After award-winning run, drama team needs funds

Friday night, Estancia High School’s drama team was performing at the California Educational Theatre Assn. conference in Rancho Cucamonga because they’d won a prestigious Mainstage award.

The team was overjoyed when they heard about the honor in December, calling it their version of winning a CIF championship. Now the award-winning students are asking for community support for their next production.

As they return from performing “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” their attention must turn to the next production, their biggest of the year — a musical using Newport Harbor High School’s larger venue.

On top of actually performing “Guys and Dolls,” the drama team will have to transport every element of the play from Estancia to Harbor. Because of that, they’re short on money.

“…we truly do not have the budget to fund the set’s transportation, [the] set’s set-up costs, costume rentals, et cetera,” Mona McClanahan, a booster for the drama team, said in an email.

Extra lighting, music, costume rentals and more costs are stacked on top of at least $7,500 in set rentals and loading fees, according to drama teacher Pauline Maranian.

“Guys and Dolls” is set to run March 7, 8 and 9 at Harbor’s Robert B. Wentz Theater.

Anyone interested in underwriting or supporting the production can contact Estancia Principal Kirk Bauermeister at kbauermeister@nmusd.us or Maranian at pmaranian@nmusd.us.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck