New GMHS Fine Arts Booster Club
The Dramatic Arts program at Granby Memorial High School has been an award-winning institution in our community for decades. Under the expert direction and supervision of Leeayn Burke, Nikki Currie-Huggard, and Janet Spatcher, multiple generations of students have joined and managed this organization to produce exceptional theatrical events, developing creative and technical skills that have even launched some into arts-based careers.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the program to cancel its March 2020 production, resulting in wasted costs and multiple seasons of decreased patronage. Hearing rumors of the program being at risk for discontinuation, a council of parents, program staff, GMHS administration, and district administration gathered in November of 2023 to understand the problems to be solved and build a strategic resolution plan.
Out of this community collaboration emerged the new Granby Memorial High School Fine Arts Booster (GMHS FAB), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to support and sustain the fine arts programs in the Granby school district. The booster’s first and most urgent project is to re-stabilize the GMHS Dramatic Arts program. This will be accomplished through a combination of fundraising, marketing, and administrative services to support the program leadership team.
The GMHS FAB endeavors to support the Dramatic Arts program in addressing challenges as needed. One such challenge faced by the Dramatic Arts program has long been that of outdated and deteriorating sound equipment. In the fall of 2023, the GMHS audio/visual team and the Dramatic Arts leadership team wrote and submitted an application for a substantial grant from the Granby Education Fund (GEF) to purchase a full set of new wireless microphones and receivers. The grant was generously awarded and students and patrons involved in GMHS events will now enjoy a higher-quality of production experience for years to come.
The public debut of both the new sound equipment and the new GMHS FAB were on full display at this spring’s production of Footloose the Musical on March 15-17, 2024. Thanks to a passionate cast and crew of over 50 students, hundreds of attendees from across the Farmington Valley and beyond, and the generous support of seasonal fundraisers and sponsorships, the GMHS FAB was thrilled to report that this production was a huge success.
The smashing success of Footloose (both on and off the stage) is a strong sign that the GMHS Dramatic Arts program is back on track for a long and fulfilling future, ready to welcome and nurture many more generations of creative students. The Granby district administration is grateful to the board, officers, members, sponsors, and donors of the GMHS FAB for their generous contributions made to sustain the legacy of this iconic program that has enriched our community for many decades.
