Municipalities take heed. Your tax problems may be solved thanks to the groovy tunes of The Beatles.
As school districts continue to cut their budgets and added costs are being placed on taxpayers to help fund education, the Voorheesville Central School District is looking to cut back on the burdens placed on taxpayers by finding alternative revenue sources.
“Schools are facing real difficulties in figuring out how to operate and keep programming,” said Superintendent Teresa Snyder. “Districts either get stressed and makes cuts or think of alternatives to keep their programs intact.”
After being approached by Don Bowers Productions in Albany for use of Voorheesville Central’s Lydia Tobler Theatre, the district has decided to allow concerts and some off-Broadway productions into the school. Any revenue made from the shows will go toward the district’s general fund to keep programming for students without having the costs transferred to taxpayers.
“We have approached all of the school districts in the Capital District and Voorheesville was the only one to respond,” said Bernadene Bowers from Don Bowers Productions. “We do the same thing in other states for schools and it is extremely successful.”
Though the production company represents a number of acts and tribute artists, the first show at Voorheesville will be the off-Broadway production of “Beatlemania Again” on Saturday, Feb. 2.
The show tells the story of The Beatles, from their first American appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show “to their final years of ‘Abbey Road’ and ‘Let it Be.’” A group of tribute artists appear as the Fab Four, making costume changes throughout the performance.
“It’s virtually risk-free for the school district,” said Bowers. “They set their own tickets prices, but a certain number of tickets have to be sold before the show is held. Anything made after that, the district keeps.”
Additional money is made by selling adds in the playbill and offering refreshments and snacks.
Voorheesville Elementary School Principal Tom Reardon, who is helping to coordinate the event, said the cafeteria staff will work to offer hot foods like hot dogs, nachos, pretzels and other snacks you might see offered at a stadium-like event.
The shows also provide a hands-on, educational experience for Voorheesville students. In classes and for community service, students will work the concession counters and put together all of the tickets, programs and promotional materials for shows.
“We have a lot of expertise in house that we haven’t been utilizing,” Reardon said. “If we are now able to come together and use our skills as a way to defray district costs, that’s a really nice thing.”
Other shows are being lined up for the spring, like a barbershop quartet symposium that will be open to the public. The district also wants to find local bands that might be willing to rent the space and split the proceeds of shows.
Reardon said any extra shows scheduled would be worked around district events like plays and concerts.
“Instead of being reactive, we wanted to be proactive,” said Snyder. “We are in good shape, but there’s not much more room fur us to cut.”
Tickets for Beatlemania Again can be purchased by visiting the district’s website at www.vcsdk12.org. Districts that would like to book a show with Don Bowers Productions can do so by calling 423-4092.
