HJ212: Commending the E.C. Glass Theatre on the occasion of its 30th anniversary.

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WHEREAS, the E.C. Glass Theatre celebrates 30 years of producing outstanding dramas and musicals for the school and community in 2010; and

WHEREAS, the drama program began in 1909 as the Dramatic Society at Lynchburg High School under the sponsorship of Mattie Craighill; the Society was renamed the David Garrick Players in 1925 and started the tradition of two annual productions; and

WHEREAS, in 1920 Lynchburg High School became E.C. Glass High School and the drama program led by gifted and creative teachers continued to grow and evolve; and

WHEREAS, in 1980 Jim Ackley, an E.C. Glass alumnus, became head of the drama program; he completely reorganized it and renamed it the E.C. Glass Theatre; and

WHEREAS, Jim Ackley established the E.C. Glass Theatre season schedule of six full-length shows, including an annual musical; started a season ticket sales program to support the theatre; expanded course offerings; and oversaw the construction of a second performance space; and

WHEREAS, today, the E.C. Glass Theatre has expanded its teaching staff to three full-time instructors, two adjunct teachers, and three support staff members; and

WHEREAS, the theatre department, one of the best high school technical theatre programs in the nation, includes a 2,100-seat proscenium space with a 70-foot fly loft, a 150-seat black box, an acting and dance classroom, fully equipped scene shop and storage, prop rooms, and costume construction and storage facilities; and

WHEREAS, E.C. Glass Theatre students have won numerous accolades and awards for their hard work, including seven state championships, selection to perform at the Educational Theatre Association?s annual convention four times, and selection to participate in the American High School Theatre Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, three times; and

WHEREAS, alumni of the prestigious E.C. Glass Theatre program go on to study theatre, musical theatre, and other arts-related fields at leading colleges and universities, including Harvard University, Yale University, Dartmouth College, and Duke University; and

WHEREAS, E.C. Glass Theatre alumni have gone on to successful and Tony and Emmy Award-winning careers on Broadway and regional theatres across the country and in television and film; and

WHEREAS, the E.C. Glass Theatre will hold a gala reunion weekend in February to celebrate its 30 outstanding years; and

WHEREAS, all 1,300 alumni have been invited and the highlight of the weekend will be the performance of The Music Man, directed by E.C. Glass? own Enrique Brown, a 1995 graduate who is fresh from Broadway?s The Little Mermaid; and

WHEREAS, the E.C. Glass Theatre has done an extraordinary job over the past 30 years of providing high-quality performances for the school and community and providing an opportunity for its students to nurture and explore their interests and talents in the arts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend the E.C. Glass Theatre on the occasion of its 30th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the E.C. Glass Theatre as an expression of the General Assembly?s congratulations and admiration for its outstanding productions and commitment to the arts.

WHEREAS, the E.C. Glass Theatre celebrates 30 years of producing outstanding dramas and musicals for the school and community in 2010; and

WHEREAS, the drama program began in 1909 as the Dramatic Society at Lynchburg High School under the sponsorship of Mattie Craighill; the Society was renamed the David Garrick Players in 1925 and started the tradition of two annual productions; and

WHEREAS, in 1920, Lynchburg High School became E.C. Glass High School and the drama program continued to grow and evolve, led by gifted and creative teachers; and

WHEREAS, in 1980, Jim Ackley, an E.C. Glass alumnus, became head of the drama program; he completely reorganized it and renamed it the E.C. Glass Theatre; and

WHEREAS, Jim Ackley established the E.C. Glass Theatre season schedule of six full-length shows, including an annual musical; started a season ticket sales program to support the theatre; expanded course offerings; and oversaw the construction of a second performance space; and

WHEREAS, today, the E.C. Glass Theatre has expanded its teaching staff to three full-time instructors, two adjunct teachers, and three support staff members; and

WHEREAS, the theatre department, one of the best high school technical theatre programs in the nation, includes a 2,100-seat proscenium space with a 70-foot fly loft, a 150-seat black box, an acting and dance classroom, fully equipped scene shop and storage, prop rooms, and costume construction and storage facilities; and

WHEREAS, E.C. Glass Theatre students have won numerous accolades and awards for their hard work, including seven state championships, selection to perform at the Educational Theatre Association?s annual convention four times, and selection to participate in the American High School Theatre Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, three times; and

WHEREAS, alumni of the prestigious E.C. Glass Theatre program go on to study theatre, musical theatre, and other arts-related fields at leading colleges and universities, including Harvard University, Yale University, Dartmouth College, and Duke University; and

WHEREAS, E.C. Glass Theatre alumni have gone on to successful and Tony and Emmy Award-winning careers on Broadway and regional theatres across the country and in television and film; and

WHEREAS, the E.C. Glass Theatre will hold a gala reunion weekend in February to celebrate its 30 outstanding years; and

WHEREAS, all 1,300 alumni have been invited and the highlight of the weekend will be the performance of The Music Man, directed by E.C. Glass?s own Enrique Brown, a 1995 graduate who is fresh from Broadway?s The Little Mermaid; and

WHEREAS, the E.C. Glass Theatre has done an extraordinary job over the past 30 years of providing high-quality performances for the school and community and providing an opportunity for its students to nurture and explore their interests and talents in the arts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend the E.C. Glass Theatre on the occasion of its 30th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the E.C. Glass Theatre as an expression of the General Assembly?s congratulations and admiration for its outstanding productions and commitment to the arts.