In the wine grape country of Northern California -- Santa Rosa to be precise -- an unusually comprehensive high school theater program that includes a special focus on student playwriting, has been invited to perform at the grand-daddy of all international theatre festivals, The Edinburgh International Festival in the summer of 2011.
This is a great accomplishment for a multi-cultural, urban high-school theater program, and a testament to the value of arts education (one of its most ardent participants was recently named a Presidential Scholar). For the students who go to Edinburgh, participation in an international festival of this scope will be a life-changing experience.
The catch? They have to pay their own way. Elsie Allen High School is not the high school in Santa Rosa where the kids from affluent families tend to go, so they will depend on raising the money through as many small (and some large) donations as they can. The goal is $60K. Check out this video and note the number to call to contribute!