The Stage Notes Newsletter is published the first of every month and contains lots of information about both the Theatre Arts and Choral Music programs at East Lincoln High School. We want to try not only to get the word out about upcoming performances but also to keep our community up-to-date on what our students are doing and how they can partner with us to produce the highest quality programs.

If you have friends, family, or neighbors who would enjoy this monthly look into theatre and chorus, share with them our website, www.EastLincolnOnStage.org, and they can sign up to receive the newsletter at the bottom of any page.

Thanks for being a part of our performing arts community!

December brought the second MainStage production of the school year to the East Lincoln Black Box. Charlie Brown and his friends visited East Lincoln on December 6th, 7th, and 8th for the presentation of A Charlie Brown Christmas. While the unexpected winter weather forced the cancellation of the December 9th performance, the cast and crew were very excited to share their work with some amazing young theatre patrons from the Catawba Springs 2nd Grade. A special thanks to Principal Smith and the Catawba Springs teachers for allowing us to share the experience!

The winter wonderland we experienced in December required us to reschedule our holiday concert for January. We hope that this post-holiday concert will fit into your New Year's schedule. Join us on Thursday, January 3 in the East Lincoln Black Box as the East Lincoln Chorus presents their Sounds of the Seasons concert. The performance begins at 6:30 PM. Admission is free, but donations are always accepted and appreciated.

The ELHS Chorus joined the Denver community in welcoming Dairy Queen to our community! Opening on December 13, the chorus students showed up to spread a little holiday cheer with DQ's first lunch rush! On December 20, DQ hosted a spirit night for the chorus, giving back a percentage of the profits earned from our community supporters from 4-6 PM. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to show your support during this time! We look forward to a continued partnership with our new friends down at the 'Grill & Chill'!

One of the best ways to make a significant difference in our programs is to become a sponsor or advertiser. Our sponsorships and advertisements run on the calendar year rather than the school year, so signing up now allows you to support all of our stage productions and concerts throughout 2019, including five stage productions and four choral concerts. Additionally, sponsorships help us provide students with the opportunity to attend clinics and festivals that continue to strengthen their craft. More information about these opportunities is attached below and can also be found here.

One of the most explosive movie musicals will burst onto the North Lincoln stage in February 2019! When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. What he isn't prepared for are the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing instituted by the local preacher, determined to exercise the control over the town's youth that he cannot command in his own home. When the reverend's rebellious daughter sets her sights on Ren, her roughneck boyfriend tries to sabotage Ren's reputation, with many of the locals eager to believe the worst about the new kid. The heartfelt story that emerges is of a father longing for the son he lost and of a young man aching for the father who walked out on him. To the rockin' rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated top 40 score (the soundtrack album reached number one on the Billboard charts and has sold over 15 million copies!) and augmented with dynamic new songs for the stage musical, FOOTLOOSE celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people, guiding them with a warm heart and an open mind.

Mark your calendars now and get ready to CUT LOOSE with the East Lincoln Crew in 2019!

We love to hear the words, "How can I help?" There are several ways to support the great work of our East Lincoln performers. Check out the various opportunities below and see if there are one or more areas you are led to support and know that whatever contribution you are able to make to our programs will be greatly appreciated! If you have any questions or would like any additional information about the following opportunities, please contact Mr. Franklin!

We accept donations year-round and while monetary donations are great, there are other donations that help us just as much! Below are some items that are currently on our need list. Some items are a one-time need, others are ongoing needs. No matter what type of donation you are able to make, it will be appreciated, and we will make sure to provide you with documentation of your generosity! As you might imagine, our needs change regularly. You can always see the most up-to-date list on our website under "Support Us."

Every production has unique needs and many of those come in the form of props and costumes. With each new show, we publish on the bottom of our homepage a picture listing of all the items in our current hunt. From small house desks to Polaroid cameras to artificial Christmas trees, you never know what will be on our list! Check back weekly and see if you have any of the gems needed to make our shows a success! Below are some current needs we have for the upcoming performance of Footloose.

All artists deserve a venue where they are able to share their work with others in an environment that dignifies not only the finished product but also the creative process. With the absence of an auditorium, we are trying to create such a space for our performers and community members. In previous years, steps were taken to begin a conversion process making the current theatre classroom a more formal black box environment. We have continued with that work this fall and are very excited about what we have been able to accomplish thus far. Unfortunately, the next few steps are not only the largest but also the most expensive. To truly make this space a proper performance environment, we need to add a theatrical grid on the ceiling, curtains, and a lighting system. It is our hope that there are performing arts supporters in our community that would enjoy contributing and being a part of this very exciting transformation! If you are interested in contributing to our "Extreme Makeover" or would like more information about the project, please contact director Greg Franklin at gregory.franklin@lcsnc.org.

We hope you will also share this information with others in our community so that others know of the need and have an opportunity to be a part of this work.