Showing Love and Support for Thomas Dale Theatre

We all know the stress teachers have been under the last year and half. Ms. Cassano and Ms. Bernard are amazing, dedicated, engaged teachers in the Theatre Department at the Thomas Dale High School Specialty Center for the Arts. Both have worked tirelessly to create a beautiful, safe space for diverse students from all over Chesterfield County to experience theater education, even amidst the additional stress and strain of COVID and virtual school. Not only that but TDHS was the only program in the county to do live theater last Spring, despite many obstacles and logistical challenges, with a creative drive-in theater style performances of Little Shop.

As many of you know, these teachers and their students arrived to school on Friday the 17th to find several theater spaces in the school cruelly vandalized. School property and teachers’ personal property were damaged or destroyed. Understandably, the vandalism has been very traumatizing and upsetting to our Theatre family. In fact, this GoFundMe was initially suggested by Theatre Department students who desperately wanted to help their teachers and fellow classmates heal from this terrible experience. Our students, friends in other theater programs, and community members have reached out wanting to show love and support to the those affected by this horrible situation.

Over the coming months, insurance is expected to cover much of the school property damage. However, it is unclear at present whether the teachers’ personal property will be replaced by county funds. Having additional funds will provide immediate flexibility to replace personal items. Extra funds will support ongoing Theatre programming at Dale. Because of COVID, the program has not been able to fundraise for some time. Having these additional funds will bolster the program and provide some flexibility in the coming months.

If you feel moved, please show your love and support by making a donation to support the TDHS Theater program.

Disclaimer: This is a fundraiser hosted by Mary Dunne Stewart and Marybeth Markee, two moms of students in the program, inspired by the students' desire to help. It is not an official TDHS or Patrons of TDHS Theatre fundraiser.