An Espanola school will have curtains for their new stage, thanks to support from local service clubs and private donors.
Jodi Bourcier who oversees the music program at Sacred Heart says the new school did not have curtains for their stage area that would allow access from both sides.
“We got our original quote last year for $13000. With money raised from previous productions as well as donations in memory of Keitha Kozachanko, Theresa Donnelly and Teresa Bourcier we still needed approximately $2,500.
“Last year the drama club presented “All Together Now” and held a bake sale near the end of the year at a Talent Show. This Christmas we presented a Christmas play and the proceeds from that gave us enough to pay that cost.”
She says students and staff started raising funds to create a walkway across the back as well as wings on each side for actors and props.
Bourcier says thanks to the generosity of donors, and the most recent donations by the Espanola Elks, and the Espanola Lions Club, they raised the over $15,000 needed.
“Unfortunately, the updated quote was significantly more due to inflation. We needed just over $2,000 to meet the new quote, but my concern was that by the time we could raise that money the cost might increase again (the quotes are only good for 90 days).
“It was suggested that I make a request to local organizations by members of the Lions and the Elks, so we wrote to both clubs. It was presented to the Lions by Trina Dubreuil and to the Elks by Olivia Houle. “Both clubs, as they have always done for so many groups in our community, came through with generous donations that made it possible for us to order the curtains,” explains Bourcier.
She adds the board’s business department is now finalizing the purchase and it is hoped the curtains arrive soon.
Bourcier adds they are now starting another campaign to raise funds for upgrading the sound and lighting system, so the students will present the play Dorothy in Wonderland in early June to launch that campaign.
“This doesn’t mean our fundraising is done. The stage has a high quality sound and lighting system, but it is not yet functional. The necessary framework is there (cable ducts in the walls) but no wiring is run through them yet. We also need a sound board that would have to be connected to the existing system, and would still eventually like to upgrade to LED lights because they are more efficient and have more capabilities like changing colour without setting up scaffolding to out gels (colour filters) in each bulb,” explains Bourcier.
“On June 2nd and 3rd, we are presenting “Dorothy in Wonderland” which starts at the end of “The Wizard of Oz” when another tornado sweeps everyone to Wonderland where they encounter all of the classic characters from that story,” she adds.
Rehearsals are well underway and the students are thrilled to see their hard work pay off. Bourcier extends a heartfelt thank you to all the donors and organizations who have assisted the school in their fundraising goal(s).
