W-O drama club hosting spring bazaar fundraiser for upcoming national competition

By Amanda Nelson

Students in the Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School (W-ODSS) drama club are inviting the community to a spring bazaar fundraiser later this month to help them reach the national stage.

The fundraiser will take place Sunday, March 29, from 1-4 p.m. in the school gym. Tickets are $5 per-person or $20 for families of five, with proceeds helping students travel to the STARFEST national competition in Ottawa in May.

The afternoon will feature a spring bazaar with activities including ring toss, photo booths, a scavenger hunt and children’s shows performed by members of the drama club. Attendees can also take part in a dance party during the event.

Organizers say the event is open to everyone, though they are particularly hoping to attract younger families.

In addition to games and entertainment, the club will host a silent auction and is currently seeking donations from local businesses to support the effort.

Funds raised will help offset travel costs for the 18 students who qualified at STARFEST regionals in Waterloo earlier this year. It will be the first time W-ODSS students have attended the national competition.

Students will be competing with a one-act play that was written and is being directed by students, something teachers say is unique for the competition.

“Our play piece that we're taking is actually purely student run,” said Heather Lamont, teacher and staff supervisor. “It was written by one of our students. It's being directed by one of the students. So, they've really taken this full throttle, and this is very student driven, which I think adds to the excitement of it. They take a lot more ownership in the production.”

Along with performing their own play, the group will also represent the Waterloo Region District School Board at the competition.

“Interesting enough, we are the only school in this school board that has actually competed in this competition, so we are representing the Waterloo school board,” said Alecia Sparks, drama teacher and staff supervisor. “I think that carries a little bit more weight for the students who are really representing the entire area.”

Sparks said the fundraiser will help ease financial pressure on students as they prepare for the trip.

“Being in a small town, they don't get a lot of these opportunities that students in the cities may have. These students have put in a lot of effort and a lot of rehearsal for this. I think they’re all really excited and also a bit anxious. I think the biggest thing they’re worried about is cost, so we really want people to come out and support the fundraiser so that it can help bring the costs down as much as possible,” said Sparks.

Lamont said one of the unique aspects of the competition is its focus on performance rather than production budgets.

“What we really like about this competition is that it’s not about which school has the most money for the best costumes. Student actors wear all black, show their piece, present their piece and get judged on that,” said Lamont.

In addition to the competition opportunity, students can also pursue scholarships connected to the program to support post-secondary education.

For more information, email Sparks at alecia_sparks@wrdsb.ca.