Are you familiar with service hours? High School students need to collect a certain number of service hours in order to graduate. To earn these hours they must volunteer within the community. 2020 has given those service hours a smack down due to stay-at-home orders, institutional lock downs, and lack of funds for non-profit groups, all of which prevent them from utilizing volunteers. But this year's seniors are still expected to complete their service hours if they want their diplomas in May.
One of our students approached his school about volunteering with NACP, and he was told no. According to the school, a community theatre doesn't serve a need. I was as shocked by this statement as I was when my father told me I was too old to believe in Santa! Since when do the arts not serve a need?
Besides all of the research and studies which have been produced showing that the arts are necessary for the development of children, if we have learned anything since March it is that people have a strong need to come together for a communal experience shared with socially distanced strangers.
Theatre feeds the soul.
So thank you for joining us. Not only are we at NACP committed to serving the souls of our community, we are also committed to helping meet our community's physical needs. For Urinetown...the musical we have partnered with New Albany Food Pantry and are donating 10% of our box office to them to fight hunger in our area. In the coming weeks we will announce a new partnership to help make the holidays easier for people. That partnership will coincide with our production of White Christmas. NACP is committed to partnering on every production to serve the needs of our community.
We would love to have you join us. NACP needs so much support, and there are many ways you can help us. You can donate to us on our website www.newalbanycommunityplayhouse.org or at the showtix4u page where you bought your tickets. If you work with a group serving the community, we would love to have you partner with us. You can audition for our shows. Or you can volunteer as crew or usher staff.
Let's use theatre to serve our community.
Hal Houston
Managing Artistic Director
