OPRF High School Alumni Association Donates $9K To OPRF Theatre Department

Press release from Oak Park and River Forest High School:

Jan. 19, 2021

After months of uncertainty, the curtain will rise on the OPRF production of “Working (2012 Version),” thanks to a $9,000 donation from the Oak Park and River Forest High School Alumni Association. The funds will cover the costs of video editing and audio engineering for the pre-recorded production, scheduled to stream in April.

“Tears of joy sprang from my face when I found out we received this donation,” said Michelle Bayer, OPRF theatre teacher and director of “Working.” “Since October, I have been trying to find the money to pay for this production. Everyone is strapped, fundraising has dried up, ticket sales are gone, and our costs have gone up due to streaming licenses.”

In a statement, the Alumni Association Board expressed its enthusiastic support of the theatre program:

“Whether as participants or audience members, many OPRF alumni look back with fondness on the annual musical. The Board is thrilled to provide funds to help create a top-notch production as students work and perform under these current challenging circumstances.”

This is the second large donation the Alumni Association has made in as many months to provide relief to areas of the community affected by the pandemic. In December, the organization awarded local non-profit Opportunity Knocks a $10,000 grant.

“Working” is a documentary-style musical based on Studs Terkel best-selling book of the same name, in which Chicagoland workers are interviewed about their jobs and their feelings about what they do. Approximately 70 OPRF students -- cast, crew, orchestra, and production staff -- will bring the show to life on the virtual stage.

OPRF Junior Leo Gonzalez, who plays the roles of Freddy Rodriguez, Frank Decker, and Tom Patrick, is “beyond grateful” for the donation. “It is easy for something like the arts to descend in situations like these, so it is amazing that we are supported by others to keep on doing what we love,” he said.

“We do live theatre, that's the heart of our art form,” said Bayer. “We have had to pivot on a dime to find ways to make connections through our screens and now a huge weight has been lifted.”

“Working” will be streamed on April 16, 17, 23, and 24.

This press release was produced by Oak Park and River Forest High School. The views expressed here are the author’s own.