Open Circle Theater Needs Your Help

Many of you may have gotten my mass email and if you have, please forgive me for spamming you again - as well as the official 'ask' I'm about to do (and my apologies if you have gotten this from someone else at OCT). As many of you know, I'm deeply involved in the fringe theater community in Seattle - and as any of you who support or participate in the performing arts (or other types) yourselves, you know how hard it is to keep a non-profit going. As the letter will explain, Open Circle Theater, where I'm currently the Managing Director and have worn as many hats as Stage Manager, Bartender, Box office attendant and general cleaner-upper, has a fantastic theater space - one of the best in the fringe community here for sure and we'd like to keep it. But we do need community support quickly if we're to maintain the space further into the year. 

I completely understand we are just another hand out among many that are asking for your financial support right now - but I'm asking you personally - and letting you know that truly anything you could spare would make a difference. 

Thanks to those of you who've come to support us in the past and even if you're unable to donate, don't be a stranger and come on down to see a late night, hear a play reading or do the Time Warp when Rocky Horror opens near the end of March.

Much love,

~kp (or Kristin for those of you that don't know me as kp)

****************************

Open Circle Theater needs your help!

 

OCT is on the cusp of its 20th anniversary of being a fringe theater in Seattle. This is almost unheard of especially with the recent news of many theaters closing due to the current economic conditions. Two years ago we moved from South Lake Union into Belltown and created Seattle's finest fringe theater space - just check out any of the reviews!

 

Who could foresee the economic downturn that has hit everyone so hard? In response to this change, Open Circle Theater has a new Artistic Director, a new Managing Director, a new acting Board President and in the last year has added at least eight more company members. In addition, we reached out to the community and asked for collaborators. Unfortunately, we couldn't fill that need in the timeline we had. Because of that, we're in jeopardy of losing our space.

 

Here's where you can make a difference in the Seattle arts community. We are asking for your support. Even the smallest donation can help us continue our craft and save our theater.

 

Please act now! You can donate while you are watching one of our great late nights in the next two weeks OR you can mail in a donation.  Here is our address:

 

Open Circle Theater

2222 2nd Avenue, Ste 222

Seattle, WA 98122

We thank you and look forward to continuing to serve you some of the best theater in Seattle!

Much love,
kp Ramsdale
Managing Director
Open Circle Theater
kp@octheater.com

Engaged! Come Join Us to Celebrate

So. . . if you haven't heard, I got engaged last weekend on Friday, February 11, 2011 to Mikal Viencek.  I'm so happy to announce this!  If any of you have followed my blog, you have read about my past and understand that this type announcement is really huge!

We would love you to come and join us to celebrate!  This weekend and next weekend we'll be spending our time at Open Circle Theater (those of you that know me, know this is NOT a surprise).  We want you to come and join us at the theather for three VERY special shows.  Mikal and I will be there either enjoying the show and your company or working the show and enjoying your company!

Friday, February 18th is Sylvia and Tor's Cabaret.  It's the AWESOME cabaret with great singing and entertainment from Sylvia of the famous Bacon Strip.  If you have seen her stuff, you KNOW you'll want to be there.  The COOLEST thing about this Friday, is that it's Pay What Ya Wanna.  You can reserve seats (and it's recommended) on Brown Paper Tickets.  She is hilarious!  It'll be a good time and you can come down and toast to Mikal and me with a special drink (I won't spoil what it is if you're gonna come!).  It starts at 8pm, so come on down to Belltown.  If you wanna have dinner before, you can try the new Dope Burger (great reviews) or Mama's Mexican Kitchen.

Saturday, February 19th is Mitzy's Ditzy Glitzy Variety Show.  It starts at 10pm and is really cool for several reasons.  First, I'm the tech person, so come see me be a slave to the lights and sound.  Secondly, there are some ridiculously talented Burlesque dancers, poets, drag queens, and of course bartenders and crew (that's me and Monica!).  The show is for those of us that need to recover from our Valentine's day.  If you ask Mikal, he needs to recover from my woeful attempt at being romantic.  Let's face it, he and I are SERIOUSLY a mess, so comiserating with the rest of the group will be some great therapy. 

Then NEXT weekend is OCT does CSI: Miami.  It's a TRUE disaster but HILARIOUS!  It's a "script in hand" improv of the television show.  If you came to see OCTV does Battle Star Glacatica, you will LOVE this.  I'm doing tech for the show, so come and see how much I screw up with some scotch!  It'll be a good time. 

At any rate.  Mikal and I want you to come out and toast with us.  It'll be a good time and you'll be helping out my greatest love that isn't a human.  It'll be great!