Archbishop Ryan Theater Arts Parents Association is hosting its second annual Friends and Family Event to raise money to support the students involved in the theater program. The Archbishop Ryan Theater Arts Parents Association was founded to provide support for the children involved in theater: as actors, on stage crew, and in orchestra. The benefits of theater are often overlooked and downplayed when it comes to other activities such as sports. Theater programs are woefully underfunded, and the students involved do not receive the accolades that athletes do - though they work just as hard at their craft. Whether working in front of the crowd or behind the scenes, being part of a production provides a multitude of benefits. Students who participate in theater productions: achieve higher test scores in integrated language arts, mathematics, and writing; develop interpersonal communication skills; learn to work both independently and as part of a team; and acquire the tools to manage anxiety. As parents of these students, we know how important each of these skill sets are and to that end we formed this organization to ensure the theater program has the support it needs to continue.