The Secret Garden Closes Sunday 3/26! Get Your Musical Tickets Now!

The final shows of The Secret Garden, a heartwarming story of redemption and growth, are March 24, 25 and 26. 

Please come support the amazing students, staff, and volunteers who came together to make this musical happen. Opening weekend was received with raves – you don’t want to miss this show!

About The Secret Garden



The Secret Garden musical is a reimagining of the classic tale written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, replete with ghosts and intrigue, and is a sweet celebration of the healing powers of nature. Follow the young orphan, Mary Lennox, whose journey of recovery from isolation and loss begins when she is sent to live with her uncle on his country estate and meets the down-to-earth people of the Yorkshire moor.

Shepherded by a chorus of ghosts, Mary discovers a hidden garden which harbors its own secrets. In the garden she soon begins to thaw and grow like the small spring shoots breaking through the hard ground. Through Mary, the magic of the garden spreads to her uncle and cousin as they begin to confront the grief that has kept them locked inside.

The beautiful score was written by Grammy Award winning composer Lucy Simon, sister of Carly Simon. The script and lyrics were written by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman.

We are so grateful for the team of teachers, students, coaches, and volunteers who came together to make this happen! Ballard High School’s The Secret Garden is directed by Eia Waltzer; Indira Rampersad is the assistant director and accent/vocal coach; musical direction is by BHS choir director Courtney Rowley, and choreography by Eia Waltzer. BHS band director, Jay Gilespie, conducts the pit orchestra.

For more details about the musical, visit the Ballard Performing Arts website.

Tickets

$20 for adults

$15 for seniors

$10 for students.

Order tickets at https://www.showtix4u.com/.

Interested in learning more about the historical background to this story? Use this QR code to view the dramaturgy packet. 

We Need Bake Sale Donations for the Musical!

Please consider making a donation of baked goods for the fundraising bake sales at the musical performances March 24, 25, and 26. Whether you bake some cookies, brownies, or cupcakes or pick something up at a grocery store or a bakery – we’ll take it! All proceeds go to the program. Sign up to donate baked goods. 

We also need volunteers to work the bake sales table during intermission and help with clean up after the shows. Thanks!

Small Ensemble Groups to Perform at Middle School Tour Day on Friday, March 31

All small musical groups will tour middle schools during the school day on March 31 to encourage students to participate in music programs in high school. This includes students in Brass Band, Vocal Jazz, Tenor Bass Ensemble, Chamber Choir, and Chamber Orchestra. They will be touring Whitman, Robert Eagle Staff, McClure, Salmon Bay, and Blaine. Permission slips have been sent home. Bus transportation will be provided. 

Did You Miss Monday Night's Disney/NYC Trips and BPA Booster Meetings?

Thanks to everyone who showed up Monday night for our BPA Boosters board meeting and the Disney/NYC trips meetings. If you were unable to attend, please reach out to your program rep or your child’s director to get any handouts or other important information. We will also post a brief recap of these meetings in next week’s newsletter.

Band

March 25 - Running of the Beavers

Pep Band has been invited to perform at the Running of the Beavers. Call time is 8:15 am at the Golden Gardens Bath House. Performance runs from 8:30 to approximately 9:45 am. Even if you have registered to run, we invite students to join in the performance until the call to the start line.

Parking is likely to be an issue. Drop off at 8 am at the dog park should allow for enough time for students to walk down the steps to meet up in time. If you drive, try to park in the south or upper lots as parking at the bath house will not be available.

Middle School Tour Day, Friday, March 31

Brass Band students will tour middle schools during the school day on March 31 to encourage students to participate in music programs in high school. They will tour with Vocal Jazz, Tenor Bass Ensemble, and Chamber Choir. They will be touring Whitman, Robert Eagle Staff, McClure, Salmon Bay, and Blaine. Permission slips have been sent home. Bus transportation will be provided. 

Upcoming Band Performances

April 2 – Brass Band plays at Swanson’s Nursery at 11:00 am

May 6 – CWU jazz festival, both jazz bands attending

May 17 - Syttendee Mai Parade

May 23 – North High School band festival at Lincoln

June 2-4 - Honkfest. Time TBD.

June 13 – Final Jazz concert at the Royal Room, 5:30 load in, 6:30 downbeat

Marching Band Photos Ready to Order

You can view and order music group photos at the link below. There are two photos for Marching Band. Scroll throug the photos to find your student's group photo. 

Link: https://v2.myproimages.com/rowlandstudio 

Code/password: BMU2223

Disney Marching Practices

Please mark calendars for additional marching band practices. These practices are preparation for the Disney performances and are required for students going on the trip. Rehearsals will be held immediately after school and a few will require parent chaperones for marching in the streets. Please use the SignUp Genius to choose a volunteer spot.

• Friday March 24, 3:45 - 5:15 pm (chaperones required)
• Friday March 31, 3:45 - 5:15 pm (chaperones required)
• Tuesday April 4, 3:45 - 5:15 pm (chaperones required)

March 25th Pep Band Performance

Mark your calendars. The Pep Band has been invited to perform at the "Running of the Beavers" on March 25th at Golden Gardens from 8-9:30 am. Logistics for the performance to follow.

Choir

March 28 Elliott Bay Regional Choir Festival @ Ballard HS

All choir classes will participate in the Elliot Bay Regional Choir Festival taking place at Ballard High School during the school day. The groups will be joined by 14 other choirs from across Seattle. This is an adjudicated festival where each choir will receive scores and feedback from the clinician as well as a clinic from one of the judges. Students will wear their formal tuxes and dresses. They will either need to bring a sack lunch or arrange to buy something off campus, as the festival’s lunch break will take place after Ballard’s regularly scheduled lunch period. We’re looking forward to a fun and educational day with Treble Choir, Advanced Chorale, and Concert Choir.

Upcoming Dates

Friday, March 31

Middle School Tour Day, during the school day

Vocal Jazz, Tenor Bass Ensemble, and Chamber Choir will visit area middle schools.  

*We are in need of two chaperones for this event. Please contact Jaimee at bpabchoirrep@gmail.com if you’re willing and able!

Friday, April 28

State Ensemble Contest

All day event

CWU in Ellensburg

Vocal Jazz, Chamber Choir, and Tenor Bass Ensemble will perform.

*We will need approximately 5-6 parent volunteers to drive carpools to Ellensburg and back. This pertains to students only participating with their ensemble. If your child is also performing a solo and staying overnight, they will need to arrange their own transportation back. Please email Jaimee at bpabchoirrep@gmail.com if you're able to help out with driving!

Saturday, April 29

BHS Foundation Fundraising Event

4-5:15 pm

Home of Cyndy Clegg in Edmonds (BHS Foundation Member)

Vocal Jazz performance

Students will organize their own transportation.

Tuesday, May 30

OSPI Superintendent’s 50th Anniversary Art Show

During school day

Benaroya Hall

Vocal Jazz performance

Orchestra

Chamber Orchestra SPS Northwest Region Pathways Concert March 21

On Tuesday, March 21 at 7 pm, Chamber Orchestra and students from Lincoln High School will perform alongside middle and elementary string students. It is a fun opportunity for us to show off the high level music we play in high school, and hopefully convince younger students to continue in orchestra!

• When: Tuesday, March 21. Call time 6:10 pm; concert at 7:00 pm (estimated end time will be announced soon).
• Where: Whitman Middle School auditorium
• Attire: Orchestra T-shirts, jeans/dark bottoms

Theatre

For questions about Theatre Arts classes that meet during the school day, email Mr. Riley’s theater substitute, Ms. Indira Rampersad at igrampersad@seattleschools.org.

The Secret Garden Musical Production Update

Students and the crew are staying in touch via GroupMe and the cast calendar. 

For questions contact director Eia Waltzer at eiaradio@yahoo.com.

How Theatre Families Can Help Support the Musical

Volunteer to support the musical! 

We need lots of volunteers to help run the musical. Please look at the sign up genius

and volunteer for whatever you can. If you indicated an offer of help on the T-shirt form that you filled out many weeks ago, you have already been added to the sign up genius and Sally (bpabevents@gmail.com) has contacted you, unless your form was illegible or incomplete! If you need to change your offer of help, please do so in the sign up genius. 

Students can earn service hours!

We need two student volunteers to usher each night (hand out programs, help people find their seats, and clean up the auditorium after the show). Earn service hours, see the show for free and support your BPA peers! Email bpabevents@gmail.com with student name, contact information, and the night that they would like to usher.

The district only pays for teachers’ salaries; everything else we have to raise or donate.

Goodwill Event Recap

Thanks to everyone who dropped off donations and to all of our volunteers for unloading and sorting those donations! We filled 1 truck and earned $600 for BPA. Huge shout out to the family who brought the volunteers donuts! Thank you! 

March Dine-Out Madness at Tutta Bella

Our next dine-out lasts ALL week long, March 26-30. Mark your calendars!

• Use the coupon code EasyAsPieBPABoosters at checkout.
• Code is valid Sunday, March 26 – Thursday, March 30.
• Dine-in or order delivery, takeout, or curbside from tuttabella.com.
• Code is valid at all locations. At QFC, order online and enter code at checkout.
• 20% of sales will be donated to Ballard Performing Arts Booster Club.

Social Media Help Wanted

Social media has become integral to all aspects of the BPA. Our students are ramping up with performances, trips, and visiting specialists.You can help highlight programs, get the word out about dine-outs, concerts, events, and fundraising, and use social media tools to tell the story of our fundraising efforts through reels, stories, and posts. The social media team needs you! This is easy-to-post content lifted from our weekly newsletter. Learn how to use the pro-version of the popular software Canva and get the inside scoop on everything that is coming down the pike with our programs. Please reach out to Jeannette Chen at bpabsocial@gmail.com - she has a graduating senior and would love to train an enthusiastic parent who wants to keep the momentum going!

Communications Chair Wanted

We’re looking for a parent to corral our communications that feed our newsletter, website, social media and other communications channels. You’ll work with BPA president and board members and directors to make sure parents are informed through the newsletter. Work with parent volunteer newsletter editor, social media team, website coordinator, and publicity volunteers. It’s a great way to stay on top of all the goings on! Contact Rachel Hart Rios at bpabcommunications@gmail.com.

Spaghetti Dinner 2024 Committee Forming Now!

Now that you have experienced the joyful community vibe of the Spaghetti Dinner event, why not step up to help run the event next year? It would be ideal to form the committee now while the event is fresh in our minds to help make planning easier for next year. If you are interested, email bpabpresident@gmail.com.

Senior Salutes are Coming!

Seniors–it’s your time in the spotlight to be recognized for all the work you’ve done over the last four years. Stay tuned for a link to a brief questionnaire to fill out and submit with a favorite photo from your time in band, choir, orchestra, or theatre.

Check out past performances any time on our YouTube and Vimeo channels.