"Rally for Shalley" is the battle cry of the Baldwin-Whitehall Friends of the Theater Arts as the group sets its sights on raising $344,000 to construct an orchestra pit in the Baldwin High School auditorium.

The Baldwin-Whitehall school board last month gave approval for the theater group to begin fundraising for the pit as part of a $1.5 million to $2.5 million auditorium renovation project that has not yet been bid.

That motion included a "commitment of the board" for naming the renovated auditorium the Dr. Regis Shalley Center for Performing Arts after the school's popular choral director from 1954 to 1981. The commitment depends on the Friends raising at least $175,000.

But there is no commitment from the board to build an orchestra pit, which is why the group plans to raise $344,000, or the entire estimated cost.

"The spirit of the motion was to meet them about halfway," said school board President Martin Schmotzer. "But if they raise the $344,000, there is no question we will include an orchestra pit,"' he said.

James Nowalk, president of the Friends group, said a "three-pronged attack'' strategy will be employed to raise the funds: selling the naming of auditorium seats; targeting alumni and teachers who want to honor Dr. Shalley; and applying for grants.

"We will make a very strong effort to raise the money as it represents excellence in a musical performing arts center. We are not going to fail,'' said Mr. Nowalk, who is also the mayor of Whitehall.

Mailings seeking support and the creation of a Web site will take place soon.

"We have a limited time period because the specs are being drawn up, so we are moving as quickly as we can," he said.

At its June 17 meeting, the board approved HHSDR Architects/Engineers, of Sharon, to prepare renovation specifications, drawings, bidding documents and a detailed cost estimate for renovation of the 40-year-old facility.

Among the proposed features:

• New ceilings and sidewalls to improve acoustics;

• New staggered seating to provide improved audience visibility for about 1,000 people;

• A new audio and visual system, improved lighting and modifications to the fire sprinkling system.

An alternate includes an orchestra pit.

The project comes on the heels of a recently completed $64 million high school renovation project that finished $1.2 million under budget.

Funding for the auditorium is designated in the 2009-10 budget, which also contains the second consecutive tax decrease.

Mr. Schmotzer said the district plans to apply for federal stimulus funds related to the "green" aspect of the project, such as with the ceiling tiles and other features.

The nonprofit Friends was formed in 2004 by parents to relieve the fundraising burden from students in music and theater-related classes and clubs.

Mr. Nowalk said $10,000 of the group's resources will be pledged immediately, with another $10,000 raised through a fall fundraiser. Each of the 11 board members will pledge $250.

Mr. Schmotzer said his support for the pit surfaced, in part, after a meeting with the Friends' board.

"Ten of the 11 members do not have kids in the district. That told me they were there for all the right reasons, for all of the children of Baldwin-Whitehall," he said.

A pledge form can be requested by writing to: Baldwin-Whitehall Friends of the Theater Arts, PO Box 10985, Pittsburgh 15236.