ST. LOUIS – A local performing arts school in St. Louis received $10,000 from NBC’s R.I.S.E America Grants program.
The program was inspired by the network’s upcoming drama “Rise”. It’s a show about a high school theatre department and its effects on a small town. NBC awarded $500,000 to high school theatre programs across the country. More than 1,000 schools applied and only 50 received the grant.
The Grand Center Arts Academy was one of those 50.
“They take like three hours of theatre classes, so they're really working hard," Shaun Sheley, a teacher at the school, said. “They deserve it.”
The money was needed because Academy’s arts department is underfunded, Sheley said. He said their budget is $3000 for the year, but it sometimes costs half of that to get naming rights for one show. Sheley said the school more often than not has to take a “poor-theatre approach” to their productions.
“We don't have the money to truly bring the vision to its full potential," he said.
Sheley said less money does not hinder his students from doing great shows. He said they are talented, hardworking students with huge amounts of creativity. With the money the school will get from the grant, he said their productions are going to go to another level.
"It's going to mean a lot to get some of those basic necessities that we haven't had," he said.
Ayana Taylor, a junior at Grand Center Arts Academy, fought back tears during an interview with us. She’s so happy to receive the grant money because she’s spent years at the school, wondering why does other schools have more than them. She’s looking forward to seeing how far the school’s productions can go with the $10,000.
"We are able to broaden our creativity with the help of 'Rise,'” she said.
