DeWitt Elementary School New Stage Curtains

DeWitt Elementary School was the last elementary school built in the Cuyahoga Falls City School District in 1968.  DeWitt Elementary has been home to thousands of students over the past 50 years, even educating multiple generations of families.  As with any building, 50 years of busy usage begins to take its toll on the facility.   Our current stage curtains are the original stage curtains from 1968 and are now unusable.  When the building was new, there was a curtain against the back wall, called a cyclorama curtain.  Due to extensive wear and tear, that curtain was removed and discarded many years ago, leaving a bare brick wall.  There are also two tan border curtains that are not hung correctly and contain tears.  The most extensive damage, however, can be seen on the main stage curtain that is visible to the audience. Due to thread rot, the main curtain has split apart in multiple sections, and there are major tears in other parts of the curtain.  Parents have attempted to sew the holes closed, only to have them rip open again due to the age of the material.  Currently, there is one large tear that runs from the top of the curtain track to the floor of the stage that has been closed by staples.  The flame retardant treatment on the material is no longer viable and does not meet current fire code standards for stage draperies.  Due to the current condition of the fabric, the main curtain will not be usable for any performances on stage for the 2018-2019 school year and beyond. With the approval of Dr. Todd Nichols, Superintendent, and Barbara Donohue, Treasurer of Cuyahoga Falls City Schools,  and under the guidance of DeWitt Elementary School Principal, Catherine Perrow,  music teacher, Christine Stewart, is launching a fundraising campaign to raise money to purchase the following items for the DeWitt Elementary School stage: 1. One main stage curtain 2. One main stage curtain valance 3. One upstage cyclorama curtain in black 4. One border curtain in black After receiving multiple quotes from theatrical stage drapery companies, Erie Street Theatricals, Inc. is the company that will manufacture and install the stage curtains.  The cost for the entire project is $5,504.  We are hoping to raise this money in the spring of 2019 so the curtains can be manufactured and installed over the summer of 2019 and ready to be used by the first day of school for the 2019-2020 school year. Our wish is for 100 people to donate $55.  Any amount, however, no matter the size, is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support and helping to provide the best possible performance space for our students at DeWitt!