Launching Giving Day for theaters
I have always loved my work in the theater because it is among the most collaborative life’s work I could imagine. As an actor, as a producer, as an author, no matter which hat I have on, I relish the opportunity to work with others in the creation of art.
Through the darkest days of COVID, it was the collaboration with theater-makers from far and wide (AACT — American Association of Community Theatre — THANK YOU) that helped keep me sane and helped me keep Curtain Call afloat. And now a new collaboration is underway with my Fairfield County theater-making friends at 17 other theaters.
March 27 is designated World Theatre, but in Fairfield County, this year (and hopefully for many years to come), it will be known as Fairfield County Producing Theatres Giving Day. Thanks to a $10,000 grant from Bank of America for us all to share, we’ll be asking our friends and fans to help support our nonprofit missions.
With the loss this year of a similar county-wide giving event, as well as recent Connecticut legislative action that left all 18 of us out of a $10 million funding pool, a joint fundraising effort like this is really important. This “event” is even easier: no special portals, no competition, prizes, or fees — it’s a simple opportunity to raise awareness of all the great theater happening around us and to call out the need for supporting the nonprofit work we all do.
Since 1972, live theatrical productions at the Sterling Farms Theatre Complex have been a part of Stamford’s rich cultural landscape, and for the past 32 years, it has been an honor and privilege managing the complex for the City of Stamford. At Curtain Call, the action never really stops and that’s why your support is so important. In addition to our year-round educational workshops, our official “season” runs September through June, but July and August include our free outdoor Shakespeare on the Green program and our annual summer youth theater production, respectively.
This month I’m celebrating a milestone birthday … the one where people just a few decades ago would be put to pasture. Fifty may well be the new 40, and who knows what 65 is, but for me, it’s the vibrancy of our Curtain Call community that keeps me going. The tens of thousands of patrons that enjoy our shows, the hundreds of volunteers — actors, designers, directors and crew — an incredible professional staff and dedicated board of directors enrich my life beyond what I ever could have imagined. And all of them have answered the call when I’ve asked for financial support.
In working on this amazing new collaboration, I know we (the producing theaters of Fairfield County) all share many patrons, artists and supporters, so my simple request is this: Please support as many theaters as you can, as generously as you can, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
The participating theaters are ACT of Connecticut, Carriage House Arts Center, Center Stage Shelton, Crystal Theatre, Curtain Call, Downtown Cabaret Theatre, Fairfield Center Stage, Falcon Repertory Company, Music Theatre of CT, Musicals at Richter, New Paradigm Theatre, Ridgefield Theatre Barn, Summer Theatre of New Canaan, Thrown Stone Theatre, Town Players of New Canaan, Town Players of Newtown, Westport Community Theatre and Wilton Playshop.