We asked Gregory Crafts of Theatre Unleashed about why they pair theatre with charity causes. We also thank him for the guest blog on their site last week! Love collaborating with our fellow theatre artists.

With our busy lifestyle, my wife and I eat on the run constantly. Occasionally, we will find ourselves at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse in Burbank. Now, we don’t order dessert very often when we eat out, but every time we go to BJ’s, we get a Pizookie. Why? It’s for the kids. That’s right. We buy that decadent warm cookie with dollops of ice cream and mousse because a portion of what we pay for it goes to benefit the BJ’s Restaurant Foundation, which supports children’s charities like the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. BJ’s is smart because they provide us the opportunity to do social good while treating ourselves to something we enjoy. Granted, I don’t know exactly how much of the money we spend on that Pizookie actually benefits children with cystic fibrosis, but the spirit behind their promotion is a good one. It’s an idea worth stealing spreading.

Growing up, I was a Cub Scout, then a Boy Scout, going so far as to earn my Eagle rank. Service to the community, working for social justice, and working for the benefit of others was just something you did. No questions asked. I learned early on that I was very fortunate to be born into a middle-class family in a first-world country, to be grateful for the opportunities that afforded me, and to use the advantages I had for the betterment of those less fortunate. At 30 years old, I try to apply those values to everything I do, including the execution of my responsibilities as Managing Director of Theatre Unleashed. 

When we first founded TU back in 2008, I saw a fascinating little phrase in both our articles of incorporation and our 501(c)(3) letter – we are “a public benefit organization.” It is part of our purpose to benefit the public, in this case the members of the greater Los Angeles community. Now,  theatre companies legitimately fulfill their responsibility as PBOs by enhancing their local culture, bringing art to the masses the same way a torch brings light to the darkness. I fully support these efforts. I also look at said efforts and ask, “why stop there? There’s more that needs to be done.” 

This year, Theatre Unleashed is once again supporting the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation by collecting donations at the door for our annual holiday show, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play. This time however, we’re taking it a step further: if you bring us a new, unwrapped toy this year, you can name your ticket price at the door. That’s right. Bring us a new action figure, a doll, a deck of cards, some warm kid-sized clothes, anything like that, and you tell us how much you want to pay to see one of the most beloved classic holiday stories live on stage. It could be anywhere from $1 to $100. Whatever you like. We do ask that you call to reserve your seats in advance if you want to take advantage of this promotion. Our box office line is (818) 849-4039. Otherwise, tickets are $20 at the door, $16 through our website (www.theatreunleashed.com). We hope you’ll join us.

C’mon. Do it for the kids. 

Best Regards,
Gregory Crafts
Managing Director
Theatre Unleashed

C: (310) 717 3102
E: gregory.crafts@theatreunleashed.com
W: www.theatreunleashed.com
T: twitter.com/theatreunleashd
F: facebook.com/Theatre.Unleashed
Y: youtube.com/theatreunleashed