The Foundation is now seeking Summer Arts Academy Student Interns for our 2025 Summer Arts Academy program.  Applications are available online here: Student Intern Application.  Please click on link provided and download the fillable PDF document.  Completed applications are due before or on Friday, May 23, 2025.  Applications can be dropped off to the school front office, emailed to Rachelt@barbaraingramfoundation.org or mailed into the Foundation Office at:

BISFA Foundation

38 S. Potomac Street, Suite 305

Hagerstown, MD  21742

Students may volunteer for more than one academy.  SSL hours will be tracked and students are responsible for filling out the SSL tracking sheet each week.  Foundation Staff will sign forms at the end of each week.

For more information please call the Foundation Office at 240-347-4934 or email Rachelt@barbaraingramfoundation.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Presents “Once Upon a Mattress”

Hagerstown, MD (February 19, 2025) – Barbara Ingram School for the Arts (BISFA) proudly announces
tickets are now on sale for their annual all-school musical production, Once Upon a Mattress.
Performances will take place at The Maryland Theatre on April 5th and 12th at 7:30 p.m., and April
6th and 13th at 2:30 p.m.

This regally hilarious adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea promises to
entertain audiences of all ages. Adults will delight in the classic slapstick comedy, while
children will be captivated by the whimsical characters, elaborate fairytale costumes, and stunning
set design handcrafted by the BISFA theater department.

Once Upon a Mattress premiered off-Broadway in 1959, launching the career of Carol Burnett.
Following in Burnett’s shoes as the unlikely future princess will be Fae Ward. Ward most recently
graced The Maryland Theatre’s stage as Pugsley Addams in last year’s The Addams Family Musical. Her
counterpart, Prince Dauntless, will be played by Nathan Lushbaugh, who audiences will remember as
the title character in 2023’s The SpongeBob Musical and as the uptight future father-in-law to
Wednesday Addams, Mal Beineke, in The Addams Family Musical.

This year’s production marks BISFA’s 14th all-school musical since the school opened in 2009,
following previous successes like The Wizard of Oz, Shrek, The Little Mermaid, and last year’s The
Addams Family Musical. This production coincides with a recent Broadway revival starring Sutton
Foster, Michael Urie, and Ana Gasteyer. A cast recording of the revival is scheduled for release on
March 28, 2025, just one week before BISFA’s opening night.

Tickets for Once Upon a Mattress range from $10 to $30 and can be purchased online at
https://www.mdtheatre.org/once-upon-a-mattress or by calling 301-790-2000.

About Barbara Ingram School for the Arts

The Barbara Ingram School for the Arts is a Five-Star, public high school in Hagerstown, Maryland,
providing 350 students with a rigorous, comprehensive, college preparatory curriculum rooted in
intense, pre-professional training in the arts. The school produces approximately 50 recitals and
performances each year, spanning vocal, instrumental, creative writing, photography, visual arts,
computer game design, and dance. The annual musical is a highly anticipated event, open to
auditions from the entire student body.
Contact:
Rob Hovermale, Principal Hoverrob@wcps.k12.md.us 301-766-8845
Ally Sirbaugh, BISFA Foundation Executive Director allys@barbaraingramfoundation.org
240-347-4934

We are thrilled to announce the return of our Summer Arts Academy Programs this year! Our programs are open to all interested students in grades 5 to 12 (depending on the specific academy). Residency in Washington County is not required to participate, and we warmly welcome students from private and parochial schools as well. These academies are designed to provide students and their families with a sneak peek into the discipline programs offered at the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts while enhancing their skills with our exceptional faculty.

Stay tuned for exciting new academy offerings, detailed descriptions, instructor biographies, and further information.

Limited scholarships will be available, with online applications accepted from February 24, 2025, to May 2, 2025.

Information will be available beginning Monday, February 17, 2025 and online registration opens Monday February 24, 2025.

For more information or inquiries, please reach out to our office at 240-347-4934 or email RachelT@barbaraingramfoundation.org.

Visit us at: https://barbaraingramfoundation.org/summer-arts-academy/

https://barbaraingramfoundation.org/summer-arts-academy/

Engage with your community in supporting the arts while enhancing your company’s visibility. Over 12,000 All-School Musical program books are printed and distributed, and more than 6,000 tickets are sold for the sixty-plus BISFA student performances held throughout the year.

Benefits of participation include: Acknowledgment as a BISFA supporter, Valuable exposure through BISFA promotional materials, the foundation’s website, and at BISFA events, and the rewarding feeling of contributing to the arts and playing a part in educating future artists.

All sponsorships have a direct effect on students across EVERY Artistic Discipline at the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts! The Sponsorship Program provides essential funding for both students and departmental grants. These funds support field trips, equipment, clothing, and supplies necessary for students to successfully complete their projects, participate in master classes with guest artists in residence, and much more!

Business sponsors have the flexibility to create their own giving opportunity by chosing what sponsorship package or by specifying a dollar amount that aligns with their budget. Payment plans are also available.

We still have a few sponsorship spaces available. For additional information or to support the arts visit: https://barbaraingramfoundation.org/supporting-the-arts…/ or call the office at 240-347-4934.

Thank you to our current Supporting the Arts Business Sponsors. We appreciate your continued support! Stay tuned to learn a little more about these businesses over the next few weeks!

Additional information can be found at the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Website:

Join your community in Supporting the Arts while gaining valuable exposure for your company. More than 12,000 All-School Musical program books are printed and distributed and over 6,000 tickets are sold for the more than sixty BISFA student performances throughout the year.

Added benefits include:

• Recognition as a BISFA supporter;
• Valuable exposure through BISFA promotional materials, the foundation website, and at BISFA events; and
• Knowledge that you are Supporting the Arts and making a difference in educating the next generation of artists.

The BISFA Foundation offers a number of Supporting the Arts packages:

Click on the brochure pages below for additonal information.  Secure your sponsorship spot by November 15, 2024 and receive a Holiday Lamp Post sponsorship for FREE!

2024 BISFA Foundation Lamp Post Campaign

Join the BISFA Foundation and Downtown Hagerstown in spreading holiday cheer by sponsoring a lamp post in our festive downtown area! Your sponsorship includes an 18″ x 18″ sign at the top of each decorated lamp post, personalized with your name, company logo, and a holiday greeting of your choice.

With 150 numbered lamp posts available, you can select a specific location by indicating the number found in yellow on the lamp post base, or allow us to assign one for you once your sponsorship form is received.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be a part of this festive community event—submit your form by the deadline, Tuesday, November 12, 2024, and help make our city sparkle this holiday season!

ALL NEW DESIGN FOR THIS YEAR!!!!

Please complete the form below if you would like to sponsor a lamp post to decorate downtown Hagerstown and support the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts!

Check payments can be made to the BISFA Foundatin and can be mailed into the offfice at:

BISFA Foundation
38 South Potomac Street, Suite 305
Hagerstown, MD  21740

Credit card payments can be made through our online payment portal by using this link:

Online Payment Form

The Barbara Ingram Foundation is offering a unique opportunity to make a mark on downtown Hagerstown. Join our 2024-2025 Buy a Brick Campaign and, for a $250 donation, we will engrave a brick to be placed on the sidewalk in front of Barbara Ingram School for the Arts and Vincent Rauth Groh Academic Center!  To kick off this year’s campaign we are offering a special 25% discount to the “Class of 2025”.  Bricks for this special offer will be $187.50!!!  Discount Deadline is November 25, 2024.  Payment plans are available, please contact the office for information.

Each 4” x 8” brick will include up to three (3) lines of engraving, with up to 17 characters per line. Character count includes numbers, letters, and spaces. Bricks may only be inscribed with names, dates and titles or “in memory of” or “in honor of.”

The perfect gift in honor, memory, or recognition of:

• BISFA alum or current student (Class of ####)
• Current or former staff member
• Anyone who appreciates the arts and arts education

For additional information or to secure your senior discount please email Rachelt@barbaraingramfoundation.org, or call the office at 240-347-4934.