A Rockin' Thank You Party - Next Saturday!

Get ready, all you folks who helped save SecondStory Rep! We're having a big thank you party on Saturday, January 23rd -- and, if you donated during our recent campaign, you're invited for free!

Doors open at 7:30; mingle in the lobby over hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Then, at 8:00, we'll move into the theater for performances by singer/songwriter Dan Connolly, one of Seattle's rising music stars; and by our own Split Second Improv comedy troupe.

A recent Seattle Times review described Connolly this way: "Add a Celtic twist to a mix of Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson and John Mayer, and you've got Issaquah artist Dan Connolly." He will be joined for the occasion by Timothy McCormick (of UK darling Honeyman). Have a listen to some of Dan's music here.

And if you're among the folks who haven't yet shared a late-night laugh with Split Second Improv, they're hilarious -- you've gotta see 'em! Led by longtime company member Robert Bogue, the group is a blend of SSR regulars and performers from Seattle's Unexpected Productions, whose own stage is the theater at Pike Place Market.

SecondStory artistic director Susanna Wilson gushes, "I am thrilled that both our hilarious improv troupe and these incredibly talented musicians are willing to donate their time and talent to SSR so that we can thank our donors properly. Please come and celebrate with us!"

Connolly adds: "Any proceeds from this show will go right back into the theater. We want to make it a really cool vibe -- friends should bring friends, and be prepared to make friends."

Again, if you made a donation of any kind this fall, you're welcome as our guest; but you must RSVP by 5:00 pm on the 23rd. Just call our box office at (425) 881-6777, or send an email to caitlin@secondstoryrep.org . Guests are also welcome, for a $30 donation; get your tickets at the door or buy tix online.

We look forward to seeing you all there!

Important Children's Series Update

With all that's been going on about SSR's (now successful) campaign to stay open, some of you may have missed announcements about our revised children's theater schedule for January.

Sadly, we were forced to cancel our production of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, which would have opened this weekend. But in its place, Seattle's theatre simple has offered to present their latest children's show, Myth Understandings -- a funny look at myths and fairytales through the lens of technology:

Two excitable scientists are test-driving their new automatic personal thinking machine, the "iHead", when technical disaster throws them into a storybook world of adventure, excitement, and danger!

theater simple has been around since 1991, touring the country (and the world, as far away as Australia and Singapore!) with its inventive and humorous shows for children and grownups alike. In fact, the Vancouver Sun called this show "riveting in its energy and imagination... a wonderfully theatrical theatre experience."

Myth Understandings runs for one weekend only, January 15-17, with performances on Friday night at 7:00 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 and 4:00 pm. Tickets are $9 each, all ages. Anyone who had already purchased tickets for The Boy Who Cried Wolf -- subscribers and single-ticket buyers -- will have those tickets honored at these performances. Just call the box office at (425) 881-6777 to tell us which showing you want to come to. Thanks for YOUR "understandings"!

We really appreciate the folks at theatre simple for jumping in to help us -- it's wonderful to see theaters band together to help each other in this way!

WE DID IT!!! SecondStory Rep lives on!

Actually, that should read, YOU did it! Talk about a dramatic finish: On the final day of our do-or-die fundraising campaign, around 2:00 pm on December 31st, a generous donor walked into the SSR office with a check for $2,000. This raised our total to $68,256.28 -- which meant that, when further pledges kicked in, we would actually make our $80K goal.

The board then voted overwhelmingly to stay open. SecondStory Repertory lives on!

We are truly humbled by this tremendous outpouring of support from the community. To raise this much money, at this troubled time, is an amazing accomplishment. Our thanks to every donor, every board member, every staff member, every Facebook friend...everyone who played a role in our victory.

In fact, we're planning to thank you all with a big party at the theater on Saturday evening, January 23rd... more details coming soon!