Beloit Memorial High School Theatre 
Howdy Mr. Wallendal!
I'm responding to a message that my friend Peter Scheu posted on the Stagecraft
Digest concerning information you can use to illustrate the vital position an
effective theatre plays in a high school community.
We have been involved in providing stage equipment and supplies to school
theatres in the midwest for sixty years. One of the things we have learned is
that the fine arts are always the last to be funded and the first to be cut. It
is the norm and not the exception.
My father, Robert H. Merrill, wrote a small book in the 1960's titled "The
school theatre is a laboratory" which is a workbook for architects and
engineers, and school theatre planners. One of his central points is that the
entire school building exists to teach things to young people. The chemistry lab
has bunsen burners, the history classroom has world globes, the wood shop has
table saws, and the gymnasium has wrestling mats. Similarly, theatres need
equipment and supplies whereby the process of teaching may be effectively
pursued. Budgetary constraints are always an issue and some equipment purchases
must be spread out over several years. What must be strictly observed is an
effective master plan so that each years' purchases are all helping develop the
same finished picture in the best sequence.
That said, kindly let me know if I can be of help to you in your efforts,
please.
Best regards,
Frank E. Merrill
MERRILL STAGE EQUIPMENT
Indianapolis
317: 255 4666
Established 1946
www.merrillstage.com