As SAHS students involved in this year’s musical, “Newsies”, begin to prepare for two weekends of shows in March, one persistent issue keeps coming up: money. As new director Ms. Jennifer Birch is preparing students for these shows, a tight budget is causing her to run into many challenges along the way.

“For the past two years, we have been working with a much tighter budget than normal, thanks to COVID. In 2020, everything shut down in the middle of the run of Shrek – in essence, halving the profits that would normally have replenished the musical accounts. In 2021, the schools were open, but because of distance, Wedding Singer had fewer shows with fewer audience members present at each,” Birch said.

Two years ago, SAHS put on a production of “Shrek” but due to COVID, one weekend of these shows was cancelled. In previous years, the money from the first weekend of musical shows was used to cover the costs of that year (rights for the show, props, costumes, etc.) and the money from the second weekend was used to get a head start on the budget for next year’s show. Due to the shut down, the second weekend of shows was never able to provide for the financial resource for the next year’s show.

Last year, it was difficult to get the rights to a show due to this already tight budget. A whole new staff of directors was in charge last year and it made directing a show even more challenging considering it was their first year directing a musical in addition to the financial issus that were present. Ultimately, the “Wedding Singer” was chosen and the show ran smoothly. Some money was able to be gained back through program ads. Limited audience and virtual performances held down the normal amount of money generated by a muscial, but ultimately, some money was put back into the budget.

This year, the rights to the show “Newsies” were a huge expenditure. Although they were very expensive, money is not what will define this show.

“In the end, the real beauty of theater isn’t the set or the costumes. It’s the unique chemistry the cast, crew, and pit create with their audience. So having to economize on some of the bells and whistles might not have been what we would anticipate, but it isn’t going to stop us from putting on a show that will touch the hearts of our audience. People are yearning for live theater after so long without it, and this show is the epitome of joy, perseverance, and overcoming obstacles,” Ms. Birch said.

With a team of directors, costume designers, artists, parent involvement, and donations, this production is going to be one of the best that Shaler Area has seen in a while.

“We are working hard together to make magic! The parents on set construction and Mrs. Paul in the green room especially are doing a great job of creating art on a budget. And the Tribune-Review has most generously donated over 1,000 old newspapers to our show so we don’t have to spend money purchasing those props,” Ms. Birch said.

Although the money budget is tight, Shaler Area Performing Arts students are not letting this money define their show. They are determined to make it the best they can even on a tight budget and hope that this year’s shows will help to replenish the normal funding for the musical this year and next.