Drama, Tech Dept. raise $900 at annual AIDS Benefit show

Greta Nerad

Staff Writer

The Mira Costa Drama and Tech Department raised approximately $900 at its annual benefit show on Feb. 6 in Costa’s small theater to support those with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Drama sold tickets to the event for $5 and donated the proceeds to Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS, an organization that provides free treatment and services for people with AIDS. A total of 52 students performed and 16 tech students moved props and instruments and controlled the lighting from behind the scenes.

“[AIDS] is very prevalent, so donating whatever we can is important and beneficial to the community and, overall, fighting the disease,” performer and junior Owen Price-Hughes said.

Drama students organized the entire show, including the auditions, Costa Coordinator of Theater Operations and Drama and Tech Executive Director Cary Jordahl said. Drama President and senior Noah Geller, Vice President and senior Ari Derambakhsh and Event Coordinator and senior Tiffany Smith held auditions and organized a total of 30 acts for the show.

“There were a lot of compromises that had to be made because there were just too many auditions,” Geller said. “We were able to combine acts which ultimately led to this great group with wonderful variety.”

Senior Olivia Morgan and sophomore Olivia Stanley kicked off the show with a rendition of Barbra Streisand’s “Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again,” whilesophomores Stanley, Mary Clare Powell, Jenna Gaspari and Maggie Cubillos closed out the show with a cup song interpretation on Robyn’s “Call Your Girlfriend.” Other performances included songs from popular musicals and movies, original skits and dramatic monologues.

“It’s always fun and refreshing to have a variety of acts, including songs, scenes, and monologues,” Powell said. “That way, we get to express ourselves individually, but together we produce an exciting and entertaining show for the audience.”

According to performer and sophomore Ansley Rowell, the benefit organizers told those who auditioned to consider the seriousness of AIDS before working out their acts to ensure they showed proper respect for the cause. The performers were also required to wear black and red to show their support for the fight against AIDS.

“Establishing a color scheme further emphasized our support for the battle against AIDS and showed our unity and solidarity in fighting this battle,” Geller said. “The colors helped provoke thoughts that connected every act to our cause and constantly reminded the audience that they were there for more than just entertainment.”

In order to maximize fundraising, Drama sold snacks during intermission and crew members held donation buckets after the show. The AIDS Benefit gave Drama students a chance to perform while helping out the less fortunate, Powell said.  

“[The AIDS Benefit] is a great opportunity for us to be able to give back by doing what we want to do,”  performer and junior Sophi Boylan said. “I love that we all get to do things we love to do, which is to perform or do tech for a good cause.”

Coming up, the Mira Costa Drama and Tech Department’s spring musical, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” will open on April 20 and will run for two weekends. The musical is about J. Pierrepont Finch, a window washer, who reads a book titled “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and follows its advice to make his mark in the business world. Jordahl cast seniors Natalie Dreger and Noah Geller, and juniors Carson Billingsley, Rachel Langetieg and Owen Price-Hughes as the show’s leads.

“Everyone in the cast and crew is super excited about ‘How to Succeed’ and is confident audiences will love it because the show is hilarious and fun for everyone,” Billingsley said.