2020 was a rough year for everyone. Staying home to work, teach or go to school took its toll and there is not a member of the human race that didn't lose something. The greatest loss for the city of Downey, perhaps, was the passing of our guardian angel, Dr. Mary Stauffer. Not only did she literally bring many of us into the world with he bare hands, but the creation of the Dr. Mary Stauffer Foundation has been responsible for countless eductional opportunities for students and graduates of the Downey school system for decades. Regretfully, I did not get to meet her until a few years ago when her foundation awarded the DHS Theatre Dept with funds to perform our first musical at the Downey Theatre in countless years, Grease. The next year the generosity of her foundation made our production of In the Heights possible, and last year, when ever performing another musical again seemed like nothing more than a dream, her foundation once again donated the funds for us to receive the performance rights to A Chorus Line. I have spent sixteen years developing a career in theatre education that I am very proud of, and I can honestly say that all of the highlights of that career are a direct result of the nearly $50,000 in grant money that I have been fortunate enough to receive in order to direct quality high school musicals like this one. It saddens me greatly to know that Dr. Stauffer does not get to see the great work that the students, whom she cared so much about even though she never met them, are doing with this opportunity. Therefore, on behalf of the entire 65 person cast and crew, I would like to dedicate our performances to the memory of Dr. Stauffer. May her generosity be recognized by all of us and her influence shine through us every day of our lives.
Chris Nelson
The Very Proud DHS Theatre Director
