Christmas music is going to be performed Sunday afternoon as a fundraiser for a special full-length musical at Henryetta high school.
The newly-formed Henryetta High School Performing Arts Student Association will be putting on a Christmas Coffee House Cabaret at the high school cafeteria starting at 2 p.m.
cabaret artTickets are $10 each with all funds going toward a $6,000 goal to purchase the rights and scripts for a full-length musical to be performed at the school in 2017.
HHS senior Brianna Foster and junior Makayla Baxter explained there has not been a musical at the school since 2012 and no full-length, two-act musical since 2007.
“Henryetta used to be well-known for it’s shows,” said Baxter. “They would have extravagant sets and props.”
She said students have been promised a musical would be performed for several years. “We were told not this year but definitely next year and that has not happened,” Baxter said.
That resulted in several students banding together to form the high school Performing Arts Student Association and start a fund-raising effort. So far the students have used a garage sale and cupcake sales and will be doing a raffle for a chocolate basket and two tickets to any movie at an AMC theatre.
The cabaret will feature two hours of acoustic Christmas music performed by alumni and students. Refreshments will be available for sale as well.
As of now, the students are not releasing the title of the musical they want to perform but say it will be one the community will be proud of. “We don’t want a mediocre one,” Baxter said. The cost of purchasing the rights is based on the popularity of the show as well as if scripts, props, costumes and soundtracks would have to be purchased. “Costumes and props are the least of our worry,” Foster said. “We have a lot left over from other shows.”
“I remember when the high school did Beauty and the Beast. That was one of the last musicals done,” Baxter said. “This would be on the same level.”
She went on to say the musical would involve students from all grades. “We have many students who said they want to be a part of it.”
She pointed out the group has set up a Facebook page: HHS Performing Arts Student Association, to keep people informed.
In addition to the fund-raising sales, the group is looking at a GoFundMe account so donations can be made to help put on the event.