Supporting Worthy Causes in Our Community
At Old School Theatre, we believe we have a responsibility to support our community. As a theater company, we have access to large groups of intelligent, creative people who enjoy culture and engaging with their community. The “Charities Center Stage” program is Old School Theatre’s commitment to leverage our access to those people on behalf of regional charities and non-profits, expanding awareness and fostering the spirit of giving those organizations depend upon.
Review the charities selected for our 2010-11 production season
How it works…
Each performance season, Old School Theatre produces four main stage plays. Each play will be dedicated to supporting a regional charity or organization. That support will be expressed in the following ways:
Promotional Identification
The charity will be identified as the “supported charity” in all marketing material, posters, press releases, and other media contacts. The charity’s logo will be featured whenever possible, its leaders will be identified, and contact information will be included for interested parties to learn more about the charity and its works.
Website Presence
A page will be dedicated on the Old School Theatre website exclusively to promote the charity and its works, link to other web pages, invite communication, and other awareness-expanding content. This page will be referenced in the production section of the website to help drive traffic to the charity’s page. This page will remain on the Old School Theatre indefinitely or until such time as the charity wishes for it to be removed.
Performance Program Space
An entire page of our performance programs will be dedicated to the supported charity, providing a tangible opportunity to promote the charity’s programs and initiatives and present clear contact and location information for interested audience members.
Pre-Show Announcements
It is customary to open each performance with an announcement from the play’s director. The charity will be featured in every pre-show announcement.
Lobby Display
The supported charity will be allotted a table in the lobby during each performance for use as a display of promotional or informative materials for the charity. The charity is welcome to staff the display with a representative to engage the audience on before and after the show and during intermission, or Old School Theatre can provide a volunteer to serve as a facilitator the charity’s behalf. This display can also used as a donation point, with a dropbox or donation jar provided to receive audience donations.
Benefit Performance
The proceeds of one performance during the run will be dedicated to the supported charity. This dedication can take one of two forms:
1) The audience is invited to bring an item relevant to the charity in lieu of their admission fee. For example, if The Well Food Pantry was a supported charity, our audience could donate non-perishable food items to qualify for their $5 admission.
2) The audience is invited to donate to the supported charity, qualifying them for a discounted $5 admission fee.
How You Can Help…
If you would like to support any of the charities we’re supporting this season, then please consider attending its scheduled benefit performance (they’re highlighted in all the show descriptions on our website). Or attend ANY performance and visit the table set aside for the supported charity. We’re sure they’d love to know you want to lend a hand.
Your Charity
If you administrate a charity or non-profit and would like to be considered for the Charities Center Stage program, please contact Anne Bomar, Community Liaison for Old School Theatre.
