SECAUCUS, NJ – Rose Brand noted that Brooklyn Theatre Arts High School submitted a video and won its “Rags to Riches” contest. The top prize: a new custom main stage curtain valued at up to $10,000.
More details from Rose Brand (www.RoseBrand.com):
Rose Brand sent one of their best, Senior Project Manager Michael Cucciarre, to take preliminary measurements for the job. Cucciarre recalls, “When we arrived on site we found a fatigued, dusty, torn main curtain and valance in a gold color.” The school wanted the new curtain to match the shade of red in their existing house curtains, so Rose Brand custom dyed the selected fabric. In addition to helping them with the custom color for the fabric, Cucciarre also worked with them to make adjustments to the valance dimensions, which previously interfered with lighting.
The new curtain (pictured) is made of 25 oz. Prestige fabric with 100% Box Pleats. It meets all flame retardancy requirements, making sure that the stage not only looks good, but is safe for students.
After Rose Brand manufactured and installed the curtain, BTAHS students were “ecstatic,” as 10th grader Eve Moskowitz described it. To her, the curtain meant a higher level of professionalism and motivation on stage. Eve said, “When I saw it for the first time I was so happy to know that when people came to see our performances we would be seen as professionals. Every time I look at it during a rehearsal, I get the motivation I need to put my all into the show.”
Another 10th grader, Angel Tavarez, said seeing the new curtain “breathed a new life” into him. He wasn’t shy in admitting that “the stage is where [he] puts [his] life.”
Rose Brand launched the contest as a fun way to give back to students in the theatre community. They invited any organization with a stage to send in a creative video expressing their need for a new main stage curtain. Organizations from across the country submitted videos, including high schools, junior high schools, elementary schools, churches, and theatres. The winning video (http://bit.ly/curtainwinner), described the Brooklyn high school’s need in playful visuals and lyrics that were sung to the tune of “My Favorite Things” from the 1965 film “The Sound of Music.”
As an avid supporter of theatre programs, Rose Brand expects to run the contest again to continue helping theatre programs that serve students and can’t afford to purchase a new curtain.
