At least one resident of Northampton Area School District claims the Northampton Area High School theater program doesn’t have a chance when it comes to the annual Freddy Awards.

Her assertion provided some drama at the Nov. 20 NASD Board of Education meeting.

“Why is the school district not supporting the drama club?” asked Jean Rundle, a former NASD school board member.

NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph Kovalchik noted that advisers, set designers and directors are paid for NAHS theater productions.

Later during the meeting, the school board voted 7-0, with two directors absent, to approve the Northampton Area High School Drama Boosters to support the drama program at the high school, at no expense to the district.

Before the vote, Rundle continued, “The drama club cannot raise enough for costumes and background settings to match the other schools.”

“We’re preparing the budget (for 2018) and we could put a line item in there,” Kovalchik responded.

“The other schools ... Where do they get their money?” asked school director John Becker.

School director Dr. Michael Baird noted, “The district doesn’t give any money to the booster club.”

“Part of the aspect of the new middle school was to improve the arts,” Kovalchik said.

The State Theatre Center for the Arts, Easton, presents the annual Freddy Awards “to recognize and reward exceptional accomplishments in the production and performance of musical theater in high schools of the Lehigh Valley and Warren County, New Jersey.” The 16th annual Freddy Awards is scheduled to be telecast live in May 2018 from the State Theatre on 69 WFMZ-TV. The awards are named after Freddy, an alleged ghost at the State Theatre.

Typically, area high schools present a play in the fall and a musical in the spring, the latter to qualify for possible Freddy nominations.

After the vote to support the drama boosters, Mary Jane Csencsits, boosters president, who attended the Nov. 20 meeting with Kristi Lalik, boosters vice president, thanked Kovalchik and the school board for their support. Ed Schuch is treasurer; Carol Faber is secretary.

“Our purpose is to get community involvement and to raise money,” Csencsits said. “The spring musical is the most visible.”

The play “The Importance of Being Earnest” was presented in October at NAHS. The musical “Anything Goes” was presented in March.

Upcoming events for the NAHS Theatre Company include auditions Dec. 11 and 12 in room 1336 for “Winter Showcase,” which runs in January 2018 and auditions Dec. 7 and 8 for “The Addams Family,” which will run in March 2018.

According to the drama boosters website, membership is open to students and adults. The membership fee is waived for students. Those interested may join by attending a membership meeting or emailing Boosters@nahsdramaclub.org. Meetings are the second Tuesday of the month. The next membership meeting is 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 in the orchestra room at NAHS.