Short Summary
Excitement ripples through the audience. It's your first time at a professional production and the show is about to start. Suspense, giddiness, and a dash of fear fill the air. The orchestra makes some final adjustments as the last of the crowd finds their seats. The lights begin to dim, the music begins, and the curtain rises.
WAIT! You aren't there! You couldn't afford to go- and, heck, you don't even know that it's going on just near your neighbourhood!
I'm afraid I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Sage (curly haired girl second to the right) and I am currently a sophomore at John Swett High School in Crockett, California (the school of most of the members of Green Day- yeah, that's really all that's remarkable about us...) and president of JSHS's Theatre Club!
For the last two years, I have gone to camp. It's a silly, little camp but it has taught me many things (like raccoons are spawns of the devil and that you really under appreciate working toilets), but if it has taught me one thing it's this:
Theatre is a beautiful thing that should be shared; it helps us to think, to dream, to understand, to become closer to one another, to escape, to see, to be so much more- in other words, theatre teaches us to be more human. By supporting this project, you will help bring theatre to high school students who otherwise would go through their lives without it.
What We Need & What You Get
Okay! So you may or may not be wondering, "So that was all great and all, but what do you actually do what are you actually going to do with my money?"
Well folks! Theatre Club is a way for us to reap the ultimate benefits on ticket sales- group discounts and student discounts- for (insert trumpet fanfare) student group discounts. We are all about exposing teens to local theatre productions in the bay area, but despite these marvelous discounts, it still costs money.
Your donation would go to buy tickets for us, or at least make tickets available at dramatically reduced prices.
Now you may be wondering, "How exactly are you using my money? You aren't just seeing outrageously expensive Broadway productions with V.I.P. passes and front row seating?"
Gosh darn, you saw through my plan. No, we will always look for the cheapest production, so Broadway's a bit out of the way. Donations will pay for tickets, not transportation. $500 would allow the club to see 2-5 productions, depending on what show we want to see and discounts. Money will also go into fundraising, so we will be to actually double your donation. Money leftover at the end of the year, will be saved for next year and/or donated to our school's drama department.
Now perks! If you donate, we will love you for the rest of eternity. If we loved you anymore, it would be considered a cult. Anyway, more perks will be added as the campaign progresses.
The Impact
By donating, you are helping to bring theatre to high school teens who wouldn't have the chance to experience it. We aren't the richest of schools or communities, if you get my drift.
Not only are you instilling students with a love and passion for theatre (not to mention creativity and imagination!), you are helping to fund local theatre companies, directly and indirectly. Not only are your funds going directly to them, you are creating the next generation of patrons for them.
Not to mention, you will help increase sales and auditions for our school's annual spring musical. Head's up, it's Grease!
Another benefit of donating, is that you will help students understand plays better in class. Finally, Shakespeare will be read properly! Or at least be understood and enjoyed...
Lastly, you are enriching the community by adding another layer of culture, giving it depth and a new perspective. By giving it theatre, you are breathing life into our society- giving it joy and comfort, love and grief, sorrow and emotion. You are making it so much more. You are making it human.
Other Ways You Can Help
Can't contribute? Don't fret- you can still help us out! If you can't give directly, give us a hand and share our project! Facebook it, twitter it, tumblr it, email it, tell your friends about it, write it on a paper and let your messenger pigeon to deliver it, mail it, make a musical number about it, or anything to just spread the word about it! You can help, so why wait?
On a side note, we actually do have more people, but many had to leave to take the bus or for various other reasons. We have roughly 15 members total.
