Dear Friends and supporters,
I could take this time to share with you information about all the new shows, membership drive, subscriptions, the directors and our growing education program. But, you can probably already see all of that info by surfing our website. I wanted to chat with you about our newest initiative – one that I hope my other colleagues out there in the theatre community will join me in. Adventure Theatre’s community engagement program SHARE THE ADVENTURE is committed to giving back to the community through philanthropic and charitable partnerships, making its programs accessible for every theatre patron through affordability, inclusion and diversification of its programs and by partnering with other community and arts organizations. All of these programs are tied into our Main Stage, Special events and Touring productions and
|
|
Season 2007/2008 Accomplishments (These are some of the things we accomplished last year.)
Philanthropic Adventures, Diversification, Inclusion and Audience Development
- We held a Toy Drive to Benefit kids from Children’s Hospital.
- We hosted a Dog Adoption Day in partnership with The Montgomery County Humane Society. Each adopting family received free goods from various pet businesses, including PetSmart.
- We partnered with the National Center for Children and Families – giving their youngest residents free tickets to performances, and providing drama workshops for their teenage residents and held a Book Drive and received donated books from Patrons and local book stores.
- We donated about 100 tickets to various school PTA’s and non-profit fundraisers.
- Partnered with Community Support Services, Inc. - Volunteer Program for People with Mental Handicaps.
- We partnered with The Capital Pride Festival and Rainbow Families DC to have Gay Family Nights.
- We hosted a Celebrate Adoption Weekend in partnership with The Adoption Center of Washington, Center for Adoption Support and Education, Adoptions Together, The Barker Foundation, and Friends of Russian and Ukraine Adoptions to celebrate adoptive families and a Grandparents Weekend
- We partner with The DC Collaborative for Arts and Culture, the Helen Hayes Legacy Project, and Montgomery County Title One Schools to bring DC public and charter schools and Montgomery County schools to the theatre for $0-5 ticket prices.
- The Smithsonian’s Discovery Theatre presented their production of HOW OLD IS A HERO? about African American children during the Civil rights Movement in celebration of Black History Month.
- We partnered with The US National Park Service, The Montgomery County Historic Preservation Society and the Clara Barton House with a play about Red Cross founder, Clara Barton, in Celebration of Woman’s History Month and Theatre In Our Schools Month.
- We partnered with Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture and the Tai Yim Kung Fu Studio to present The Tai Yim Lion Dancers in Celebration of Pacific Asian Heritage Month.
- We partnered with the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and Israel at 60 Celebration to present a reading of Dig N’ Tel on the National Mall.
- We partnered with The Smithsonian’s Discovery Theatre and the Historic Preservation Grant Fund of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington on a reading of THERE AIN’T NO BACK TO A MERRY-GO-ROUND as part of Glen Echo Then and Wow 2008 about the desegregation of Glen Echo Park.
- We partnered with US Arts International Training Program to host an intern from Canada for the year.
- We partnered with Colleges and Universities with accredited internships, giving young artists the chance to work with professionals in the field. We also participate in the Student Service Learning Hours Program, offering volunteer opportunities to local high school and middle school students.
Season 2008/09 Projection
Philanthropic Plans
- Food Drive – Strega Nona
- Crayon Recycling project to benefit Children’s Inn at NIH
- Care Package Creations from AT audiences for service men/women overseas
- Hats and Mittens Drive to benefit families from A Wider Circle
- Partnership with The Bethesda Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce Next Exec Committee to “adopt for a day” underprivileged families to spend a day at the Theatre (Families from The National Center For Children and families and a Wider Circle)
- AT Staff will raise money and participate in the Leukemia and Lymphoma walk
- We will Partner with Project Linus to make donated blankets
Audience Outreach
- Autism Awareness Day
- Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Family Weekend
- Military Family Weekend - with contributions from the Wounded Warrior Project
Cultural and Heritage Awareness
- Hispanic Heritage Month – CANTARE in partnerships with A Class Acts Arts
- Black History Month – GOING THE DISTANCE in partnership with Smithsonian’s Discovery Theatre Production
- Earth Month – JUST A DREAM: A GREEN PLAY in partnership with The Discovery Creek Children’s Museum Note: participating schools will get plants and tree donated
- Asian Pacific Heritage Month – THE MONKEY KING (Washington Chu Shan Opera)
- Woman’s History Month - Cultural Tourism DC – The Lincoln Bicentennial The Clara Barton Play will be featured destination for their tourists. And we will host a Blood Drive.
- HOLES - a play about racial relations and crime within families - a Panel discussion with different members of the community to speak about these issues to middle and high school students
Community Outreach
- The Junior Volunteer Initiative, for middle school students
- A partnership with The Atlas Performing Arts Center to offer satellite drama classes at their facility in NE DC.
We are pursuing partnerships with Everybody Wins DC to offer satellite classes and A Class Acts Arts, Inc. and the Kaleidoscope Family Series (eclectic artists to perform in Silver Spring and Glen Echo).
Our commitment to theatre extends far beyond the production of great plays for kids. I hope you will join us this season as we engage the community through theatre.
Let’s have a playdate,
Michael J. Bobbitt
Producing Artistic Director
|
