The Drama Department wrapped up its last performance of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” another comedic musical production last month. The focused on a group of six spelling bee contestants who came from diverse backgrounds and showcased diverse personalities.
The play attracted a plethora of audience members from MTHS, Mountlake Terrace, and neighboring communities, receiving wide acclaim by the unique plot and captivating characters.
But, the polished nature of the play gave no indication to the strain the department is currently under.
Due to rising costs, the Drama Department has struggled greatly to maintain its financial resources.
Although “Spelling Bee” was produced using a comparatively small budget, the department still had to pay for peripheral expenses, including the rights (permission to use the artist materials), royalties (the payment to the artist and publisher) and rental of the materials. Before the production could even begin they were required to make a payment of more than $3,500, about $1,000 higher than the average cost for a musical just five years ago.
“The publishing companies are very careful about maintaining copyright and will not release the scripts and orchestration of the music to the general population,” drama teacher Jeannie Brzovic said.
According to Brzovic, the world-renowned program is nearing its demise mainly due to continuously low audience turn-outs and, therefore, a lack of revenue. Since the program depends on its ticket sales to pay its bills and purchase set equipment and costumes, failing attendance will make it harder for the program to stay afloat during the current economic downturn.
“I realize that most people do not understand the financial aspect of this program, but this production, like most of the musicals, runs around $6,000 to produce. I used to think the failing audience was due to the division of our school into small learning community structures. However, we have not seen a return of our audience,” Brzovic said.
“Most people probably think our program is just a high school kind of theatre so they’re reluctant to come, yet last year it was selected as one of the top 10 drama programs in the nation,” actor Irving Garcia said.
Garcia has been part of the drama department for two years and has starred in such school productions as “Harvey,” “Once Upon a Mattress,” and “Spelling Bee.”
“A small house used to be around 250 people. Ever since the implementing of small schools a small house is now 75 people. I feel we are still yet to recover from them and become a whole community again,” Brzovic said.
Consequently, the Drama Department has been forced to employ more resourceful and thrifty strategies. They reuse bits and pieces of the sets over and over again. They also borrow furniture and set dressings from homes, and if purchases are necessary they shop extensively before buying.
“Our goal is to cover the expense of the shows in addition to continue to prioritize the quality of program and variety of selection and connections for curricular materials in English and social studies. If we do earn extra money, we reinvest it into the program by upgrading the old and outdated equipment,” Brzovic said.
With the many accomplishments the Drama Department and its members have achieved at both regional and national levels during the past year and earlier this year, the cessation of the department is a serious prospect.
“It will leave a gaping hole for the educational opportunity provided for the performing arts students,” Brzovic said.
Both Brzovic and Garcia said they believe that greater advertising and word-of-mouth as well as more support from the faculty would help the department increase its audience numbers.
Senior Alix Deenin, who played Marcy in “Spelling Bee” said, “It’s an amazing program. Everyone has some sort of vent, whether it’s sport, music, skateboarding, etc. Drama is ours. Without support from this community, we would lose this crucial part of our lives.”
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