DOWNEY – Stauffer Middle School’s drama program has been awarded a $8,353 grant from the American Theater Wing, the founding organization of the Tony Awards, the Downey Unified School District announced this week. 

Since 2016, the American Theatre Wing has awarded funds through their Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative to support and invest in public schools and to help drama teachers get more of the resources they need to provide quality drama instruction in their schools.

Stauffer’s winning request was one of only 12 schools in the nation, and the only one in California, to receive this year’s honor. 

In 2021, there were 135 grant applications submitted from K-12 public schools from across 35 states, totaling just over $6 million in requested funds.

“This is a tremendous honor for our Spartans,” said Stauffer Principal Darryl Browning. “The entire Stauffer community congratulates our amazing Drama teacher, Andrea Pyle, for applying for this grant. We cannot say enough about our educators always seeking opportunities for our students to have the best possible learning experience.

“These funds will purchase a much-needed new sound system for our Drama students’ upcoming concert-style production of the ‘The Wizard of Oz’. This amazing production will also be performed at neighboring elementary schools, thus sharing the benefit of this grant with our broader student community.”

“By ensuring students’ access to the arts, we don’t just help instill a lifelong appreciation for theatre, we also support empathy-building, problem-solving, creative-thinking, and a whole range of crucial life skills,” said Heather Hitchens, President and CEO of the American Theatre Wing.

“We are so proud to support these 12 Title 1 schools and their educators, who go above and beyond to provide quality arts education to their communities.”

More information about the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative can be found at americantheatrewing.org.