In an effort to raise more than $1,000 to put on its school play in spring, the Nativity BVM High School Theatre Arts Group is staging a fundraiser - a salute to vintage television.
The students are going to stage an updated version of "Queen For A Day," the game show/reality TV series which aired on NBC from 1956-64. A comedy, the show will be called "Queen For Almost A Day," according to Barbara Gough, the group's adviser.
"We're setting it up as a dessert theatre," Gough said. The price of admission includes homemade desserts and beverages, according to the school's monthly newsletter.
The shows will be performed at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 and 2 p.m. Feb. 19 at Annunciation BVM Parish Hall at 37 S. Broad Mountain Ave. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for all students. Tickets are available by calling 570-874-0742, 570-462-3953 or 610-678-7209.
"The nice thing about this is there's no lines that need to be memorized," Gough said.
The premise of the TV show, according to the Internet Movie Database, is "four women, each with a sob story, vie to become 'Queen for a Day.' "
The basis of the show the theater arts group will perform was developed by Linda Broggi, Pensacola, Fla., Gough said.
"We were looking for some way to offset the cost of producing our play. I don't think people know how expensive it is to perform a play. With getting the rights to use the material and adding up the cost of costumes and so forth, it can be up to $5,000," Gough said.
Nativity BVM High School Theatre Arts Group is made up of 28 students in grades nine through 12. The group is planning to perform "White Christmas" in April, Gough said.
To raise funds for that production, Gough started surfing the Internet for ideas and she stumbled on Broggi's website at www.iwantfundraising.com.
Broggi allowed the group to perform "Queen For Almost A Day" twice, at a cost of $105., Gough said.
" 'Queen For Almost A Day' is a delightfully silly script. Your 'contestants' can create an outrageous outfit from the back of their closet or thrift store. They will participate in a contest which awards the top prize to the most deserving gal. The winner is selected by audience applause," Broggi said on her website.
