A school in Austin, Texas, where Dazed and Confused was filmed is at risk of closing next year. And one of the school’s music teachers has issued a plea for the film’s most famous homegrown star to save it.
Bedichek Middle School, which was used as a set location for the 1993 cult classic, is one of 13 schools that the Austin Independent School District has proposed closing in 2026 as a cost-saving measure to address a nearly $20 million budget shortfall.
The movie, directed by Richard Linklater, featured numerous up-and-coming actors, including Ben Affleck, Parker Posey and Matthew McConaughey, who was born in Uvalde, Texas, and made his onscreen debut in Dazed and Confused.
“Alright, alright, alright,” Samantha Stewart, Bedichek’s orchestra teacher, wrote on Instagram, quoting McConaughey’s most famous line. “Help us blow this post up! We are fighting to keep the music playing at Bedichek Middle School.”
According to KXAN, Stewart, a professional violinist, has worked at Bedichek for 13 years, helping secure $80,000 in grants for its orchestra program.
“I’ve poured my heart into this program — securing grants for instruments and lessons — to give every student a chance,” Stewart continued. “Now, this beloved, historic school faces closure. Bedichek is more than just a school; it’s a cultural landmark. These are the same halls where Dazed and Confused was filmed! We can’t let this history, and the future of our students, be erased.”
McConaughey, Cochrane, Deena Martin and Joey Lauren Adams in a scene from “Dazed and Confused.” (Gramercy Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection)
Stewart tagged McConaughey and his wife, Camila Alves, in the Instagram post. The couple founded the just keep livin Foundation (named after another McConaughey line in Dazed and Confused), whose mission is to empower high school students. And they’re actively involved in numerous philanthropic endeavors.
McConaughey visited Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, following the deadly 2022 mass shooting there, and launched the Greenlights Grant Initiative to help schools improve safety by streamlining access to federal funding for mental health and security resources.
Bedichek Middle School in Austin. (Google Maps)
According to Bedichek’s website, the school had an enrollment of 638 students in the 2024-2025 school year. It was among seven schools in the proposed closure plan to receive an F from the school district.
“We just had two kids make all-region orchestra, which is a huge deal for our school because most of them don’t have private lessons. There is so much good. Our football team is currently undefeated,” Stewart told KXAN. “We have so many wonderful programs here. So, I just feel like that F rating does not encompass our whole campus.”
Wiley Wiggins and Rory Cohrane in a scene from “Dazed and Confused.” (Gramercy Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection)
The school board is expected to vote on the plan on Nov. 20.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
