Roundabout Theater won't come to Bethesda Elementary school this year

[Anonymous]

I'm ready to be blasted for the quality of problems of Bethesda Elementary School, but the Roundabout Theater, which is walking distance from BE, used to come to our school and put on WONDERFUL programs for and with the third grade. Not just "let's pretend we're zoo animals" but real, thoughtful programs that I've been looking forward to since we started at Bethesda Elementary in kindergarten and heard about the strength of the Roundabout Theater. I joined and attended the theater in part because of their work at my child's school.
You guessed it--my child is in third grade this year, and Roundabout has pulled the plug. They want to focus on Title 1 schools. Good for them, but--can't they throw us a crumb? Any hope? Yes, I've reached out to the theater to ask if it's a question of $$. I feel truly let down by my neighborhood theater.

[Anonymous]

They're probably sick of dealing with the craziness of the admin at BE. I'm surprised they can retain any of the after school programs at all.

[Anonymous]

oh no, OP

God forbid they should ignore the rich to give to the poor.

terrible indeed!

What assholes!

[Anonymous]

I'm sure this is coming from the school and not the theater.

[Anonymous]

Round House Theater is a great theater and has wonderful children's programs. My son went to their camp this summer and loved it! I'm sorry they won't be coming to your school, but they do have classes year round for kids that you can sign them up for, since it sounds like you have the money to do that. Their education programs are actually located in downtown Silver Spring, not Bethesda, by the way, so even though the theater is nearby, their teaching artists and Education Center are closer to Silver Spring schools. What about Imagination Stage - they are in Bethesda,too, and have great children's programming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm ready to be blasted for the quality of problems of Bethesda Elementary School, but the Roundabout Theater, which is walking distance from BE, used to come to our school and put on WONDERFUL programs for and with the third grade. Not just "let's pretend we're zoo animals" but real, thoughtful programs that I've been looking forward to since we started at Bethesda Elementary in kindergarten and heard about the strength of the Roundabout Theater. I joined and attended the theater in part because of their work at my child's school.
You guessed it--my child is in third grade this year, and Roundabout has pulled the plug. They want to focus on Title 1 schools. Good for them, but--can't they throw us a crumb? Any hope? Yes, I've reached out to the theater to ask if it's a question of $$. I feel truly let down by my neighborhood theater.

Round House Theatre???

[Anonymous]

Talk about first world problems.

My school banned all birthday parties, cupcakes, and any sort of treats.

Who else wants to vent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm ready to be blasted for the quality of problems of Bethesda Elementary School, but the Roundabout Theater, which is walking distance from BE, used to come to our school and put on WONDERFUL programs for and with the third grade. Not just "let's pretend we're zoo animals" but real, thoughtful programs that I've been looking forward to since we started at Bethesda Elementary in kindergarten and heard about the strength of the Roundabout Theater. I joined and attended the theater in part because of their work at my child's school.
You guessed it--my child is in third grade this year, and Roundabout has pulled the plug. They want to focus on Title 1 schools. Good for them, but--can't they throw us a crumb? Any hope? Yes, I've reached out to the theater to ask if it's a question of $$. I feel truly let down by my neighborhood theater.

Just sign your kid up for a class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk about first world problems.

My school banned all birthday parties, cupcakes, and any sort of treats.

Who else wants to vent?

Boo hoo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure this is coming from the school and not the theater.

Why are you sure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Round House Theater is a great theater and has wonderful children's programs. My son went to their camp this summer and loved it! I'm sorry they won't be coming to your school, but they do have classes year round for kids that you can sign them up for, since it sounds like you have the money to do that. Their education programs are actually located in downtown Silver Spring, not Bethesda, by the way, so even though the theater is nearby, their teaching artists and Education Center are closer to Silver Spring schools. What about Imagination Stage - they are in Bethesda,too, and have great children's programming.

I have a child at BE, I live in Bethesda and while we're not FARMs, we don't have money for extras like these classes. I am sick of everyone making assumptions about people just because of their zipcode.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Talk about first world problems.

My school banned all birthday parties, cupcakes, and any sort of treats.

Who else wants to vent?

Boo hoo.

BE did that too, though of course teachers can still give out candy as behavioral rewards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're probably sick of dealing with the craziness of the admin at BE. I'm surprised they can retain any of the after school programs at all.

+1. This would not surprise me.

[Anonymous]

They wouldn't be the only ones who don't want to deal with that admin!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Round House Theater is a great theater and has wonderful children's programs. My son went to their camp this summer and loved it! I'm sorry they won't be coming to your school, but they do have classes year round for kids that you can sign them up for, since it sounds like you have the money to do that. Their education programs are actually located in downtown Silver Spring, not Bethesda, by the way, so even though the theater is nearby, their teaching artists and Education Center are closer to Silver Spring schools. What about Imagination Stage - they are in Bethesda,too, and have great children's programming.

I have a child at BE, I live in Bethesda and while we're not FARMs, we don't have money for extras like these classes. I am sick of everyone making assumptions about people just because of their zipcode.

I am the PP and was responding to the OP who said she "joined" the theater - I assume she means subscribed, and attended shows there - if you can afford to see shows and be a subscriber at Round House you can afford to sign your kids up for classes there. I wasn't making generalizations about all families at Bethesda ES.

If you have financial need, most programs like Round House have scholarship funds for classes, just contact them.