2024 Spring Production of Romeo & Juliet

Funded Mar 27, 2024

I cannot thank you enough for your support in purchasing so many of the props, set materials, and microphones needed to make TBLS's annual Spring Production of Romeo & Juliet come to life. Similar to most clubs, our budget has come entirely from our efforts to fundraise, but the amount of funds we would generate was never enough to make huge strides in production value. We always had the talent, the dedication, but never quite the means. With your generous donations and those from Donors Choose, we had more of what we needed to "level up" our production value for the first time ever in TBLS history!

One particular need that students asked for consistently for the past couple of years was for microphones. Although our auditorium has a decent sound system, it was never utilized because wireless microphones cost hundreds of dollars for even just a few of them. It would have taken up the entire budget for the show none would be left for costumes, props, etc. So without them, students needed to push their voices to the extreme since acoustics are not ideal in our auditorium, their range of movement/blocking for scenes was limited to ensure their voices would travel out toward the audience, and I had to limit seating in the auditorium to only the first ten or so rows to make sure everything would be heard. With your generous support, we were able to procure 8 wireless microphones which allowed everyone to be heard, actors could perform comprehensive fight choreography, and the audience could sit in the back row and not miss a line of dialogue!

Additionally, with your support in acquiring materials for the set, we were able to utilize members of the TBLS Fine Arts Club to craft the backdrop that was hung and utilized in various scenes to show the city of Verona. They would not have been able to do it without your support in purchasing the huge canvas cloth, the paint, and the brushes needed to make it happen. Similarly, your donations helped with acquiring various props and making the Capulet party scene feel like a true celebration with all the set dressing items that were purchased (tablecloths, glow sticks, streamers, feathered carnival masks, etc.). Similar to the microphones, your support allowed for our minimal budget to focus on getting costumes that would elevate the production quality. We truly cannot thank you enough for supporting the Arts for our children!”

With gratitude,

Mr. Shefer