since we’ve gone to a new format and are sending them out to a professional printer now, we have costs that we didn’t have before.  Program ads help to offset the cost of printing, and any additional revenue brought in benefits the overall drama program.  The ad form is attached.
• Dues for cast and crew were to be turned in Wednesday, January 23.  Dues for the cast are $50, and for the crew $30.  This covers the cost of t-shirts, dvds, the luncheon, cast party, and miscellaneous expenses related to costumes, props, and makeup needs specific to the show.  Checks can be made payable to NHSD with “musical dues” in the memo. (If parent last name is different than the student, please list the student’s name as well so we credit them properly!)
• LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED to help with the 2 weekends of the shows.  We’ve created a SignUp Genius online form and already added the names of those who signed up at the meeting.  There are needs for each night to help with the cookie, flower, candy, and raffle basket tables, someone to sit in the hallway during each show to watch the items while everyone is in the auditorium, decorating/set-up, chaperoning, and clean-up for the luncheon between the 2 shows on the first Saturday, and for the cast party after the final performance.  Click the link below to add your name to as many blanks as possible!
• Ms. Fairley has compiled a list of props or items we think folks may have at home that we could use for the show.  Everything is listed on a Google Doc (also linked below) so that if you have a particular item that you would loan us for the show, you can type your name directly into the doc, showing everyone else which items are taken care of for us.
• Raffle Basket donations are requested from anyone and everyone who could help.  Casie Beran has taken over the baskets this year and we’ve included information about the baskets as well as a letter you can give to business owners who may consider donating something to us.  This is the drama parents’ biggest fundraiser each year, bringing in over $2,000 to help support the students in the drama program.  PLEASE ALSO SEND IN LOTTERY TICKETS (any amount) to help us make 2 “lottery tree” frames to auction off in addition to the baskets.
• We’re looking for a few folks who might consider stepping up into leadership roles next year.  Ang Arlia and Casie Beran have agreed to take on more next year, but we technically need a President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  If we could also have a Vice President of a younger student who would be willing to shadow the President and take over the following year, but we don’t necessarily need that.  Some of our chairs for the various committees will also need to have folks step up to take over for those who have graduating seniors (flower and candy tables, etc.) If you are interested in learning more, feel free to contact the coordinators (listed below).
• We will be moving to ONLINE ticketing this year through ShowClix.  Mr. Cloonan is working out all of the details with the company now, but the plan is to have a window of a week for pre-sales during the last week of February.  The link will be sent out to all families along with a discount code to give you $10 off of your order.  You will be able to select your own seats, and then can choose how you want the tickets to be sent to you – through e-mail, print them out, or have it sent to your phone.  The ushers will scan the tickets on the nights of the show, just like if you go to a show in town.  On March 1, we’ll open the sales to the public.  Folks WILL be able to purchase at the door with cash if they don’t have access to pay online and Chelle Zimmerman in the activities office will have access to the online box office if we need to make special arrangements or accommodations.  As more details become available to us, they will be communicated to everyone so that there is no confusion in this transition to a new way of selling tickets.  Our hope is that it is easy for everyone and that we’ll be asking why we didn’t try this years ago!

 
LINKS TO GET MORE INFO:

• Parent Help Sign-Up Genius Form Link
• Prop/Costume Needs Google Doc Link

 
Links to PDFs that are attached to this email but also posted on the website:

• Parent Meeting Agenda (1/22/19)
• Program Ad Order Form
• Raffle Basket Fundraiser Info
• Business Owner Letter for Basket Donations

 
Some important dates to keep in mind:

• Next week, we have students performing in the Memorial Park Church “Twilight Night” event, showcasing area musicals.  Thursday and Friday at 7:30, you can get a sneak peek at what some of our neighboring schools will be doing as representatives will share solos and duets from their shows.  We’d love to see a nice representation of cast, crew, and orchestra members cheering on Sean Nolan, Julia Arlia, Zach Ford, and Eleanore Pavelle, who are representing NHHS.
• The Middle School Winter Musical, “Mary Poppins, Jr.” is also next week.  Tickets can be purchased at the door, and shows are at 7:00 on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in the Middle School Auditorium.
• Dates of “Tuck Everlasting” are March 21-23, and 28-30 at 7:30PM, with a senior citizen matinee on March 23. Parent-sponsored luncheon between the shows on the 23rd and cast party after the show on the 30th.
• The Drama Club Student Showcase will be held on Friday, May 10 at 7:00PM in the High School Auditorium.  This is our annual talent show for the drama club, that also includes induction of our new members of the International Thespian Society (ITS).
• The Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater take place on Saturday, May 25 at the Benedum.
• We will hold a Theatre Workshop for any interested student on Thursday-Friday, June 6-7 in the high school.  More details, times, info to come later.
• Our first annual Drama Alumni Gala fundraiser event will take place at the Masonic Center on Saturday, June 22 from 6-9PM.  This year will be a tribute to former director Glen Richey for his years running the drama program.  Details will be coming soon about how to participate.

 
Thank you for your participation and support of the drama program at North Hills!
 
Maureen Pearson, Patty Parkhill, Angela Arlia, Casie Beran, parent coordinators
Lauren Sarazen, director; and Shaun Cloonan, producer/vocal director

​Drama Club Families,
 
We have several important announcements to share as we get closer to the play opening this week.  Please read below and respond accordingly:
 

1. There will be a brief meeting after rehearsal on Tuesday, November 13 at 6:30PM in the auditorium.  The student dress rehearsal (with the cast of Mary Poppins, Jr. as the audience) is set to end at 5:30, so we thought 6:00 would be a good time to meet as most would be picking up their students around then anyway.  There are only 3 items to discuss quickly: we need to officially approve by-laws and “elect” officers to begin the process of formally becoming a school board-approved booster organization (we haven’t been in the past).  Our plan is to create a new NH Drama Parents & Friends Association that will include the group of alumni & alumni parents who are putting together the Gala fundraiser, allowing us to combine resources.  The other item is to finalize volunteers…
2. We have created a SignUp Genius form for parent volunteers.  Please click the following link to see who we already have signed up and what is still needed for cookie table, flower, candy, raffle basket, and cast party chaperone volunteers. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0b4daea822a3f85-beverly

 
Some quick items about the show weekend:
 
Friday night—Monte Cellos:
Last year, the cast decided to create a new tradition of going to Monte Cellos on Babcock Boulevard after the Friday show. Prior to last year, the tradition was TGI Fridays, but they closed literally the week before Pride & Prejudice opened!  This is definitely NOT a mandatory activity, but a number of cast and crew members will be going. Parents can drop off, or stay and get their own table...it's entirely your choice. If you are dropping your child off, please make sure they have cash and understand the practice of tipping. They will probably be finished around 11:30-12:00, based on previous years' experience.
 
Saturday afternoon--break between shows.
There will be a break of a couple hours between the Saturday matinee and the Saturday evening show. Some of the kids pack a lunch and stay at the school. Some leave, and either go home or get food locally. This is entirely up to your family! But it's a very long day so please make sure your child has something to eat and drink. We want everyone to feel good and have energy for the evening show!
 
Saturday night--cast party.
Following the Saturday performance, the cast party will be held at North Hills Christian Church, 778 Thompson Run Road, Pgh 15237. All members of the cast and crews are invited to attend.  Please enter through the bottom doors. Contact Katie Knox (412) 302-6508 in case anyone has a question.  Since the kids won't be arriving until 10:30 pm, we think a reasonable end time is 12:30 am. If picking your child up at 12:30, please feel free to pitch in and help clean up! The party is very low-key and we are not decorating, but we do want to leave the church the way we found it. Thanks to the Knox family for securing this space for us!
 
Thank you all for your help in making our drama program shine for our students and our community!
 
The Drama Parent Coordinators & Staff

- NHSD-IT
Hi All,


We are still in need of scratch-off lottery ticket donations for our lottery tree raffle.The lottery tree will be included with our basket auction, which is one of our biggest fundraisers. Please have your students give their donated tickets to either Sean Nolan or Josh Kubala during practice, or you can bring them to the meeting on Tuesday.

Please respond to this email if you would like to contribute anything to the basket auction. So far we have a family fun basket with donations from Fun Slides, Laser Storm, Code Breakers, and the Children's Museum, as well as an Avon Basket, a Mary Kay donation, and a couple of baskets that will be donated by parents.

Thanks so much for all of your help!

NH Drama Parents Coordinators 

Hi, 

Sorry for all of the emails today, but there are a lot of pieces that need to come together with just a few days until the play! We are asking that each cast and crew member donate 3 dozen cookies for the cookie sale. Please bring your donations to the cookie table in the lobby on Thursday, Nov. 15, any time after 6 p.m. 

Thank you!

NH Drama Parents Coordinators

Hello Drama Club Parents,


I am in the process of putting together the basket auction fundraiser for the Fall play, and I could really use your help!  If anyone is a business owner or knows any business owners, or if you know anyone who is involved with any local sports teams (Steelers, Penguins, or Pirates), we could use gift cards of any denomination or any type of merchandise to put in our baskets. Please let me know if you are able to help in any way!

In order to avoid duplicate requests, please note that I have already filled out online request forms or sent emails to the following businesses:

Wahlburger's
Jason's Deli
Monte Cello
Laser Storm
Pines Plaza Lanes
The Barre Code
Code Breakers
West View Floral Shoppe
Children's Museum
Carnegie Science Center
Heinz History Center

I am attaching a donation request form, in case anyone would like to e-mail it or present it in person to any businesses not listed above.


Heather Geyer has generously agreed to donate a Mary Kay product and facial certificate for the basket auction, and Angela Arlia has been kind enough to agree to put together a basket. Thank you so much to both of you! 

A big thank you also goes out to Chris Nolan and Chris Kubala, who have agreed to coordinate putting together a lottery tree that will be auctioned off along with the baskets. We would like to request that each cast and crew member donate one $1 scratch off lottery ticket(higher dollar amounts will also be accepted!). Please have your students give the lottery tickets to Sean Nolan or Josh Kubala at practice by October 31. 

Please let me know if you have any questions, and thanks for all of your help!

Maureen Pearson