By Anna Guido
Enquirer contributor

MONTGOMERY - Even professional theatrical companies would be shocked at such generosity.

The Sycamore Theater Boosters - a group of about 150 parents, school staff and other community arts enthusiasts - has given the high school theater department a gift of $7,500 to cover production costs for its six plays.

Because proceeds from ticket sales usually fund the productions, admission to high school plays are free this year.

The goal is to increase exposure to the value of arts in education, particularly high school drama, which has a bad reputation, said drama teacher Leslie Knotts.

"We're putting this gift of money toward our production costs to see if more students and more community members will come to the performances if they're free," Ms. Knotts said.

So far, it's working.

Sycamore High's first play this year - Lend Me a Tenor drew 50 to 100 additional audience members at each of the three performances. (An average of 150 people attends Sycamore High plays with ticket costs ranging from $3 to $6.)

Jury still out

Ms. Knotts, a veteran drama teacher, is hesitant to give the free admission full credit for increased attendance.

"It could have been that particular performance," she said. "We may have to go through an entire season before we can really make a judgment."

The Ohio Arts Council, a state agency that provides financial assistance to artists and arts organizations, commends the effort.

"I think it's fair to say that what these parents are doing is heroic and wonderful," said director Mary Campbell-Zopf. "They're raising funds at a time when it's very hard to raise funds."

Studies have long shown that the arts enhance learning.

"All kids don't learn alike; they learn in various ways, and the arts help kids to process information in their preferred learning style," said Glenn A. Ray, executive director of the Association for the Advancement of Arts in Education.

The AAAE, an Ohio-based nonprofit group serving 16 counties in the Tristate, trains teachers to integrate the arts throughout the curriculum.

The Sycamore Theater Boosters, in its third year, raises money in a variety of ways, including through program ad and concession sales.

More than 100 students belong to the Sycamore Theater Arts Groupe, she said. Junior Jonathan McPike, 17, of Montgomery joined his freshman year. He's also performed with community theaters and said he's glad about the effort to promote theater arts at Sycamore.

"I know what it's like to perform to an empty crowd, and it's not fun," he said. "This past show, a lot more people came and it was a good feeling. It's a lot more exciting, a lot more fulfilling to perform for a large crowd."

E-mail annag1129@cs.com

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