Theater to run a marathon of performances
by Crystal Hoskins, Guest Columnist for Anaheim Bulletin
What do you get when you cross a marathon with live theater? You get our unique fundraiser, 24-hour Chance-a-thon, of course (this year with two bonus hours)!
That’s right. Instead of 26 miles, we have 26 hours of live entertainment. Instead of running, you get to sit in a comfy chair and be entertained by an eclectic collection of live performances, ranging from cabarets to one-acts, concerts to podcasts. The experience benefits the Chance Theater’s commitment to supporting local artists and empowering creative young minds through our education outreach programs.
For my first year being involved in this unique fundraiser, I had the great fortune of being recruited to help coordinate the event as the producing associate. I jumped headfirst into the deep end without hesitation. It has been a challenge unlike anything I have ever experienced.
Well, almost anything. I am reminded of another unique experience in high school involving the varsity swim team.
In a (very successful) effort to raise the much-needed funds for our program, we did a swim-a-thon.
I have never been as exhausted as I was by the end of that day – lap after lap after lap of endless strokes and kick turns, in rhythm with the music that blasted from my waterproof radio.
Honestly, I couldn’t tell you how many laps I swam or how much money we raised, but I vividly remember that final moment when I was just barely able to crawl out of the pool and collapse on the edge. Once I realized that I was still very much alive, a wave of utter satisfaction washed through my body.
We had succeeded, and that experience will be forever ingrained in my memory.
The Chance-a-thon will provide a similarly memorable experience, minus the sore muscles and swimmer’s ear. Plus, you don’t have to stay for multiple hours at a time. The event is spread out over two days, offering you plenty of opportunities to stop by and attend different kinds of events.
For example, you could come by at 10 a.m. this Saturday to learn some choreography from our recent musical “Lysistrata Jones.” Then take a breather and come back at 1 p.m. for a musical cabaret with local performer Rachel Mount. Then maybe you go have some dinner and do some shopping but return in time for a concert with Irish band Craic in the Stone at 9 p.m. (our only two-hour event this year).
But that’s just one possible lineup. There will be 25 different events to choose from this year, all of which have been put together by local artists who believe in what the Chance Theater is doing in this community.
And the kids are getting in on it too. We have five hours of junior high and high school students from Orange County School of the Arts, in addition to other local schools, who are helping to raise money to support the Chance Theater’s innovative and interactive education outreach programs.
What has kept me around the Chance Theater has had more to do with how I have been treated than anything else. Trust is vital. Time is respected. Support is respected. Enjoyment, relationships, conversations are all respected, encouraged and loved.
Donors are not dollar signs. Money is an aid, rather than an endgame. The people are more important than anything else.
Consider this a personal invitation to come explore life with us.
Whether you see one show or 20, you’ll have fun while supporting our community’s artists in the process.
– Crystal Hoskins is the producing associate for the 24-hour Chance-a-thon, and development intern for Chance Theater.
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