Wynne High School Theatre Tornado Relief

My name is Kirie Walz and I have been a theatre educator in the Memphis Area for 15 years. On Friday, March 31, 2023 as my students were preparing for performances of our spring musical, we had to cancel our Friday evening performance due to the threat of severe weather. As disappointing as it was for my students to lose a performance night, we were fortunate that our community received little damage and we were able to return to performances as scheduled the next evening.

Unfortunately, not all of our surrounding communities were as lucky. An EF-3 Tornado ripped through Wynne, Arkansas destroying the Wynne High School Campus. In the aftermath, school leaders salvaged what they could, but the high school is being considered a total loss.

Seeing the images of their destroyed auditorium is heartbreaking knowing that the faculty, students, and community members who have found the magic of theatre within those walls will not be able to return for some time.

As the community rebuilds, several teachers in the Memphis area would like to raise funds specifically for the Wynne High School Theatre department. Wynne has participated in the Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards since their inception in 2010. High school theatre creates a safe haven and a creative outlet for many students, but does not come at a low cost. Many programs utilize decades worth of costume stock, set pieces, tools, equipment, etc.---all of which have been lost at Wynne High School.

Funds raised will be donated specifically to the Wynne High School Theatre Department to use as they rebuild from this terrible situation.