EQUIFLASH [THEATRES ACROSS CANADA ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR ACTORS' FUND BENEFITS]

[CAEA e-drive]

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THEATRES ACROSS CANADA ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR ACTORS' FUND BENEFITS
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>From Victoria's Belfry Theatre to Resource Centre for the Arts in St. John's, theatres across Canada are holding benefits to raise money for the Actors' Fund of Canada. So far, 45 members of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres have either announced or completed an Actors' Fund benefit for the 2010-11 season. During the 2009-10 season, theatre benefits raised over $60,000 for the Actors' Fund, an amount that went a long way in assisting members of the entertainment industry who had fallen on hard times. With new participants coming on board, that number is set to increase this year, allowing the Fund to continue caring for vulnerable members of the arts community. 

Participating theatres to date are: Alberta Theatre Projects, Belfry Theatre, Black Theatre Workshop, Blyth Festival , Buddies in Bad Times, Carousel Players, Centaur Theatre Company, Chemainus Theatre Festival, Concrete Theatre, Factory Theatre, Gateway Theatre, Globe Theatre, Grand Theatre, Great Canadian Theatre Company, Green Thumb Theatre for Young People, Imago theatre, Lunchbox Theatre, Manitoba Theatre Centre, National Arts Centre, Nakai Theatre, Neptune Theatre, Northern Light Theatre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Quest Theatre, Resource Centre for the Arts, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, Soulpepper Theatre Company, Talk is Free Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, Theatre Aquarius, Theatre Collingwood, Theatre Direct Canada, Theatre North West, Theatre Projects Manitoba, Vertigo Theatre and Western Canada Theatre. 

Theatres can participate by donating the proceeds of a regularly scheduled performance, or one in addition to the regular schedule of performances. Alternatively, a theatre may organize another activity (such as curtain speeches designed to solicit individual donations from the audience) to benefit the Fund. Theatres can find resources for holding a benefit at the Fund's Online Theatre Kit .

Annual Actors' Fund benefit performances and audience appeals are provided for in the Canadian Theatre Agreement negotiated between Canadian Actors' Equity Association and the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres. The Actors' Fund expresses its appreciation to these associations for their support.

The Actors' Fund is the lifeline of the Canadian entertainment industry. Over 10,000 members of the industry in the fields of theatre, film & TV, music and dance have been helped by the Fund, which provides emergency financial aid to assist cultural workers in recovering from an illness, injury or other circumstances causing severe economic and personal hardship. The Fund is a registered charity which receives no government funding and relies wholly on support from individuals and industry organizations. In the past ten years the Fund has paid out more than $3.7 million in rent payments, groceries, utilities and medical expenses.

For more information :
David Hope, The Actors' Fund of Canada
Phone: 1-877-399-8392
E-mail: contact at actorsfund.ca
www.actorsfund.ca
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