When the proposed Mineola School District budget for the 2005-2006 school year was rejected by voters, the Mineola Board of Education decided to adopt a contingency budget. Before doing so, the board had to cut $1.8 million from its proposed budget. One of the casualties of the cuts was the Mineola High School fall play.

The board of education had decided to make the fall play part of its budget reductions. The anticipated savings to the budget by taking the fall play out is $5,532. In order for the play to go on, it must be self-funded so donations are being sought by Mineola's Thespian Troupe #276 to help pay for the play.

District director of fine arts Rob Ratner said the amount needed to be raised depends on the play the department and the Thespian Troupe decide to do. However, Ratner estimates that $500 to $1,000 of startup money is needed to purchase scripts for the student-actors. "Without any kind of startup money, I can't get the kids their scripts," he said.

In addition to donations, Ratner said receipts from ticket sales would also help fund the play. All the money raised would be spent on the play.

"Mineola has a long tradition of outstanding theater dating back to 1934," said Ratner. "Bringing quality theater to Mineola has been a longstanding tradition."

Mineola is one of the school districts that has been a member of National Thespian Society since 1934. Mineola's Thespian Troupe would like to keep the tradition going by having both the fall and spring play. Currently, only the spring play is funded through the 2005-2006 contingency budget. "Through ads and donations, we are asking people to support the students in their endeavor to continue to put on our traditional play production," Ratner said.

Ratner said the high school has had a spring and fall play for over 20 years and they have proved to be beneficial for the students. "Based upon comments from our graduates over the years, one of the activities they have learned so much from and remember so well are the play and musical productions," he said.

The fall play is a drama without an orchestra or singing while the spring play is a musical.

Anyone interested in contributing to the fall play at Mineola High School can send a check to:

The Mineola High School Fall Play

C/O Trisha Hahn, Thespian President

Mineola High School

10 Armstrong Road

Garden City Park, NY 11040

Names of all contributors will appear in the fall and spring playbill that is distributed the nights of the plays.