Bringing Sound to P.S.17Q

Courtney Demri is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Rebecca Heyward.

Donation protected

Hello! I am the theater teacher at P.S. 17Q and have been granted the exciting opportunity to direct The Lion King KIDS with our talented 3rd graders. This Fall I applied for the Disney Musicals in Schools Program and after a several step interview process, our school was privileged to receive the grant. The grant includes free rights to any Disney KIDS show, a professional development workshop, and 3 full days with a teaching artist on site at rehearsals. The culminating performance will be both at P.S. 17Q and on Broadway at The New Amsterdam Theater. Our Disney school team is very excited to begin the rehearsal process: we have on staff a choreographer, musical director, and stage manager. We are a very supportive staff looking to take on this exciting challenge however we are lacking the funding needed to bring this production to life. P.S. 17 is a title 1 school that serves children from low socioeconomic status. Our population is diverse and a majority of our population are English language learners who thrive in the arts. The arts provide a non-constrictive way to learn – students can express themselves through movement, music, song, and dance.

I am in my second year teaching at P.S. 17Q and pioneered their theater program. During my time at P.S.17Q I have directed two second grade musicals, a third grade Shakespeare in the Park production of Macbeth, and a devised first grade anti-bullying play. Our music teacher most recently had his students perform at Carnegie Hall and currently has his students studying with a world-renowned flutist. Our arts program is thriving but unfortunately we are lacking a proper sound system for our performers to be heard.

This is a completely collaborative project with the entire 3rd grade team. All sets, props, costumes, and promotional materials are made by our talented students.

We are eager for our students hard work to shine on stage but we need your help to make that happen! Please help bring our students voices to life!

After researching the proper sound equipment needed for our performance purposes and it has been decided body mics for the children will be most beneficial. After speaking with several companies, I have received a quote on a rented sound system package that will best suite the needs of our school.

The sound system rental costs $5,000 which includes the microphones, sound technician, and sound mixing board! Our show is in May so we therefore are in need of these funds by April 15th, 2017.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING THE ARTS THRIVE IN THIS COMMITED NYC PUBLIC SCHOOL!
- P.S.17 Disney Team