A Great Blog

Pasta Dinner to Benefit Teens Participating in R2P

2011-03-11T20:26:00.005-08:00

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release March 7, 2010
Contact: Gail Belokur, Co-Artistic Director, 607-216-8750, gail@runningtoplaces.org

Ithaca, NY: As part of its mission to keep involvement in theatre accessible to everyone, Running to Places Theatre Company is holding a pasta dinner on Saturday, March 19 from 5 – 8pm at St. Paul’s Methodist Church, Ithaca. All profits from the dinner directly reduce the cost of participation for every teen company member, including support of the scholarship fund. “We are deeply committed to keeping participation in R2P affordable for everyone; we began the fiscal year with a company-wide goal of raising $29,000 through benefit events and in good faith reduced the family obligation we ask of each company member accordingly” explains Co-Artistic Director Gail Belokur. “We also will use a portion of the proceeds to cover scholarships already awarded to those in need.” Presently, company members are expected to generate a set amount of financial support to the theatre company so that it can reach its goal of having its first balanced budget since its inception in 2007. “The writing of a check is still not an requirement to participate. Those who cannot donate their own funds can provide their portion of the required support through fundraising and sweat equity,” explains Co-Artistic Director Joey Steinhagen.

The dinner is a key part of that effort, with company members of all ages and their families involved. Diners have three entrée choices: spaghetti with red sauce (with or without meat) or penne pasta with a bean and broccoli white sauce. R2P Board of Directors member and parent, Carolyn Koppel, is heading up the cooking of the meal. “We are thrilled to be featuring the bread of Wide Awake Bakery, which is made by a company member family from Trumansburg. This bread is made with local flour and is simply amazing!” declares Koppel. The meal will also include salad, beverage, and dessert. R2P audiences may also be very pleased to have the chance to meet the teens they have come to love on stage and get the chance to know them a bit better while the young artists work the service portion of the benefit.
Tickets are available the door. Service will be provided on a rolling basis beginning at 5pm, and take out will also be available.
R2P is a non-profit theatre company involving middle and high school students from across the Tompkins County area, teaching important life skills and strengthening community while creating great theatre. Founded in 2007, they were recently named “Best Community Theatre Company of 2010” by the readers of the Ithaca Times.

Moore Tree Farm Fundraiser!

2010-11-19T11:27:00.001-08:00

Come kick off the holiday season with some fresh evergreens (trees, garland, wreaths, kissing balls) and pony rides!
(Red Jacket Ponies, Saturday only 11:00am-2:00pm)

While there, enjoy some treats at the Food Hut with 100% profits going to support the participants of R2P!

Moore’s Tree Farm
575 Auburn Rd (Rt 34), Groton (directions)
November 27 and 28
11:30am – 4:30pm

A new look for a new season!

2010-10-25T17:50:00.001-07:00

Hope you like the new look for the website! We're kicking off the 2011 Season with some new threads around here. (New pixels?) Speaking of the new season, be sure to subscribe if you haven't already. It's the best deal of the season.

R2P2 Tap Dance and Stage Combat Workshops

2010-08-21T14:36:00.000-07:00

We're pleased to announce two new workshop series coming up soon:

Intro to Tap Dance for Musical Theatre & Friday Night Fight Night With Nick! Explore new skills or improve your existing abilities – and get ready for new challenges in the 2011 Season! Info and registration can be found here.

Questions? Email r2p2@runningtoplaces.org.

Announcing the 2011 Season!

2010-08-18T21:42:00.001-07:00

We're delighted to announce our new season of shows – and locations! We can't wait to be back at the State four times this season, and to help break in the newly renovated, gorgeous, upgraded, winterized, year-round Hangar Theatre! If you want to see all 6 shows for the best discount of the year, Subscribe Now!

Show #1 TBA*
January 14-16
@ State Theatre of Ithaca
Exclusive Sponsor: CSP Management
*Our previously announced show for this slot is no longer available at this time. Stay tuned for an exciting classic that we soon will be able to announce to take its place!

Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
February 25-27
@ Hangar Theatre
Exclusive Sponsor: Inn on Columbia

Spring Showcase
April 15-17
@ Hangar Theatre
Sponsor: Bel Canto Farm

Romeo & Juliet
May 20-22
@ State Theatre of Ithaca
Sponsors: Viva La Femme, Shakespeare in the Basement

Thoroughly Modern Millie
July 29-31
@ State Theatre of Ithaca
Exclusive Sponsor: Purity Ice Cream

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella
August 26-28
@ State Theatre of Ithaca
Sponsor: Overhead Door Company of Cortland

(A few slots remain for Sponsors – if you'd like to learn more about how your business could join us as a Sponsor, click here!)

Exclusive Sponsor for Wind in the Willows: Inn on Columbia!

2010-08-16T20:32:00.000-07:00

We are delighted to announce that the Inn on Columbia is our newest sponsor -- they are joining us as the Exclusive Sponsor for The Wind in the Willows (Sept 10-12 @ CSMA)! The Inn on Columbia is a gorgeous bed & breakfast with several distinctive and unique spaces. Owners-Operators-Architects-Gourmet Chefs Ken & Madeline Young will take good care of you as you are pampered in this secluded hideaway right on Ithaca's south hill. I speak from experience - it's where Erica & I spent our wedding night and first anniversary, and it's where we have recommended many friends go when they ask for the best B&B in the area. We are so thrilled to have their support for WW!

BREAKING NEWS re: Bottle Drive

2010-07-28T13:53:00.000-07:00

Announcing: Our first official bottle drive!

When: Saturday, August 7 from 10am - 2pm
Where: Caroline Farmers Market (In the Old Fire Hall: 522 Valley Rd. Brooktondale, NY - directions)
Contact to Volunteer: Pam Palmer: plpalmer@twcny.rr.com
Notes: We need volunteers to hand out flyers in the area the week prior, as well as drivers and sorters the day of the event. Company members are encouraged to volunteer and also perform!

Fundraiser #2: Dining to Donate event at Applebees

2010-07-26T19:53:00.000-07:00

Do you eat? Do you like R2P? We have the perfect event for you!

Monday, August 2, go to the Applebees on Triphammer Road (just outside the mall - directions here) and bring this voucher. 10% of the cost of your meal will automatically be donated to R2P! What could be easier!?

Dining to Donate event at Applebees
Monday, August 2, 11am-Close

FUNDRAISER #1: Bottle Drive

2010-07-15T20:53:00.000-07:00

It is simple and low-tech, and it is very effective. It's a good old fashioned bottle drive. At least one nearby school brings in a couple of thousand dollars by the end of their annual drive. Let's do that, too!

Here's what you need to know:

When: Hold one in your area anytime between now and August 15th

How it works:
1. If you would like to organize or help with a bottle drive in your town, neighborhood, place of business or another specified area please email fundraising@runningtoplaces.org and indicate the area to be covered.

2. We will follow up with specific details on who else in your area is working on one, if anyone.

3. Hold the drive your area anytime between now and August 15, using flyers and bags we will provide. We will also help you communicate with R2P families in your area to get help.

4. Everyone holding a drive will consolidate their bottles at an Ithaca location and meet to sort them on Monday, August 16 from 5 – 8pm. We have a vendor coming to get them all and take them to a redemption center; this vendor will send R2P the profits check.

5. We will collect hours worked by everyone and calculate the credit from the total profit that your family has “earned” for R2P.

Challenge Grant Success and A New Goal!

2010-07-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

Two anonymous donors stepped forward with a combined donation of $8000 – that needed to be matched!

And thanks to people like you, WE DID IT!

We stand at $8803 in new donations!

Our overall fundraising goal of $32,000 for the season is now in sight. With the success of the Challenge and other donations, we stand at $21,048. Will you help us get the rest of the way?

Challenge Grant Update

2010-07-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

Two anonymous donors stepped forward with a combined donation of $8000 – that must be matched!

To date, we've received $6453 in NEW donations toward our goal!

Will you help us get the rest of the way?

Challenge Grant!

2010-07-03T08:43:00.000-07:00

Two anonymous donors have stepped forward with a combined donation of $8000 – that must be matched! To date, over $4200 has been donated to meet this goal! Will you help us get the rest of the way?

A Note from the Co-Artistic Directors

2010-06-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

We’re in the business of creating illusions. Audiences enter a theatre and allow themselves to suspend their disbelief about the stories unfolding before them. For two hours in the dark, they believe the things they see are real – and usually (and hopefully) are blissfully unaware of what goes on behind the scenes: a panicked dash to complete a quick-change to be on time for an entrance, an emergency repair of a broken prop, a heart-pumping improvisation by actors and stage management when lines are jumped that rewrite a scene. If the audience never suspects the high-wire act going on backstage, the show is a success.

At Running to Places, we take pride in the caliber of our productions and the team we assemble to bring them to life. As a still-new theatre company we’ve also taken pride in our ability to play the part of an established entity on the local theatre scene. We’ve thrilled in hearing Jerry Dietz mention our name in radio commercials alongside the Kitchen and Hangar as theatres his company CSP Management supports. People have told us that it seems like we’ve always been around and that R2P is so established in young people’s lives it will continue “forever.”

This last point is the tricky one.

We think it’s possible we’ve done too good a job creating the illusion of an established company. It’s quite the compliment when people are surprised to learn how much of an illusion our act-togetheriness is. For example, did you know that for this entire season, our sets have been built almost exclusively in the Steinhagen’s backyard, often in cold, wet conditions? (Fun fact: paint will not stick to sets below 40 degrees. We know this firsthand.) Did you know that we don’t own a single power tool? We rely on the generosity of our hired production team to provide their own, resulting in wear and tear on their personal tools. Did you know that members of the R2P leadership regularly defer two-thirds or more of their salary when necessary to pay the bills?

This kind of thing makes for charming theatre stories and is fine for a one-shot deal, a single production, a hobby. But if Running to Places is to remain a healthy, sustainable fixture in our community, things must change.

So what needs to change? First order of business is to have a scene/paint/costumes shop. We’re still committed to “running to places” throughout the community for rehearsals and performances, but having a home for certain logistical elements is key. We’ve already begun to address that with our “temporary R2PHQ” at the former Danby Market which we are renting for the summer. We need to address this need properly and long-term.

Secondly, we need to create a balanced budget—mostly through fundraising. We take great pride in operating as a professional company. We pay our designers and directors for their skill and work; we produce shows with fully realized scenic and costume designs and support them with lights and sound. We run an extremely tight ship, but we simply cannot continue producing shows without addressing our fiscal needs.

It breaks our hearts to think of people saying, “Do you remember those few years R2P was around?” If you feel the same, we need your help.

So, what can you do? You’re here. You’re reading this. That’s a wonderful start. You can make a donation via PayPal on our website. You can donate every time you shop online via GoodSearch.com. You can attend or participate in our upcoming fundraisers which you will be hearing much more about in the coming months. You can spread the word that we need support in order to survive.

Thanks for taking this peek behind the curtain. Will you join us?

Best wishes, Gail and Joey

Newest sponsor for Spring Showcase!

2010-05-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

We're delighted on announce our newest sponsor for Spring Showcase:
Bel Canto Farm in Trumansburg!

We're honored to have the support of this family-run alpaca farm. Check out their website, and find out all about their farm, their beautiful animals, and their incredible alpaca fiber products. Thank you Bel Canto Farm!

R2P2!

2010-04-15T19:05:00.000-07:00

Announcing our second stage: R2P2! This is a laboratory where young artists can take what they've learned and apply it in bold ways. Our inaugural R2P2 production is of Jason Robert Brown's amazing one-act, two-person musical The Last Five Years (wikipedia info). The show is being directed and music directed by current R2P company members Nathan Hilgartner and Jeremy Pletter, respectively and will feature performances by Kevin Hilgartner and Alex LoPinto. The show is being stage managed by company member Elaine Young with a set design by Resident Technical Director Mike Garrett.

The show runs June 7-10 at Risley Hall Theatre on Cornell Campus. All tickets are $10, and there are only 90 per performance, so buy yours now!

More good stuff!

2009-12-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

We've now added the Ithaca Youth Bureau as a Season Sponsor and as a Show Sponsor for The Music Man!

Also, we've reached our $10,000 goal for our Park Foundation Challenge Grant. Thank you to all who donated! We now challenge you to help us keep going so we may use more of these funds for capital improvements (primarily sound equipment) and less for general operating expenses. Would you like to make a difference?

Overhead Door Company of Cortland!

2009-12-07T19:34:00.001-08:00

Overhead Door Company of Cortland is our newest sponsor for The Music Man! They're a wonderful friend to R2P, and we're delighted that they're returning after sponsoring Sweet Charity in 2008 and Once Upon a Mattress in 2009.

If you know of a business that might be interested in sponsoring a show for the 2010 season, point them here!

What's New...

2009-12-07T07:23:00.000-08:00

It hasn't been that long, has it? Nah...

Let's see...

We're still around! Not bad for a fledgling non-profit youth-oriented theatre company!
Season 2 came and went (awesomely, you might say). Bigger company than Season 1, better attendance, new venues (including The State Theatre -- very exciting), new sponsors (like Season Sponsor CSP Management and Season Media Sponsor: Cayuga Radio Group!), and lots more.
We've opened our store with slick new merch!
We're in the middle of one or two or three fundraisers.
We're totally rocking the Facebook.
We've added a bunch of amazing new mentors to our team.
We've kicked off Season 3 with our biggest company yet!
Look for our gorgeous commissioned original artwork by R2P Alum and professional artist Kendra Wells throughout the 2010 Season. (She's the artist behind our newly redesigned lettered logo at the top of this page!)

There's too much stuff to list it all. But you'll be able to keep up with what's happening here and on Facebook. Hope to see you soon!

2009-01-13T06:12:00.000-08:00

Enjoy flapjacks? Supporting non-profits? Being serenaded with showtunes?

Come to Applebees by the mall and be waited on by R2P company members! 86% of your ticket price comes back to support R2P! (Out of your $7 ticket price, Applebees is only keeping $1 for the food and exclusive use of the restaurant! Thanks, Applebees!)

Each ticket gets you a seat at the event, where you will be served 3 pancakes, 2 pieces of bacon, and unlimited juice or coffee. Those who wish to are allowed to ask for another plate. R2P provides the wait staff and the place is ours alone so there will be singing servers and 100% of tips collected stay with R2P. Sounds fun, right?

Sunday, January 25
8:00-10:00am
$7 per ticket (pre-sale only!)

Tickets may be available at the door in limited supply.

2009-01-08T19:30:00.001-08:00

We're proud to announce that for a second year, we've received a grant from the Community Arts Partnership. Thank you!

2009-01-08T19:23:00.001-08:00

R2P proudly presents Once Upon a Mattress! If you thought you knew the story of "The Princess and The Pea," you’re in for a walloping surprise! Over fifty of the most dynamic high school performers representing every school district in Tompkins County bring this musical fractured fairy tale to Ithaca High School’s Kulp Auditorium. Side-splitting comedy, romantic melodies, and exuberant dances guarantee a boisterous good time for the whole family. Featuring Emily Goodell (Trumansburg HS) as Winnifred, Shauna Belokur (Candor HS) as the Queen, Cole Tucker (Candor HS) as the King, Geoffrey Peterson (Trumansburg HS) as Prince Dauntless, Adam Beckwith (Lansing HS) as Sir Harry, Eliza Vann (Trumansburg HS) as Lady Larkin, Elias Spector-Zabusky (Ithaca HS) as the Jester, and Sarah Beckwith (Lansing HS) as the Minstrel. Director Joey Steinhagen, Music Director Ross Mizrahi, Choreographer Todd Peterson, Assistant Director Anya Gibian, and Producer Gail Belokur have collaborated with Matthew Mills (Technical Director), Travis Jones (Scenic Design), Eric Yaple (Lighting Design), Alexander Woodward (Costume Design) and Isaac Derfel (Sound Design) for this sure-to-please production. Performances run January 9-18, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00pm, Sundays at 2:00pm. Sponsored by Purity Ice Cream, Overhead Door Company of Cortland, Audrey & Bill Edelman, with season-long support from CSP Management and Cayuga Radio Group. Tickets are $10 General Admission and $8 for Students/Seniors, and are available at the door, Ticket Center at Clinton House by calling 273-4497, and here!

Onceuponamattress30

2008-11-20T20:09:00.000-08:00

We are in need of volunteers to help us this Saturday!

We will be moving all our costume stock from two locations--Ithaca College and Ithaca Youth Bureau AND sort out what we will need for our first show of the season: Once Upon A Mattress. Some items will go to storage on Hanshaw Road in Ithaca, others home with our volunteer sewers, and others to Gail's vehicle to take to rehearsal on Sunday.

If you are available to help with this project you can a) show up at the Ithaca Youth Bureau at 10am to help or b) contact

Gail

to make arrangements to move items from Ithaca College to the Youth Bureau any time this week that works for you. (Or pick them up at your convenience and take them to the IYB on Saturday.)

We anticipate being done by 1pm. Thanks!

2008-11-20T10:58:00.000-08:00

Do you use the interwebs? If you're reading this, I'm guessing you do.

Are you interested in Running to Places? If you're reading this, I'm guessing you are.

Would you believe there's a way to make donations to Running to Places EVERY DAY without costing you a penny or even requiring you to do a thing out of your routine? It's true!

Introducing GoodSearch. If you haven't heard of it, GoodSearch is a search engine which donates 50-percent of its revenue to the charities and schools designated by its users. In other words, all you have to do to donate much-needed cash to R2P is to search the web.

Here's how it works:
1) Go to www.goodsearch.com
2) In the box that asks "WHO DO YOU GOODSEARCH FOR?" -- enter "Running to Places"
3) Search for stuff online as you would normally, knowing that every time you do, we get $.01! (It adds up!)

You only need to enter your preference once -- it will remember to donate to us thereafter. If you want to get slick about it, you can even take a minute follow their easy directions to make GoodSearch your default search engine in your web browser.

ATTENTION HOLIDAY (OR ANY OTHER KIND OF ONLINE) SHOPPERS!
From the good folks who brought you GoodSearch -- it's GoodShop! Again, couldn't be easier to donate. This time, just:
1) Go to www.goodshop.com
2) In the box that asks "WHO DO YOU GOODSEARCH FOR?" -- enter "Running to Places"
3) Select a retailer that you are going to shop at and go shopping! We will automatically get a percentage of the purchase! (Anywhere from 1-40%!!!)

Examples include Amazon, Best Buy, GAP, iTunes, PetSmart, Target, Toys R Us, and dozens more! If you're going to buy something, please check here first. It takes two extra seconds and can mean the difference between us being able to buy lumber for the set or not!

Of course, regular old donations are always welcome to help us keep participation in R2P free of mandatory fees. (Sorry, had to get that in there.)

Thanks so much!

2008-11-11T19:11:00.000-08:00

We're excited to announce a fun way to raise some money to support R2P! A move-a-thon! Get ready to shake what your mama and/or papa gave you! Here are the details:

Date: Sat., Nov. 22, 2008
Time: 2-5 pm
Place: Caroline Elementary School [Route 79/Slaterville Road, Slaterville Springs, NY - directions]
For: R2P Members, Families & Friends
Advance Sale ONLY Tickets - $5/each
For tickets & info: kimake@yahoo.com
R2P members = sponsor form = free Move It! Ticket
How it works:
- R2P Company members volunteer to be “sponsored” by family and friends to raise money for R2P’s 2008-2009 Season.
- Fill out sponsor form information and collect money in advance – ask neighbors, friends and family to help R2P by pledging you! (download Sponsor Form PDF)
- Sell tickets to family and friends to come to the Move It! Fundraiser to support you and “move” with you!
- Bring sponsor form w/money to dance [that is your “ticket” into the Move It! Fundraiser – there will be a “sponsor check-in” area]
- For time pledged, you dance – move – jump – walk to fulfill your commitment
- Win prizes for wearing a unique hat or green clothing for “Go Green!”
- In Partnership with Caroline Rural Youth “Go Green” Project
- Free Food & Drinks for participants! DJ! Prizes! Bake Sale!

2008-10-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

Sooo, in publishing callback info, my webmaking software did the ol' crashy-go-splat-thing over and over and over and over and over again. It made me sad. It left you confused. Sorry for the confusion and thanks for bearing with this crazy process.

Everyone who auditioned should have gotten the following email message from the amazing Gail Belokur:

Dear 2009 R2P Company Members!

We would like to congratulate everyone on a wonderful job! We appreciate the courage it takes to audition, so you should feel proud of yourself. As you read the attached callback lists, please remember that everyone who auditioned will be cast in at least one of our shows. Even if you aren't being called back, you will receive a notice when casting is posted at the end of October.

We also encourage you to "Save the Date" of November 1 from 6 - 9pm. At that time, we will have our Company Kick-Off at Dewitt Middle School. Company members and families are all invited as we have a fun night of welcoming new company members, making new connections and strengthening old ones. More details coming soon!

Please make sure to check every sheet attached and read the notes carefully. There are occasions when we call people or cast them for shows other than just the ones they indicated a firm interest in. It will then be your choice to accept or decline the callback or casting.

On behalf of Joey, Todd, Ross and myself--thank you for auditioning and we hope to see you all soon!
Gail

You can view the callback lists and materials by navigating these ugly but functional pages and folders. (Note: when you see "Parent Directory" -- it just means "go up one level in the folder structure" -- not anything to do with moms and dads.)

I want to reiterate that you all did amazing work at the auditions and we can't wait to work with ALL of you -- everyone who auditioned is in the company and will be in at least one show!

Questions? Be in touch.