Theater League has announced the winners of the 2006 High School Grant Program. Five high school performing arts departments received grants of $1,000 in support of their musical theater curricula. Among the winners were schools in Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley.

"The High School Grant Program gets money directly to the schools," said Chris McCoy, Theater League's manager of education and community programs. "The best way to support arts education is to support the students' work as artists.What's nice about this program is that

it not only supports the student performers, but every student involved with the production: stagehands, musicians, designers, stage managers, etc."

La Reina High School (Thousand Oaks) plans to use the grant to purchase portable floor microphones to enhance the school's musical productions. This proposal was submitted by Lisa Megaffin and Robin Privat.

Oaks Christian High School (Westlake Village) will use its grant money toward a capital campaign to build an additional theater classroom with costume and props storage at the school. Rosalind Enciso, theater arts director, submitted this proposal.

Santa Susana High School (Simi Valley) will use its award to purchase wireless microphones for musical productions. Theater teacher Melissa Albertson submitted this proposal.

Other winners include St. Bonaventure and Ventura high schools in Ventura.

This program is possible through the financial assistance of Theater League's Gold Circle Star members and corporate sponsors.

"This is Theater League's way of showing that professional theater cares about student work and recognizes the importance of high school arts programs," McCoy said.

For further information, call McCoy at (800) 776-7469, ext. 107.