THE SHOW MUST GO ON - Support Students Passion to Perform!

The Link to The Las Vegas Review Journal's Coverage On Our Story, and My Current Updates:

https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/education/thats-so-fetch-parent-saves-mean-girls-production-after-school-cancels-it-3373144/

The show has concluded, and I want to thank everyone for your support. You helped to make this possible, and the experience was beyond beautiful! The kids were brilliant on stage, and the closing night, absolutely epic! Thank you for helping make something happen which transcended something tragic into a complete fairytale with a perfect ending!

Maybe it was only the beginning... I will keep you all posted. Thank you for joining this movement in doing what was right fir in supporting our youth, their hard work, and their creative expression! You are all heroes!

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PREVIOUSLY:

I reach out to you with a heartfelt request for your support with an incredibly important project - one that involves the passion, dedication, and future of young students in our community after they were failed by the very system sworn to support them along their educational journey.

Allow me to take you on a tour, as it has been experienced if living in the shoes of the students...

Whether you graduated recently, or long ago, I ask you to imagine yourself back in high school again. Think back to that time of vulnerability, choices, and a world with your future on the horizon! Emotions are strong, attitudes are somewhat carefree, and the possibilities, endless.

You attend a Magnet school offering one of the most prestigious performing arts programs where you live. Your school is one of only two in the area that requires students to audition for acceptance.

You've been looking forward to this since the end of last year - It is time for this year's anticipated big annual musical production, and everyone is eager! You and your peers have poured your hearts into your craft! You especially have had an amazing teacher who is a constant figure for strong encouragement, strict directives, and who has always been there offering genuine support and building your confidence since you began at the school. Your opinion of the teacher is widely shared.

Your excitement and anticipation peaks after you audition for your dream role in the upcoming show, and were casted! Time continues...

You all have been rehearsing for or over 2 months now. Suddenly, your teacher is absent, no one knows whats going on aside from rumors that seem unjust. Your teacher was the glue that kept things together!

About a week and a half later, the school administration calls the students all in for a meeting. It is announced, without compassion, that they have canceled the musical. You are all in shock. You notice some of your friends are now sobbing uncontrollably, one person collapses from the impact of the news. Everyone is devastated, many lose hope altogether and become depressed. You, with a few peers, as most teens do, express your emotional reaction through your personal social media outlet.

The next day at school, you're surprised to get pulled into the administration office. You are seemingly scolded for being so vocal on social media platforms regarding your feelings on the situation because it was drawing too much attention. You are urged to stop posting. Once dismissed back to class, you feel lost, silenced, robbed of your goals, and betrayed by those who are supposed to help you grow. This is all without a safe place to turn. You wonder how and why anyone could let this happen! This did not help any student, it only harmed them all!

How would you feel? What if this happened to your own child, and without any formal communication to you as a parent?

This was the reality that occurred at my daughter's school and where many other parent's children currently attend.

The whole situation was devoid of concern for the students. Every question parents voiced was avoided, dodged, or responded by heavily weighed contradictions.

My heart became heavy, especially for the seniors. This was meant to be the last show of their high school career together on their school stage. I witnessed an entire group of amazing, lively, and talented students, at the brink of moving forward in life, have their spirits broken.

Hasty decisions were made at the school with little thought for the attending students or their emotional well-being. Children attend school to learn life skills and gain an educational foundation. It is hoped and expected that the administration within any school will help children prepare for their futures, nurture their growth, support their achievements, highlight their progress, and advocate for them when needed! These kids put their efforts and passions into something they love and believe in, and their trust was trampled.

After learning more details of the situation, each parent, student, and those on the theater board agreed, something was very wrong.

I could not sit idle.

I pushed for resolvement, fully confident I could help put matters back on track.

I began with a petition that gained vast popularity. I made phone calls, wrote emails, called and held meetings with administrators, and communicated with the school, the district, and union! I exhausted every avenue I could fathom. Despite my efforts and the band of parents in my corner, I was still unable to convince the school to reinstate the musical, regardless of having viable and practical solutions to each obstacles posed.

Everyone was at a loss, and the students were still left broken-hearted.

I couldn’t stand complacent. Sheer determination struck my heartstrings, and through tunneled vision, I improvised...

I personally purchased the rights to the musical and began organizing rehearsals outside of school hours.

I have experienced student demeanors light up once again after their show was given back to them! Knowing someone cared enough to fight for them by doing the right thing mattered so much!

I am one person, and every production is always multi-faceted, taking a village to accomplish. The responsibilities continue to amount, yet I remain fully committed to ensuring that these students, who have invested so much of their time and energy, get the opportunity to showcase their talent and perform this musical. This was their school's broken promise now being carried through by a parent without the federal funding that is supposed to go into the very program that was canceled without prior discussion or any direct notice. to the parents, even still. It is more convoluted then I care to express here. I will keep this about the positive movement we are buiding despite opposition! We care enough about the required curriculum and morale of the department's student body to make this happen! The show must go on!

Every moment has been magical since the reinstatement of their show! Despite the burdens of finance, I can think of no better cause worthy of investment. I would never trade this experience for anything since I have been immersed within it. I've had the rare privilege by each opportunity I have had to listen to these kids! I feel a bond with each of them, and I will forever do anything I can for every single one of them! These students are genuine, brilliant, and absolutely amazing individuals! I adore them and I'm so happy to make this happen with your support. We believe in them, and it makes everything possible! They are an inspiration; a true testament of goodness and purity that exists! They show up to every practice with their full commitment and passion in making this show the best ever! We are defying the odds and opposition while paving a new road!

The show must go on, and so must the hearts and minds of these amazing and talented high schoolers!

I will continue doing everything in my power to make this happen. I request those who believe in this movement to join us!

Admittedly, I am the type who never wants to ask for help, especially monetarily, even in dire straights. I now set aside my pride because this project is for them! I humble myself along with any remaining ego in order to achieve our vision.

This movement is for the students of our future generation. They are worth far more than every sacrifice made yet! Their tenacity is creating this show despite every setback imaginable. They show up 3 days every week for 4 hour long rehearsals. Their dedication is beyond reproach!

This production has grown, and it is deserving of more than I am capable. So I ask you to contribute. Together, we can make magic happen, this entire project is driven by huge hearts.

The challenges we face are significant. We do not have the funding or resources that a school has to put on a production of this magnitude. The costs associated with the project - including the licensing, rehearsal space, costumes, sets, props, venue costs, technicians, lighting, programs, videographer, accompaniment, and other necessary elements - have amounted into thousands.

Although I took on these costs without asking anyone initially, Im driven by passion and what felt right. Now your help would truly make an immeasurable difference in the success of this very unique and truly special production.

This musical is about much more than just a performance. It is a testament to the resilience, passion, and perseverance of young artists! It represents an opportunity for them to shine and showcase their hard work in front of a supportive audience.

By supporting this cause, you will not only invest in the education and growth of these students, but also in cultural and artistic development. This production is a symbol of hope and determination, and it will inspire others to support the local arts and our youth's future!

Every donation will become part of this magnanimous movement which gets bigger every day, fueled by the purest of intentions.

Every dollar will go directly toward recouping associated costs and making this production a success for the talented students involved.

This is not just a musical!

Youre impacting moments which will be cherished for a lifetime through fond magical memories, teaching people about the possibility to achieve your dreams!

Thank you so much for your time and consideration!

Please, we invite you to also come and see our show!

May 16th

4pm and 7pm

May 18th

1:30pm and 5pm

Location:

"NOTORIETY"

(Freemont)