William Prenetta, Director

Ellington High School

P.O. Box 149

37 Maple Street

Ellington, CT 06029

September 5, 2016

Dear Patron of the Arts,

As another school year begins, The Opening Knight Player’s Drama Society continues to provide a quality theatrical experience for the students of Ellington High School. From exploring their strengths as actors, directors, costumers, and stage designers to building on their skills in time management, math, literature, and history, theater education allows students to grow in a myriad of ways. It also marks our 27th Anniversary Season.

First, I want to thank all our donors from last year. Due to your generosity, we accomplished the following:

1. Provided scholarships to eight students to attend both the Connecticut Drama Association and The New England Drama Association.

2. Provided the funds necessary for royalty rights, additional costumes and sets for our fall 2015 production of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

3. Provided the monies necessary for three students to participate in the CDA Monologue Contest.

4. Provided trophies and engraving for the yearly crew and acting awards.

5. Provided funds to create a STARDROP used in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. It will be used for years to come.

6. Provided funds for wigs, costumes and props for The Silent Sentinels.

7. Provided stipends for a Music Director for You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.

8. Paid the royalty rights for the senior show Anne-Arky.

9. Provided ALL OKP members a cost relief for travel to both the Connecticut Drama Association and New England Drama Festivals.

10. Provided costs related to attendance at the Halo Awards at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT.

11. Helped defray the costs of our yearly Drama Banquet.

Many people fail to realize that we rely ENTIRELY on TICKET SALES and YOUR DONATIONS to finance our shows.

Your donations also helped us produce this past season’s productions of 30 X 60: 3o Plays in 60 Minutes, Student Written/Directed One-Acts, A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Silent Sentinels, and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Among other accolades this past year, our production of The Silent Sentinels earned The Halo’s Best One-Act Play Award.

(Please turn to the back side!)

So what’s on tap for the 2016-2017 season? On September 23, 24 the OKP will present their annual production of 30 x 60 (Thirty Plays performed in 60 Minutes). For this event, our drama students will be challenged to write, stage, and perform thirty plays, all performed under a ticking clock. It is the perfect way to acclimate the freshman into our club. Next on October 21, 22, we will present either a murder-mystery, a Disney themed event, or talent show. On December 2-4, we will present once again, A Charlie Brown Christmas, with most of the original cast.

Yet, that is only the beginning. This year also marks a focus on student written and directed works. On January 27, 28 2016, four students will both write and direct their own one-act plays. Then on March 9 the OKP will present Nicholas Cantin’s original play. We will then take this work to the Connecticut Drama Association’s Annual Play Festival. Our final event of the 2016-2017 season will be an all-scho0l musical held on May 12-13.

But without your continued support, none of this WILL be possible. As with every other element of a quality education, the cost of theater related events continues to rise. Due to this, we are asking you for donations, at any level, to help keep quality high school theatre alive in Ellington. This can be done by becoming an OKP Patron. Patrons will be recognized in each OKP program for their generosity and commitment to the young people of Ellington.

If you would like to support us, please fill out the form below and either drop this off at the EHS office or mail it to the address on the front page (don’t forget to put the P.O. Box). Checks may be made payable to the EHS Activity Fund.

Sincerely,

William Prenetta

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THE OPENING KNIGHT PLAYERS PATRON FORM

Please fill out the following:

______ $1.00-$10.00 Actor ______ $11.00-$24.00 Crew Chair

______$25.00-$44.00 Stage Manager ______ $45.00-74.00 Assistant Director

______ $75.00-$119.00 Director ______ * $120.00 or more Producer’s Circle

*All Members of the Producers Circle will receive TWO tickets for the following productions of the OKP 2016/2017 season. These include A Charlie Brown Christmas, Student Written One-Acts, CDA Play by Nick Cantin, and the Spring Musical. Producer’s Circle patrons will receive their tickets by mail if donations are received by November 1, 2016. Otherwise, tickets will be held at the box office.

Name (as it will appear in the program):____________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________________________ Telephone:_________________________________

Email Address __________________________________________________________________________