Performing for a cause

With a love for theater and personal stories as an inspiration, Sarah Burry and Charlotte Lewis founded a non-profit organization, Act Out Against Cancer which encourages local theaters and performing groups to get involved by donating show profits or selling bracelets to go to the cancer organization of their choice.

Lewis, director of Pride and Prejudice said, “Instead of just sitting and doing nothing about it, we decided that we have do something about it. So why not use what we already had?  Sarah and I are directing Price and Predjudice and one day Sarah came over to my house and she looked at me and said, ‘Why don’t we start a non-profit?’”

Lewis and Burry arranged with their drama teacher to have their entire proceeds of the opening night of the show, May 2, to go to an organization of the cast’s choosing.

But their vision didn’t stop there. They wanted to spread the word to local theaters and high school arts departments.

Lewis commented, “We have a website and social media (accounts for the organization). We also have connections with local theaters and friends in different acting departments. Theater is such a big community and you end up knowing people from different places.”

The cause is drawing attention to the play with people planning to watch on opening night.  Athena Duran, a cast member said, “One of my friends is attending the show because she thinks it’s a really good opportunity to help support the arts and cancer.”

To support the cause, an performing arts group can join a level: bronze, silver, or gold. In the bronze level, the performing arts group has to collect donations during their show. For the silver level, they have to sell bracelets and collect donations. As a gold level participant, they have to donate at least one show’s profits to an organization for their choosing.

Guada Herrera, a cast member believes that Act Out Against Cancer is ”a really fun way to make a difference by doing something that (she) loves.”