Dear Supporters and Friends, Fundraising for the arts is never a walk in the park. On Father’s Day, I was able to step away from our company’s current fundraising efforts and spent some time with my family at Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park. Senator Charles Schumer introduced Comedy of Errors to a packed Delacorte Theater and reminded everyone of how important the arts are to our communities while emphasizing the arts economic impact on our nation. According to a 2005 survey by Alliance for the Arts, New York City’s “nonprofit cultural sector generated $5.8 billion in economic impact and 40,500 jobs.” A more recent study by Americans for the Arts reported that nonprofit arts & culture organizations generate $135.2 billion in national economic activity. Albeit Monk Parrots is a small company with grand ideas, we are very much a part of the nonprofit arts ecosystem that makes NYC and America so great. We want to make a bigger impact and reach a wider audience with our 2013-2014 season production, Bum Phillips, An Opera, and you can help make that happen. As a 501(c)3 not-for-profit company we rely on individual donors to enable us to pursue our mission. Our staff is entirely comprised of volunteers. I have held a non-salaried position with MP since it was founded in 2000 (way back when we were Brooklyn-based and called DUMBO Theater eXchange a/k/a DTX). I work a minimum of 40 hours a week for Monk Parrots in addition to earning a living by other means. The reason all of us invest our time, talents, and souls into this organization is that we believe in it so completely. We are confident that our programs make a difference in people’s lives and that it is necessary to promote growth and awareness for what we do. We work extremely hard each year to make offerings for you, the public. In exchange we must reach out to you from time to time for help. For 13 years we have been serving artists and audiences and pushing boundaries that move theatre forward. We need your help now more than ever. Bum Phillips is currently the only show that we have booked for the 2013-2014 season and it is the largest production that we have ever attempted to produce. I have invested nearly two years planning and producing and for the next two months I will be focused on production designs with Co-Producing Artistic Director, Joey LePage, and our newly appointed General Manager, Sheree V. Campbell. Kirk Lynn (librettist) and Peter Stopschinski (composer) have worked countless hours and generated an amazing score and book that will knock your socks off. I almost fell out of my chair when I heard the first draft. You can help bring the magic of the Bum Phillips opera to life and share Bum’s message of family and courage with others. We are growing and as our company expands, naturally, so do our expenses. The government continues to decrease arts funding, be we stay committed to our mission to advance the art of theatre because live performances enhance the quality of life and improve the community’s image, which makes New York a desirable place to live, work, and visit. Monk Parrots produce honest work intended to challenge audiences to think and feel deeper, to delight in a sense of wonder, to conjure magic, to affirm that life is meaningful and that there is worth in all individuals. We are always looking for ways to bridge gaps that bring people together and if that is not valuable, I don’t know what is. We are committed to delivering consistent, top tier performance. Bum Phillips is your chance to invest in our body of work, which will help us make a larger impact. A proven record of support and desirable performances makes us more attractive to prospective funders. Please consider making a pledge to support Bum Philips, An Opera. We are 44% funded and only have a few days left to meet the minimum goal of $10K. Help us get 100% funded before Sunday, June 30. All donations are tax-deductible and appreciated more than words can say. Our fiscal year ends August 31, but this is our last fundraiser for the year. June 30th is a hard deadline to support our organization for the 2013-2014 season. Bum Phillips will definitely score a touchdown, but only with your help. Below is the link for more information and to make a pledge. In order to keep the site free for artists, there is a 5% donation to USA Projects at checkout. The site is easy to use and it will only take a few minutes. Sincerest thanks for your time and consideration. I hope to see you at the world premiere March 13-30, 2014 at La MaMa in New York. usaprojects.org/project/bum_phillips_2014_world_premiere_opera Sincerely, Luke Leonard Producing Artistic Director
Posted on: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 03:01:54 +0000
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