With the help of San Jose Unified School District board member Pam Foley and high school Principal Elaine Farace, the school has partnered with the Children's Musical Theater to keep the drama department's spring musical, Once On This Island, alive.

"What's fabulous to me is that even though businesses have been talking about creating partnerships and collaborations, it was two nonprofits that are exemplifying this partnering spirit," Foley said.

The future of the high school's musical was in doubt when the school lost both the director and vocal/choir teacher in 2005.

"We lost both people that were knowledgeable and connected to the spring musical," Foley said.

Foley's daughter, who attends Hacienda Science and Environmental School, has been involved with the Children's Musical Theater group, so she decided to approach CMT.

"I asked the nonprofit if they could help guide us through the program," Foley said. "We are still using our own talent, but the students get to learn from the best."

She said the partnership is a win-win situation for both parties. "They get the word out about the Children's Musical Theater, and we get to put on a great show," she said.

The set design, sound, electrical and directing will be done by the theater group, and parents and volunteers will do all the behind-the-scenes work.

The orchestra for the musical will be made up of both Willow Glen middle and high school students, and the cast will also consist of the high school students.

Students and teachers alike greeted news of the partnership with a sigh of relief.

"Both the school and its students are very excited about this collaboration," Farace said. "We're looking forward to a long-term relationship with the musical theater."

It was a nature fit for Sarah Miller, an English teacher at the high school, to act as the liaison between the school and theater group.

Miller used to direct and coordinate the fall dramas at the school, but had stopped doing so a year ago for health reasons.

"What people don't realize is how much of an undertaking a production is," Miller said. "Even though the theater group is being paid, they are going out of their way to help us. It's a load off and a stress relief."

Miller said the theater group's expertise will be a benefit for the students.

"This partnership will provide the students with a more realistic musical experience," she said. "The students will gain a professional experience and this will hopefully increase the number of students that want to be involved."

This kind of partnership creates the expectation that these things happen in Willow Glen, Miller added. "Kids will know that they don't have to go to a performing arts magnet to get that kind of experience."

'Once on This Island' opens March 31 and runs through April 8. It will take place at the Willow Glen High School cafeteria, 2001 Cottle Ave. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors.

For more information, contact 408.264.7377 or email MarianHeinkel@aol.com.