What is a Jaguar Theater Booster?

If you are a parent whose student is involved in the FCHS drama program in any capacity, you already qualify as an FCHS Jaguar Theater Booster. Welcome to the club! Boosters support the FCHS drama program by pursuing the extra resources the department needs in order to provide the best possible theater education experience for students.

What do Jaguar Theater Boosters actually do?

FCHS Jaguar Theater Boosters support the drama program through volunteering and fundraising. They are the parents you see selling tickets or concessions at every show. Boosters also help behind the scenes to build stage sets, make costumes, organize meals during tech week, chaperone field trips, monitor dressing rooms and generate publicity.  Between productions, they help raise supplemental funds to support the educational mission and aspirations of the department.

Why are  the Jaguar Theater Boosters necessary?

Each year, FCHS provides students with the opportunity to participate in a musical, a full-length play and an evening of student-directed one-act plays. Much of the funding for these endeavors comes from ticket sales, student fees and fundraising; FCPS does not cover the cost of lighting, sound, sets, paint, publicity, props, programs, costumes, scripts, royalties, nor professional support such as a music director. Boosters help identify resources to cover these expenses, and provide volunteer support to keep costs low.

How do I get involved?

There is no annual membership fee for FCHS Jaguar Theater Boosters. Instead, all parents are asked to volunteer as much as they are able, and support our ongoing fundraising efforts. To figure out how you can best be of help given your particular circumstances, attend our next monthly meeting and talk with our volunteer coordinator.

What if I don’t have much time to volunteer?

We totally understand the challenge of juggling commitments, since we are busy parents, too! The reality is that it takes hundreds of volunteer hours to put on a show. We find that the bigger the show, the bigger the job – but also the more helpers there are to share the load. We rely on tools such as Signup Genius to break down big jobs into smaller component parts to be shared by many parents. If you have limited flexibility to help, we recommend you sign up early for the roles that best fit your timetable. Many volunteer tasks can be accomplished at home or on weekends.

If I’m going to invest  some of my time, too, I want to know: How will my student benefit from the FCHS drama program?

Glad you asked! Typically, students who join the drama program already have an appreciation for the performing arts. So that benefit goes without saying. By the end of their first year in the FCHS drama program, however, they’ll also experience a huge boost in confidence, creativity, skills, responsibility – and friendships.  

Think about it: Where else do high school students learn to…..?