The Tunbridge School, a January 2024 Heart of the School Fund grant recipient, was able to purchase a brand-new stage, which made its debut just in time for the spring 2023 musical performance. This new addition marks a significant milestone for the school’s theatre program and has already had a profound impact on students, staff, and the wider community.
 
Kate McKenna, Director of Arts & Resources at The Tunbridge School, shared her excitement about the new stage. “The directors of the musical were thrilled to have our own stage. The cost of renting stages had been increasing each year, so this investment will result in significant savings for us moving forward. It also gave us the flexibility to use the stage earlier in the rehearsal process without paying a daily rate.” Previously, the rented stage took 4 delivery men about 4-6 hours to assemble and take apart, contributing to the high cost.
 
The new stage’s design includes wheels and a foldable structure, allowing for quick assembly and storage. “The quality of our new stage is better than what we had been renting, so the directors were thrilled about that as well.” Compared to the difficult set up of the rented stage, initially assembling the new stage took three adults about 90 minutes.
 
The arrival of the stage was a memorable event. It came in 12 heavy boxes, each weighing over 200 pounds. “We had six eighth graders, our two directors, and the delivery man all working together to get the boxes into the building,” McKenna recounted. “We had to navigate around lunchtime and recess, which added to the challenge. Once we managed to get the boxes inside, the assembly process was much smoother than expected.”
 
The new stage was put to use for The Tunbridge School’s spring production of High School Musical, Jr. The show featured the largest cast in the school’s history—65 students—and was a tremendous success. “Having the stage set up a few extra days for rehearsal made a huge difference in our production,” McKenna said. “We were also able to celebrate our 10th production by inviting 200 alumni and their families to perform on the new stage. It was an incredibly special moment for everyone involved.”
 
The Tunbridge School has exciting plans for the stage beyond the annual musical. The stage will be used for two performance events with elementary students in the winter and spring, as well as for quarterly awards ceremonies. “The stage will enhance the experience for both students and parents, providing better visibility and overall enjoyment,” McKenna added.
 
Students and staff have shared their thoughts on what this new stage means to them:

• Signe Corner, 7th Grade: “Getting our own stage at Tunbridge was something our arts community has been waiting for as we’ve been doing musicals at our school for 10 years, it has inspired many kids including myself. Getting a stage like this will inspire many kids in the future to dream big and learn more about the arts.”
• Rachel Eversley, 8th Grade: "Because Tunbridge now owns a stage, I think a whole lot more can happen now. First off, it's ours, so if needed, the musical cast could use it earlier for rehearsals. It could maybe even be used for other Tunbridge events. I know that Penny Wars was a fundraiser to get money to rent the stage, but since we have one, we can now save up money for stage repairs or use some of it to purchase mics and other items for the set and the musical."
• Aisha Wickes, Principal of The Tunbridge School:  “The impact of us having our own stage really celebrates the focus we at Tunbridge take in our Arts and Resource department. The musical is a part of the fabric of our being. Having the ability to have our own stage really has created a sense of security and a heightened feeling that we are presenting a high quality musical production to our Tunbridge Community. For many at Tunbridge the musical is a distinguished honor to be able to participate in. Being able to acquire this integral piece of equipment solidifies the opportunity to continue to provide engaging opportunities for our families and community.”

We look forward to seeing how this new resource will continue to enrich the lives of students and families for years to come.

Six times a year, the Heart of the School Fund provides grants to Baltimore City Public School principals to support projects that enhance their school buildings, their students’ learning, and their staff’s growth. To read about additional Heart of the School Fund grants, click here.

See photos of students in action utilizing the stage for their spring 2023 musical below, shared with permission from The Tunbridge School, shots courtesy of Root Exposure Photography.