ucjrdude- this is what the whole issue is about! Because of the strike, BC/EFA is losing money due to 27 shows not being able to promote donations to the charity and offering items to sell to the audience members
This is quite sad. It didn't hit me how much BC/EFA was losing until I saw The Ritz yesterday and they mentioned it at their curtain call speech. I wish I had more money to give! Damn being a poor college student. I've given what I can though.
ucjrdude902, this time of year, each Broadway show collects money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. They generally do this by making a post-curtain speech after each performance describing the charity and asking for donations. Cast members stand near the doors as audience members leave taking cash donations. Most shows also sell special items, such as signed posters, photographs, or Christmas ornaments to raise money beyond the regular, nightly collection. Each year there is a friendly competition to see which show can raise the most money with the winner being announced at the Gypsy of the Year Event. Due to the work stoppage, the nightly collections and sales at the darkened shows are not occurring with the charity losing about $350,000.00 a week in donations. GYPSY OF THE YEAR Online Fundraising
"Do you know ChrisLovesShows?" "Yes. Why, yes he does!"
ucjrdude, if you go to the BCEFA web site, it explains everything they do and how they collect funds. The web site is easy to navigate and while you're there - check out the store!
I asked one of my teachers if he could get the ninth Carols for a Cure CD and he told me that he will try to get it for me the next time he goes to New York City. He asked me where he could get it at, and I told him at the theater. But I'll have to wait until the theaters open back up, when the strike comes to an end. I asked him just yesterday.
I have already missed two performances since the strike began so I contributed online what I would have been contributing at those performances. If (God forbid) the strike continues and the rest of my tickets also evaporate, I will continue to send in what I would have put in when they passed the hat. A shame such a good organization is treated as "collateral damage."
I just got off the phone with my teacher, and he told me that he could get the ninth Carols for a Cure CD. I'm excited about getting it. I'll probably get it for Christmas. I'm also getting the eighth Carols for a Cure CD for Christmas, too.
Maybe it would send a message to both sides of the strike if a few regular theatre-goers would donate the amount of one of their unused tickets, and say so. It might not, but at least it would accomplish some good in the process.
"I mean, sitting side by side with another man watching Patti LuPone play Rose in GYPSY on Broadway is essentially the equivalent of having hardcore sex." -Wanna Be A Foster.
"Say 'Goody.' Say 'Bubbi.'" ... "That's it. Exactly as if it were 'Goody.' Now I know you're gonna sing 'Goody' this time, but nevertheless..."
Thought I would tack this on to this thread. Just got an e-mail from Accu radio. For the next 3 weeks they are donating a 1.00 to charity for every new listner. BCEFA is one of the charities.