Crystal Street Businesses Fundraise for ESU’s Theatre Department

Posted by: admin on September 26, 2014, No Comments

Cat-in-the-Hat
As East Stroudsburg University students began rehearsals for their production of Seussical the Musical, local businesses plunged into fundraising efforts to raise money for the theatre department once again.

In the spring, three businesses on Crystal Street in East Stroudsburg — Liztech, Trackside Station Grill & Bar, and Dansbury Diner — presented the ESU theatre department with a check for $1,832.19 during the Wizard of Oz production. This year, they are hoping to top that.

“We want ESU to be successful, and we want to be a part of the community and help it grow within the arts,” said Noelle Keller on behalf of Liztech.

With any pin purchased from the Dr. Seuss collection during the week of the production, Liztech will donate 50 percent of those sales (minus sales tax) to ESU’s theatre department. Liztech designed three different pins for the collection. The Lucky Star will be sold at a price of $30; the Blue Fish and Red Fish will be sold at a price of $55 each; and the Holiday Tradition pin will be sold at a price of $86. In addition, Liztech gave theatre students vouchers to be distributed and used during the week of the show, Oct. 22 – Oct. 26. Any voucher purchases made at Liztech, Trackside or Dansbury Diner during this time will result in those businesses donating 10 percent of sales to the theatre department.

“I cannot thank them enough,” said Margaret Joyce Ball, D.M.A., director, associate professor and chair of theatre. “The students work so hard on this production, and it’s so good to see the community involved.”

The money that is raised will help ESU theatre students attend the annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). The five-day festival, which will be held in Cleveland, Ohio, this year, brings together students from eight states and provides opportunities for them to develop their theatre skills, receive awards, and view the works of theatre students across the country.

Last year, Michael Lloret, a senior theatre major from Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pa., starring as The Cat in the Hat in Seussical, won best male vocalist at the festival.

“It really gives students a chance to see how good their work is as well as learn from the bigger schools,” says Dr. Ball. “It would not be possible without the fundraising efforts from the community.”

For the folks at Liztech, fundraising for ESU is a way to help the community grow.

“We want to help students see that there is a way to be passionate about something and make it your life,” said Keller.

Seussical debuts on October 22, during Homecoming week. The musical will run October 22-25 at 7:30 p.m., October 25 and 26 at 2:00 p.m. in the Smith-McFarland Theater of ESU’s Fine and Performing Arts Center, Normal and Marguerite streets. Tickets go on sale October 1, 2014. Purchase advance tickets with a credit card online at www.esu.edu/theatretickets. Tickets may also be purchased at the box office one hour before curtain on performance dates (cash and checks only). Please arrive early. For additional information, please call 570-422-3483, ext. 4 or email esuarts@esu.edu.