PSGA Blog Number Five: Senate Seeks Ways to Fund Rocky Horror Purchase Show

The PSGA met on Wednesday, Oct. 7 and encountered significant discrepancies with funding the student-run musical, The Rocky Horror Purchase Show. Representative Trevor Collins said the production, which is scheduled to take place at the PepsiCo theatre, would not be able to continue without the necessary funds.

Collins spoke of the financial problems facing the production. He said that sound, lighting, the show’s rights, costumes, and scenery were crucial to the show and must be covered in the end.

He said that the PepsiCo labor fee would be covered by ticket sales, of which the prices have been lowered to make the event more affordable for Purchase students. He also said he cut the budget to include only the necessities, and has also had some costumes and scenic items donated.

“We’re doing as much as we can to make this as feasible as possible,” Collins said. He added that one of the show’s major contributors, Professor of music Joe Ferry, will cover all costs not paid for by the PSGA or other organizations.

The Senate and those involved with the production determined that the costume fee alone would be $1,500, and the grand total cost would reach $15,719. “I just think that at such a creative school there’s a different way to go about costuming,” said Olde Senator Allison Portney. “I just see $1,500 as a lot for a cast of 21 students.”

Some senators had an issue with the show being primarily run by graduate students and others not affiliated with the college. They were surprised that there were no current students willing to take on certain roles within the show, and questioned whether the students were properly informed of auditions.

According to Collins, John Delate handled the administrative aspect by sending out two campus-wide emails.

A motion was passed to grant $2,500 to the show, but not without expressed uncertainty of who the check should be made out to. The Senate suggested that the show finds a campus organization to sponsor the event.

One week after PSGA President Kevin Collymore appointed Lindsey Baker and Ken Sickler to the Judicial Board, another judicial appointment was made. Sophomore Noelle Wynter was chosen to fill the vacant position of Associate Justice.

The Senate also debated whether or not another Humanities senator was necessary. They did not come to a decision, but instead chose to discuss it further next week.

According to this week’s executive reports, Collymore has determined a set time for the Executive Board meetings, which he said would be on Monday mornings at 9 a.m. in the PSGA conference room.

In his executive report, Coordinator of Finance Nico Marceca said he would be meeting with several administrators to work on the final steps of his Green Fee proposal. Student Activities Coordinator Jordan Davis also said he has been working out the final details of this weekend’s Fall Fest, and continued signing performance contracts for bands that will be playing at the event.