RHS Drama Kids Need Your Help!

Dear Friends and Patrons of the Arts,

Riverbank High School Drama Students are desperately in need of emergency funding to secure their spot at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland next summer. This is a huge opportunity and honor for them. Under the direction of RHS Drama Teacher Stacy Blevins, RHS Drama was awarded one of 8 spots by the American High School Theatre Festival (AHSTF) judges.

$2750 is needed immediately for their security deposit. The deadline was May 30th but has been extended to June 30th.

$2250 is needed by July 13th to enroll 15 students (at $150 each) in the rigorous payment schedule through WorldStrides.org, the Student Travel Service making the arrangements.

This amounts to $5000 that they need NOW.

This afternoon, Mrs. Julie Thompson kicked off the fundraising by donating $150 to help these kids make it to Scotland. Won't you please see if there is a way you can help, too?

Please review the attached flier and contact Joey Huestis if you can contribute.
Joey Huestis
Artistic Director // RIO ARTS
P.O. Box 1540, Riverbank, CA 95367
209-614-9135
publicity@rioarts.org
www.rioarts.org

Photobucket

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Joey Huestis // Rio Arts
PHONE: 209-614-9135
E-MAIL: publicity@rioarts.org
WEBSITE: www.rioarts.org

Riverbank High School Drama Performing in Scotland, 2009

The Riverbank High School Drama Department, under the direction of Stacy Blevins, has been selected to perform in the world’s largest and most prestigious arts festival in the world as part of the American High School Theatre Festival (AHSTF).

Each August, Edinburgh, Scotland becomes the most magical and exciting place on earth as performing artists from all over the world come to Scotland to take part in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The whole city becomes a stage and visitors can view performances everywhere from playgrounds to conference rooms to city parks to churches. The Fringe Festival includes over 1800 different performances of music, theatre, dance, and comedy during its three week run. Riverbank High School's performance will be showcased at the Festival Venue in Edinburgh.

Riverbank High School, long recognized for its entertaining and innovative productions, was selected by the Festival Board of Advisors to represent the United States as part of the 2009 festival program. The board reviews all completed applications then identifies the top high schools based on their most recent bodies of work, awards, community involvement, philosophies and recommendations.

While in Scotland, AHSTF’s professional technical team ensures that the company’s lighting, sound, and property needs are addressed. WorldStrides of Charlottesville, Virginia, the nation’s oldest and largest student travel company will be planning the arrangements for each high school group.

As you can imagine, Riverbank High School drama students, their parents, and teachers are heavily involved in fundraising activities to finance their two-week adventure to Scotland and England. But before the students can even dream any further, a security deposit of $5000 needs to be made.

With help from Rio Arts, a nonprofit performing and visual arts organization that works closely with RHS Drama, the board of directors, teachers and students hope to raise that money in a matter of days, or they lose their spot.

To make a contribution – large or small – please send a check made out to RIO ARTS / SCOTLAND, and mail to: P.O. Box 1540, Riverbank, CA 95367.

You can also contact Stacy Blevins, RHS Drama Director at (209) 968-7464 (e-mail: theater@rioarts.org) or Joey Huestis at (209) 614-9135 (e-mail: publicity@rioarts.org).

Rio Arts is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation dedicated to bringing the arts to life in Riverbank and beyond. More information about the group can be found at: www.rioarts.org

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