Fox Valley Rep patrons can help St. Charles East jazz students
Fox Valley Repertory has paired up with the St. Charles East High School Vocal Jazz Program to collect donations during "They're Playing Our Song" performances to help revamp and rebuild their sound system to the tune of $5,000 for new monitor speakers and microphones needed right away.
Patrons will have the opportunity to contribute to the cause after each performance, now taking place at the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage through Oct. 9, 2011 (4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL; box office 630-584-6342).
The Vocal Jazz program at East began 17 years ago as a once a week, Monday night group. Within four years, the popular program grew into a curricular class with over a dozen enrollments each season.
A limited budget restrains the program from adding more sections to this exciting class. Luckily in 1999, an anonymous donor granted the school district $10,000 to buy sound equipment for the choir. That equipment is now 12 years old and is in need of replacing.
“We're very proud of our Jazz Workshop,” says Choral Director Jim McCullough. “We have attended major jazz festivals and earned the respect of college educators at Western Michigan University. We've been honored to be chosen from competitive CD auditions to sing at IMEA All State Conference in January of 2012. However, we are in immediate need of monitor speakers and microphones in order to produce the best performances possible. We are very honored to have this opportunity for Fox Valley Rep patrons to help support the arts right here in our shared community.”
Fox Valley Repertory patrons can now help their campaign by making a cash donation after any performance of "They're Playing Our Song," Neil Simon's hit Broadway musical about the real-life comical relationship of a songwriter (based on Marvin Hamlisch) and lyricist (Carole Bayer Sager) coming together to record music hits. Proceeds will also benefit students in need so that all students in the Fox Valley community can have access to exploring their lives in the performing arts at Fox Valley Rep.
"They're Playing Our Song" is now playing through Sunday, Oct. 9.
Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are priced at $29 on Fridays (and limited Thursday performances), and at $39 on Saturdays and Sundays. Dinner show packages are available from $49. Group rates and overnight packages are also available.
Pheasant Run Resort is located at 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL. For tickets, call the Pheasant Run Box Office at 630-584-6342 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. Additional performance information may be obtained at www.foxvalleyrep.org.
For more information on the Fundraising Campaign, contact FVR Development Manager Scott Piner at development@foxvalleyrep.org or call 630-618-9236.