Gift benefits theater at Beloit Memorial High School
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BELOIT — Beloit Memorial High School held an open house in the auditorium Sunday afternoon. The occasion was planned to recognize a gift of $1 million to benefit the theater department and theater students and to give the community a chance to see renovations to the theater, made possible with the money.
The donation came from the estate of Mildred "Lu" Ohlander, sister of former BMHS theater director, Elizabeth Reinholz.
It came at a time of need for the school, according to current theater director, Greg Wallendal. He says a theater support group, (PAPAS) parent advocates for performing arts, had recently raised $20,000 and lobbied the school board for an additional$80,000 to fix the stage's fly system. But more money was needed for other upgrades.
Wallendal says new, state of the art equipment purchased, and installed over the last year will give theater arts students at Beloit an advantage. He says they'll be able to train on the sound and lighting equipment which will qualify them to work back stage at most theater houses in the country. The $1 million gift was split up, with $750,000 going directly to the theater department. The remaining $125,000 went into the Elizabeth Reinholz scholarship fund, which is managed by the Beloit Foundation.
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