A student musical performance at Col. Zadok Magruder High School is moving to another school after debris from the auditorium ceiling fell during the performance.
Once Upon a Mattress, the high school’s spring musical, now will be featured at Shady Grove Middle School this Friday and Saturday.
According to a social media post from Kim Glassman, whose daughter is on the stage crew, “As they say in show business, the show must go on. So when the ceiling falls mid show and the auditorium must be shut down in the middle of the spring musical, the community comes together.”
Referring to Montgomery County Public Schools’ Capital Improvements Program, she also posted, “this is what happens when long standing needed projects are cut from the CIP.”
Glassman told MCM that no one was injured, and the ceiling debris fell on the side of the stage. The performance was completed.
According to a letter from Magruder Principal Christopher J. Ascienzo, “[I]t has become necessary to address repairs to the ceiling in our auditorium. Unfortunately, for safety reasons, this reality means the space is unusable for several weeks.”
The school is awaiting an assessment and when the repairs could begin from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).
Ascienzo said he believes the repairs will be completed “as quickly as possible. However, it seems clear that the repairs cannot be completed in time for this upcoming second weekend of the musical performances,” he wrote in a letter to the Magruder family.
He also wrote, “I am grateful for the number of parents who willingly and immediately volunteered their time to help transport theatre materials.”
MCM received a copy of Ascienzo’s March 11 letter from MCPS.
As they say in show business, the show must go on. So when the ceiling falls mid show and the auditorium must be shut down in the middle of the spring musical, the community comes together. @MCPS this is what happens when long standing needed projects are cut from the CIP.
— Kim Glassman (@ksglassman) March 11, 2025
