Amherst Schools Board Celebrates Arts with $250K Donation to Marion L. Steele High Theatre Company

On January 28, the Amherst Exempted Village Schools Board of Education made a big announcement. They presented a $250,000 check to the Theatre and Fine Arts Department at Marion L. Steele High School.

This surprise happened during a rehearsal for the MLS Theatre Company. Board members and school leaders revealed the check to excited students. Mike Molnar, the superintendent, explained that this money would help improve the theatre and fine arts programs.

The funds came from a previous sale. Last summer, the school district sold the Workshop Players Theater building for $75,000. This building used to be a one-room schoolhouse. Additionally, the district received a generous donation last school year that had no strings attached, according to Molnar.

“The board decided to use the funds for our theater program,” he said. “It made perfect sense.”

Improvements will benefit not just the theater but also the choir and orchestra. The Steele High cafetorium is a popular space for both school and community events.

These upgrades are expected to cost around $175,000. This leaves some money for future projects or programs.

Hannah Dougal, the director of the MLS Theatre Company, was thrilled when she learned about the funding. “I had a hint about the surprise before it was announced. But when I found out the details, I was truly shocked,” she shared.

The theater team had approached the school board for help after discussing the need for new lighting and sound equipment with Steele High Principal Joe Tellier and the performing arts teachers.

“Our first major purchases will be an upgrade to LED lighting and new sound equipment, including more microphones,” Dougal explained. She noted that students might not realize how soon these improvements could happen or how much they would enhance the shows. “We are hopeful everything will go smoothly.”

This year is Dougal’s first with the MLS Theatre, and she feels lucky to be part of such a supportive community. “We are incredibly grateful to the school board and administration for their support. We can’t wait for everyone to see and hear our students perform at their best again,” she said.