Beauty on display, behind the scenes

by TOM HOSFORD

Assistant Principal, Rockford High School

Rockford community members were treated to magical performances during the week of March 23, 2009, as Rockford High School (RHS) presented the musical, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. This enchanted fairy tale came to life in front of five sold-out shows in the RHS Auditorium. If you were one of the lucky audience members to find a ticket, you experienced an extraordinary production and spot-on performances. From the professional costumes and set to the incredible singing, acting and engaging music, this year’s musical was first-class from start to finish!

To take on an intricate production like this is extremely overwhelming and could not have been done without the help of talented and generous people. Because of the efforts of many, the behind-the-scenes performance was just as magical as the one on stage. Even the truck driver who delivered the set was impressed with the organization and declared RHS a special place as “this type of cooperation doesn’t happen everywhere.” Following is a list of all the groups that successfully worked collaboratively and cooperatively on this production:

•             production team, led by Dave Duiven and Brian Phillips of the RHS music department, and Gayla Fox and Andy Riley, technical directors, RHS Auditorium
•             Choir Boosters Executive Board
•             student production crew
•             Beauty and the Beast cast members
•             pit orchestra
•             112 patron donations
•             24 corporate fundraisers, underwriters and sponsors
•             hundreds of parent and community member volunteer hours before and after the performance for set-up and take-down

When the last rose petal had dropped (so to speak), there were nearly 400 individuals that gave time, energy and financial assistance to this performance!

As a Rockford Public Schools employee, I am continually amazed at the amount of support the Rockford community gives our district. This production is a great example of that generosity. I am incredibly proud to work in a community that supports our numerous curricular and co-curricular programs and in a school district that offers diverse opportunities to students. I look forward to seeing all the wonderful accomplishments this positive partnership between community and school district will create for many years to come.

Congratulations to everyone who was involved with the musical. It was truly a breathtaking performance!