Meeting Recap & Info

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