CHICAGO, IL – Season of Concern, the Chicagoland theatre community’s fundraising effort that provides compassionate care to those in the theatre community who are experiencing the effects of illness or injury and also provides support annually to Chicago-based HIV/AIDS service organizations and The Actors Fund, has announced a record high collection drive of over $300,000.
“Each year, dozens of theatres give curtain speeches and collect donations from audience members for Season of Concern around the holidays. This is more money than we have raised during our holiday collection drive in our 30+ year history” Said Manager of Fundraising, Michael Ryczek. “We wish to thank all participating theatres: A Red Orchid; American Blues; Annoyance; Beverly Arts Center; Chicago Shakespeare; Court; Drury Lane Oakbrook; First Folio; Goodman; Hell in a Handbag; Lifetime; Lookingglass; Marriott; Mercury; Northlight; Porchlight; Refuge; Second City; ShawChicago; Steppenwolf; Factory; House; Theatre at the Center; Timeline; Victory Gardens; Windy City Playhouse; Writers Theatre.”
The collection drive offers a free CD of holiday music recorded by local musical theatre performers for a donation of $20 or more. This CD has been produced by Eugene Dizon and Cory Goodrich for six years, as a labor of love. “We ordered 4000 CDs this year, and have only a handful left. Eugene and Cory’s contribution to increasing our collections is a primary factor to our success,” said Ryczek.
For more information about Season of Concern, contact Michael Ryczek at michael@seasonofconcern.org or visit our website www.seasonofconcern.org.
—From a press release