RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Entertainment Theatre & Culture for Rancho Murieta (ETC) continued its support of arts education on May 13 by presenting $1,000 grants to three local schools to help fund theater productions, costumes, equipment and other arts-related needs.

ETC Philanthropy Chair Stephanie Stanislaus visited Katherine L. Albiani Middle School, Pleasant Grove High School and Cosumnes River Elementary School to present the checks and speak with students about the importance of the arts.

“Our goal is to keep the arts alive in the community,” Stanislaus told students during the presentations. She said participation in the arts helps students develop empathy, critical thinking skills and a better understanding of different cultures and perspectives.

At Katherine L. Albiani Middle School, Stanislaus presented the grant to theater arts teacher Michelle Campbell and Principal Chris Rauschenfel. Campbell said the money will be used to build additional costume storage racks for the school’s growing theater department.

The school recently completed its production of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr.,” a musical based on the beloved family fantasy about an eccentric inventor and his magical flying car. The show featured colorful costumes, lively musical numbers and fantasy adventure elements familiar to generations of audiences.

Campbell said ETC’s grant from last year helped to pay for this year’s production. The performances were staged May 8-9 by the Katherine L. Albiani Theatre Company at the Pleasant Grove High School Black Box Theater.

During her visit, Stanislaus encouraged students to remain involved in the arts and spoke about how theater and visual arts help them to become more understanding and expressive.

At Pleasant Grove High School, Stanislaus presented the check to theater arts teacher Ashley Shapiro and Principal Omar Carreon. Shapiro said the ETC grant will help to pay expenses connected to next year’s productions of “Legally Blonde” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” She said ETC funds received last year helped to support this year’s productions of “Annie” and “A Christmas Carol.”

Shapiro also said 12 Pleasant Grove students recently traveled with Franklin High School students and chaperones to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon, where they attended performances of “A Raisin in the Sun,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Come From Away.”

Two students also told Stanislaus how theater has affected them personally. Jordan Brown said theater taught him “to express kindness to all and to value other people’s opinions,” while Judd Zeki said participating in theater helped him to become “more expressive and communicate with more confidence.”

At Cosumnes River Elementary School, Stanislaus presented the grant to Principal Ashley Hannon and teacher Vandy Passmore. Hannon said the funds will help to cover costume expenses and other costs associated with three grade-level plays, as well as replacement stage lighting.

Hannon also mentioned the school’s expanding arts opportunities through Proposition 28 funding. Proposition 28 – officially the “Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act” – was approved by California voters in 2022 and provides ongoing state funding for arts education in public schools.

This school year, Cosumnes River Elementary used Proposition 28 funds to bring the Young Rembrandts art education program into some classrooms and to support an after-school art program. Hannon said she hopes to bring the program back next year. She also said the school plans to use Proposition 28 funding to support a new music teacher next year.