School districts from across the region and beyond are chipping in to help raise money to ensure Elizabeth Forward High School’s musical production goes on after a massive fire destroyed the auditorium, band and choir rooms.

James Benedek Jr., the school’s musical director, on Monday said the school’s production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” will go on, as will a performance the marching band will have this week in Orlando, Fla.

Benedek estimated about 50 school districts reached out to the school’s music department, ranging from neighboring districts to a school in Ohio.

“The community has stepped up,” he said. “You would think a building did not burn down — that’s how much spirit and hope this has given these kids. It’s beautiful.”

A fire that broke out at the school Sunday caused extensive damage, particularly to the auditorium side of the school, and spurred the district to cancel classes for high schoolers Monday. Beginning Tuesday, the district plans to start virtual learning with high school students until further notice.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

“Everyone was kind of devastated,” Benedek said.

Students involved in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” musical spent more than four months working on set designs, costumes and other props — all of which went up in flames, Benedek said. The band’s instruments also were in the blaze.

“We basically lost everything, so it’s been tough for them,” he said. “The theater is like a home for our kids. We lost a home.”

Benedek said the sadness many at the school felt at the news of the fire quickly was replaced by hope as neighboring school districts and the broader community immediately began to offer assistance, ranging from costumes and instruments to theater spaces and volunteers.

Thomas Jefferson School District is providing instruments to ensure the school’s marching band will still be able to play during performances this week in Daytona, Fla., and at Universal Studios, Benedek said.

He is also finalizing plans to find a home for the musical production. The show was initially slated to run March 30 through April 2.

“I keep thinking of the Mr. Rogers adage, ‘In times of crisis, look for the helpers,’ ” Benedek said. “There are so, so, so many helpers. It’s going to take a village to put this thing on, and our village just got a whole lot bigger.”

The support “means the world” to students and staff in the school’s music department, Benedek said.

The fire is far from the first struggle many of the students have encountered in their high school years, he said. Students saw their high school experience interrupted by the covid-19 pandemic, and they were wearing masks last year, he said. Many of the seniors were particularly eager for this year’s musical — their last at the school district — after years of pandemic disruptions, he said.

Seeing the community rally behind the district, though, has helped buoy their spirits, Benedek said.

“You wouldn’t believe their spirit and hope,” he said. “That’s coming from the community, fellow school districts and the theater community that’s really stepped up in such a time of crisis.”

Among the schools to rush to Elizabeth Forward’s aid was Mt. Lebanon. Band director Jason Cheskawich is collecting donations to help Elizabeth Forward’s band purchase new instruments and equipment.

Our hearts go out to Elizabeth Forward High school. Please consider helping. pic.twitter.com/Hzxo9dBrR0

— mtlband (@mtlband) February 12, 2023

Local school districts’ band directors also are pooling their resources to loan the band anything they need for their upcoming trip, but Cheskawich said he wanted to be able to provide additional monetary support for the band when they return.

“The music community is very supportive of one another,” Cheskawich said. “It’s nice to see, especially in this day and age, what people are willing to do to help each other out.”

As of Monday afternoon, Cheskawich said, the Mt. Lebanon band’s fundraiser collected more than $14,000.

South Allegheny School District on social media said they were offering to share their gym and other facilities with neighboring Elizabeth Forward School District.

Alumni of the high school choir created a Facebook page where they’re orchestrating a benefit concert.

A GoFundMe page collecting donations for the school musical reached more than $26,000 of its $30,000 goal by Tuesday morning.

Local TriBellas’ Dance Academy is raising money for the school’s music department and offering their studio space for the school to use. Liquid Vibes, an Elizabeth-based coffee truck, partnered with the school band Monday to collect donations.

Elizabeth Cain, whose son Ryan is a freshman in the band, said the outpouring of community support has meant a lot to Elizabeth Forward families.

“Maybe this is a nice reminder there is good in the world,” she said. “When something bad happens, people want to help.”

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