"Through the years this small island of creative sanity has enriched the lives of countless children and adults. Don't let this proud little theatre die."
James Whitmore

Do you know the dramatic and vital difference you make in our community when you directly support Santa Monica Playhouse programs? More than helping the Playhouse celebrate a year of international cultural exchange, support for the underserved, world premieres, educational enrichment and community outreach, you are changing the world! Your gift means giving…

·         dozens of underserved kids an after-school home, keeping them off the streets and out of gangs

·         thousands of students of all ages self-esteem and tools for creative thinking as they become the responsible citizens of tomorrow

·         community members from a dozen cities around the globe great cultural understanding for world peace

·         27 new playwrights’ voices a forum for exploring such challenging issues as adoption, abuse, acceptance, anorexia and prejudice

·         dozens of disadvantaged students career skills that will change their lives and their communities

·         ten thousand families a place to share, bond and grow closer together

·         Dr. and Mrs. D. Parker a reason to say, “Not until attending our first performance last year did I feel that sense of community, of wanting to live nowhere else but here. This is the value of your efforts.”

The power of your contribution is inestimable. Please help us continue to raise the curtain on a safer and saner community for our children. Help us build on nearly fifty years of history to create a future we can all applaud.

We count on you to help fund the vital programs that have made the Playhouse a leader in the field of theatre arts education and world premiere entertainment. Your annual end-of-year contribution is greatly appreciated and will go a long way toward funding important projects and programs such as Diversity-in-Education, Cultural Exchange, New Works and Community Outreach.

DIVERSITY-IN-EDUCATION

Keeps underserved students off the streets and out of gangs by providing scholarships, free field trips for socio-economically disadvantaged schools, in-the-schools theatre workshops and community outreach. To fill ever-growing requests for these important programs for the upcoming season, the Education Conservatory must augment its current budget by $27,000.

“PRODUCE” one of our MAIN STAGE, FAMILY THEATRE
or NEW WORKS SHOWS

Become a “producer” for one of our world premiere productions, support emerging artists and help bring new theatre ideas to the boards. Your contribution in any amount will help us raise the $42,000 needed to fully fund our New Works season.

LIGHT THE WAY

Our lighting system is having a mid-life crisis. Over forty years old, it is limping along on its last leg. Your donation will help us reach our $23,000 goal for a new lighting system.

HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE

$100 Contributor

Your name on a Patio Brick

• • •

$250 Sponsor

Your name on a seat plaque in the "Artist's Entrance" performing space (while they last - only 4 left!)

• • •

$500 Patron

Your name on a wall plaque in the Main Stage Foyer

Limited edition Official T-shirt

• • •

$1000 Benefactor

All Patron’s benefits plus invitations to a VIP Gala performances

• • •

$5000 - $50,000 Angel

All of the above plus lifetime admission to all regularly scheduled Playhouse performances

• • •

$100,000  or more

Naming Opportunities are available

Checks may be sent directly to Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401-1391. Credit Card or stock donations may be made by calling 310-394-9779 extension 1

The Heart-touching Stories
That Make It Worthwhile

"I love our community. By sticking together and supporting our community-based culture and commerce, initiatives and programs, we strengthen ourselves."
Arlene Hopkins, Santa Monica

The 3, 4 and 5 year olds of the Pico Montessori School gather their change in a plastic baggy and ask their teacher to bring it to the Playhouse because they don’t want to lose their “fairytale theatre”.

7-year-old Nima Ghassemian, a Playhouse veteran since the age of three, forgoes his birthday party, asking his mother to donate the money she would have spent on the party to the Save the Playhouse Campaign.

8-year-old Emily Balaguer and 9-year-old Somah Haaland convince their moms to accompany them them door to door in their neighborhood to gather signatures for a petition to ask the Santa Monica City Council to support the Save the Playhouse Campaign.

12-year-old Rebecca Coombs initiates a “Be Seated” campaign in which audience members, local businesses, families and students can buy a “seat” in the Main Stage to help Save the Playhouse.

13-year-old Sacha Irwin sets up a table in front of a market on Montana (with the Market’s permission, of course) to ask passers-by for support and collects $167.00 in one afternoon.

17-year-old Graham Silbert launches an email campaign which raises $20,000 in 24 hours.

The 10- to 21-year-old members of the Santa Monica Playhouse Young Professionals’ Company produce a series of Benefit events that bring more than $10,000 to the Save the Playhouse Campaign.

The Young Professionals at England’s Playbox Theatre travel to Santa Monica to perform three separate cultural exchange productions, donating all proceeds to the Save the Playhouse Campaign.

“Grown-up” Rina Mimoun, active Playhouse member from the age of 10, and now Consulting Producer/writer for the acclaimed TV series Everwood, makes a donation and writes, “We were talking about how we have taken you guys and the theater as simply a given. Something that will always be there. It's terrifying to think that it could disappear and other kids, teens, young adults, and adults wouldn’t be able to enjoy what we did. And they wouldn't even know what they had missed”

Respected artist James Whitmore contributes to the cause and proclaims: “Through the years this small island of creative sanity has enriched the lives of countless children and adults…Theatre and the Arts reflect the true soul of any country and as the Schubert and other centers of artistic creativity are demolished, our quality as a people is diminished. I beg of you, Don't let this proud little theatre die.”

An elderly woman drops a bill into the donations basket after a performance of Picon Pie and says, “Good luck to you” whereupon the man in front of her, who has also dropped in a bill, gently corrects her, saying, “No. Not good luck to you. Good luck to us.”

Joan Taylor and Beatrice Prilliman, cofounders of Senior Opportunities, sends a donation and says, “Your work has meant so much to our Seniors. [The lady] whose husband died two years ago. One decisive healing for her – she came seven times to the Playhouse! And [the gentleman] who fought his way back after his wife of 50+ years died suddenly. He goes immediately to each theatre offering. Your theatre experience is so valuable to them all.”
 

“Of immeasurable value to all who participate.”
Tom Bradley, Former Mayor
of the City of Los Angeles

“Don’t let this proud
little theatre die!”
James Whitmore

A small sampling from among several thousand

LETTERS of SUPPORT for Santa Monica Playhouse

“Through the years this small island of creative sanity has enriched the lives of countless children and adults…Theatre and the Arts reflect the true soul of any country and as the Schubert and other centers of artistic creativity are demolished, our quality as a people is diminished. I beg of you, Don't let this proud little theatre die." - James Whitmore

“The Playhouse inspired me in so many ways and played an enormous part in shaping the person I am today.” - Rina Mimoun - Producer, Dawson’s Creek

“Congratulations on the solid success you’ve made of the Playhouse.” - Ralph Story

“The best thing I like about Santa Monica Playhouse is how they treat our community. And how they care about our feelings and we care about theres (sic).” - Dominique, 2^nd grade

“I wish the rest of the world was like you…Thank you for loving, teaching, caring for and inspiring my daughter.” - Nancy Griffin

“It is nearly impossible to describe how much the Santa Monica Playhouse has shaped my character and influenced my life…Now that I am a professional educator, I am even more convinced of the incredible value of the (unfortunately) unusual circumstances that define the Playhouse. It is my passion that more young people have the opportunities I had.” - Cami Anderson,  Executive Director, Teach for America New York

 How You Can Help!

 DONATE  to the SAVE THE PLAYHOUSE CAMPAIGN!

In order to purchase its facility, the Playhouse needs to raise approximately $500,000. All donations are gratefully accepted. And if it is within your power, please 

BECOME an ACTIVE ARTS PATRON and keep the theatre alive

Call us today with your cash, check, credit card or stock donation of $1,000 or more. Naming opportunities are available for donations of $50,000 or more. 

SUPPORT the EDUCATION PROGRAMS!

$25,000 will support Family Theatre Productions for an entire Season!

$10,000 will support arts-in-education field trips for 1000 elementary school students!

$1,000 will support one full Diversity-in-Education Summer or Year-Round Program Scholarship for an under-served student!

BUY A BRICK !

JOIN the Save the Playhouse Committee!

Host benefits, galas and special events. Call Sandra at 310-394-9779 ext. 651.

ATTEND a BENEFIT!

Santa Monica Playhouse, a not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 educational corporation founded in 1960, provides exciting and entertaining dramatic and comedic, classic and contemporary live theatrical productions, Family Theatre musicals, birthday and tea parties, theatre workshops and educational programming for young people, teens and adults, create-a-play classes and Mommy and Me events for pre-schoolers, daytime and after school classes and in-service in public and private schools, cultural exchange, international touring, and community outreach, as well as theatre rental space for productions, seminars, solo shows, concerts, recitals, lectures, meetings and more.