February 22, 2019 -- Volume VI, Issue 5

In each week’s Good News Friday, we report on process more than finished product. As noted on our masthead, GNF is “Your Behind-the-Scenes Peek at Virginia Rep’s Community Health and Wellness Partnership.” GNF is sent to stakeholders; we want you to be “in the know.” This week, our time was directed mostly toward tackling RVA’s human trafficking crisis. You’ll be hearing a LOT more about this project during the coming weeks and months. Here’s your first look. We’re developing a new play for presentation to 5^th – 8^th graders in Virginia’s schools. We’re creating and will be presenting this new play in partnership with those RVA nonprofits most committed to and experienced in the eradication of human trafficking. National statistics inform us that RVA currently ranks among our nation’s twenty metropolitan areas with the highest incidence of human trafficking. This is unacceptable. We will be creating the first play that will talk directly with students about what human trafficking is, and how to avoid it. For most of the students seeing the show, it will be a prevention program. However, we know from our Hugs and Kisses experience that for some it will be an early intervention program. Therefore we are working comprehensively to build the safety net that will protect those students who come forward with disclosures. Next week: Building Partnerships to Save Lives. 

Now is the time for all good parents to come to the aid of their children seeking fun and adventurous camp experiences. Camp Virginia Rep, led by our Education Manager Irene Kuykendall, is now accepting enrollments for all of our spring break (Apr 1 - 5) and summer camps (various dates in June, July, Aug). You can reach Irene at ikuykendall@virginiarep.org. Irene earned her Masters from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and is certified as a Wolf Trap Teaching Artist. Her resume includes the roles of Elizabeth Bennett in Quill’s upcoming Pride and Prejudice, Meg in our recent Crimes of the Heart at Hanover Tavern, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Sycamore Rouge, Cordelia in King Lear with Quill, Songs of Bedlam at Firehouse Theatre, and a year of national touring with Theatre IV/Virginia Rep. Adding to our acclaimed camps at Willow Lawn and Virginia Rep Center downtown, Irene is excited to be developing three new half-day / one-week camps this summer at the Northern Henrico Civic Association at 319 N. Wilkinson Rd., well known as the fall/winter/spring home of CAT Theatre. For more information about any of our spring break and summer camp opportunities, please visit our website at https://va-rep.org/camps.html. Camps fill up quickly, so please help us spread the word and make your child’s reservations now.   

We had fun last week leading the Acts of Faith talkback following Huck and Tom and the Mighty Mississippi. Every member of the full house of children and adults stayed to take part. The discussion began with Proverbs 22:6—“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” When asked if Huck and Tom had been “started off on the way they should go,” the audience all agreed that they had been. When asked for an example of how that early training had prompted a decision later in life, a second grader quickly volunteered, “Huck helped Jim escape! He didn’t turn him in!” The Acts of Faith talkback for Once is this Sun, Feb 24, led by Terry Gau and our Music Director Mike Zygo. The talkback for Broadway Bound will be Mar 31, led by Bruce Miller. On a separate front, our own Neci Hill and actress Morgan Avery McCoy performed this morning at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center. Neci offered a liturgical dance to “I Told the Storm,” and Morgan delivered a series of monologues entitled Evolution of a Black Girl: From the Slave House to the White House. Both entertainments were part of a luncheon sponsored by the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, entitled “Rebuilding Our Confidence: Strong Women of African-American History.” The luncheon honored women who are key leaders of the Mosby Community.

When Theatre IV began in ‘75, inclusion was among our founding principles. The phrase “No one will be turned away due to inability to pay” appears in our earliest press releases. We’ve always worked diligently to put this ideal into practice, doing our best to balance altruism with financial sustainability. Today, Virginia Rep distributes 10% of all tickets and tour shows to individuals and schools that otherwise could not attend. Free or deeply discounted Tom Tix, named in memory of Tom McGranahan, are awarded to low income seniors, mostly through nonprofit partners. Chuck Schroll Tickets, named in memory of Muriel McAuley’s nephew, are given free-of-charge by teachers to high achieving, low income high school students. Free Community Tix are provided to colleague nonprofits that serve low socioeconomic status children and adults. U-Tix are available to high school students attending as individuals for $10 for non-musicals and $15 for musicals. In partnership with Blue Star Families, we provide a 50% discount to all active duty military personnel and their immediate families. We offer veterans $5 off full price. Teachers who join our educator’s guild can get one free ticket for every ticket they buy. Through our Sensory Friendly and Theatre Access for the Blind initiatives, we provide free tickets to children on the autism spectrum and theatre patrons who are blind. 

Our Director of Marketing, Liz Nance wrote after reading last week’s Two-Way Talkback: “Reading this article on Peter Paul Development made me think about my own church, St. James’s Episcopal in the Fan. We have a Children’s Center that offers childhood education to ‘working families with limited socioeconomic resources,’ among others.” Thanks Liz. This is very helpful. Hannah will be in touch with St. James as she continues her contacts with ALL RVA organizations meeting the educational needs of low SES children from birth through age three. We’re very eager not to leave any organization out of the loop. Regarding our announcement (and correction!) of the I Have a Dream performance last Monday evening at N. Courthouse Rd. Library in Chesterfield, MANY THANKS to the six parties who attended after reading the post in Good News Friday. It was very heartening to see and hear from each of you. We remain especially proud of ALL of our touring casts, and very thankful for our terrific relationship with Chesterfield County libraries. The show went so well on Monday, that our library contacts called on Tuesday morning to book again for next year!