Dreamland asks $80,000 to continue "Theater Speaks" outreach after large community reach
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Summary
Dreamland representatives said the Theater Speaks program reached roughly 2,000 in-person and more than 600 virtual viewers last year and asked the committee to fund an $80,000 scaled program year to maintain speaker fees, travel and lodging costs for high-profile presenters.
Nantucket Dreamland asked the Contract Review Committee for $80,000 to sustain and grow "Theater Speaks," a program that brings speakers and theater productions addressing bullying, substance abuse and mental health to area schools and the community.
Alicia Kearney and staff said last year’s Theater of War productions and in‑school talks reached about 2,000 in‑person attendees and drew roughly 600 additional online viewers from multiple countries. "We estimated that it was approximately 2,000 people," the Dreamland team said, and reported an additional 600 virtual viewings for streamed content.
Dreamland requested funds to cover speaker fees, travel and lodging — cost drivers on an island — and to expand school participation. The organization told the committee it has reduced its original, larger request and will send a written confirmation of the revised amount. The committee asked for the revised program budget in writing so the award can be capped if approved.
Committee members said the program produced substantial community engagement last year and welcomed Dreamland’s effort to scale and to target other school grades. No funding decision was made at the meeting; the committee asked Dreamland to submit the written revised request and a clearer per‑event cost breakdown for deliberations.