FLOW Follies: The Largest Scholarship Fundraiser for the Ramapo-Indian Hills Regional School District
The FLOW Follies is defined as: 3 Towns – 2 Schools – 1 show! And this year the show will be at Indian Hills High School on March 3rd and 4th at 7:30 PM, and March 5th at 2 PM. The Sunday Matinee will be proceeded by a luncheon for Senior Citizens in the High School cafeteria starting at 12:30 for a “Munchies and Matinee” show. Details are available at each town’s Senior Center. But everyone should come out and enjoy some local fun and community spirit. This is the show’s 37th Year and it’s going to be another great one! The fun is loosely based and the National Lampoon Vacation movies along with music from many Broadway favorite musicals. The Choreography is offered by Joyce Mortorano and Georgi Kanev. Original music comes from Dan Tramontozzi and is played by the Band, made up of our High School music leaders. They all know how to put on a show.
In 1986 a group of parents of Indian Hills and Ramapo High School students got together to create a fun program to raise scholarship funds for graduating seniors in the regional school system. Similar programs already existed in Ridgewood and some other local towns. Oakland, Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff all had their caches of talented professional and semi-professional theater and musical personalities who felt it would be great to put together an event to showcase their talents along with the hidden talents of so many other residents of the three towns. Also the children of the performers would be inspired to apply for the scholarships, raised by their parents’ own hard work and community spirit. Local mayors, teachers and school board members also took part
Carol Birdsall and Annette Sherman of Oakland were the first producers to get the ball rolling. All writers, producers, directors, performers, choreographers, dancers, singers and staff, backstage and in the tech booth, volunteered their time to perform a self-created show for all three towns to enjoy. The following quote from the FLOW Follies website invites residents to join the production:
Since the first show in1987, FLOW Follies has been a unique example of volunteerism in the communities of Franklin Lakes, Oakland and Wyckoff. We are a parent-led volunteer organization that brings people together from three towns for a common goal: to raise scholarship funds for graduating seniors of Ramapo Indian Hills Regional School District, and we have a lot of fun in the process! Members get to meet new people, make new friends, and gain lasting memories as we put together the production and fundraising events.
Our success is made possible by the dedication of parents who generously contribute their time and talents to the writing, creation, production, and performance of an original musical-comedy. We give everyone opportunities to act, dance, sing, or help behind the scenes. However, we expect all volunteers to participate in our fundraising activities. After all, our ULTIMATE objective is to put on a great show whose net proceeds are scholarship funds for graduating seniors of the RIH High School District & community.
FLOW Follies has raised nearly $800,000 which has been distributed to hundreds of students making us the single largest scholarship fundraiser for our two high schools.
We are a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization under the parent organizations of the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District.
So come out and enjoy the show, and maybe next year you can find yourself on or behind the stage. Who knows?