Students to perform ‘Footloose’
By Greg Seubert
Sponsorships are available to support the Iola-Scandinavia Musical Theater Department’s upcoming production.
“Footloose: The Musical” will be performed Feb. 16-18 in the Iola-Scandinavia High School Auditorium. Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18.
More than 60 students in grades 7-12 are participating as members of the cast or stage crew.
“We are excited to continue having so many interested and talented students participating, as well as a school and community willing to support us,” said Dale Bestul, who is co-directing the production with Zach Shulfer, Erin Bruno, Janet Glodowski and Shannon Huettner. “It is our goal to continue to keep the cost of participation as low as possible for our students while still creating a quality production.”
The three levels of sponsorship are:
- Producer ($500 and up): The sponsorship includes eight tickets; name and logo in program; and name on promotional poster.
- Director ($250 to $499): The sponsorship includes four tickets and name in the program.
- Performer ($100 to $249): The sponsorship includes two tickets and name in the program.
A sponsorship form can be obtained by contacting Bestul at 715-459-9831 or [email protected].
To be included in posters and programs, completed forms should be mailed to or delivered by Thursday, Jan. 4, to Iola-Scandinavia High School, attention Shannon Huettner, 540 S. Jackson St., Iola, WI 54945.
“Sponsorship funds help us to purchase costuming for students so they do not need to do so themselves,” Bestul said. “Last year, we were able to invest in theatre shoes for most of our female cast and this year, we plan to have shoes for them all. Musical T-shirts are given to all members free of charge as well. Finally, funds assist in helping create and modify set pieces and purchase props we are unable to borrow.”
The department estimates spending more than $12,000 on production costs for the musical.
The department will continue to borrow microphones, a communications set and other equipment to produce a high-quality show and will need between $160,000 and $400,000 to complete lighting, sound and curtain upgrades for the auditorium.
“The greatest gift of our sponsorship drives the past two years have been the additional funds we continue to save in order to upgrade the sound and lighting in our auditorium,” Bestul said. “We discovered this summer that the cost to do so is going to necessitate continued sponsorships. We hope you will consider returning as a sponsor this year or perhaps join us for the first time.”