I was honored to be a newly appointed board member of Bootless Stageworks. I have participated in and attended many events at this venue. What I love about this venue is that not only do they provide access to a variety of great local theatre and live entertainment, they also provided a space for local performance artist to showcase their talents.
I am the Co-Founder and current President of Bootless Artworks. I'd like to take a moment to share the reasons for Bootless and why your donation is so very important.
Both my husband Jim and I possess a life-long passion for the arts. We were music and drama geeks throughout school and continued performing with various groups in Delaware and Pennsylvania while young adults. We even met while performing with a local theater group and held our wedding reception at the theater.
After speaking with close friends and other in the arts, we came to the realization that there was a major gap between community theater and professional theater here in Delaware. Community theaters rarely stepped outside their comfort zone and stuck to the pattern of (1) pick a cute show, (2) cast your friends, (3) sell tickets. There is only 1 professional theater in the state and they cast Equity actors. Bootless was created to fill the gap - a small, professional (but non-Equity) troupe that provided opportunities for up-and-coming performers, directors, technical staff and creative team members.
Bootless also felt it important to develop original works, stage lesser known, social awareness or controversial works and breathe new life into standard classics.
Bootless isn't just theatrical. Its musical side ranges from providing venue to local bands for bass pounding concerts to its very own Allant Consortium Musica for classical musical fare.
Bootless believes giving back is not an obligation but an opportunity. We are proud to bring music and drama to Reach Academy without cost to the school or its families. During the summer, Bootless offers affordable (and I seriously mean affordable) drama and music camps to students 10 to 17. Boot Camp has produced several success stories including a young man who at the tender age of 15 was light board operator/technician for several Bootless productions - two of which were award-winners or the young lady who after attending Boot Camp began securing lead roles in shows throughout the tri-state area.
Some Bootless highlights since its inception in 2003:
- - Created dozens of first time live theater events to members of the community.
- - Collaborated with playwrights and composers in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia.
- - Provided scholarships to graduating high school seniors who continue in the arts through college.
- - Bootless performers have found professional work in film, screen and stage.
- - Bootless performers have been accepted to prestigious gradutate theater & music programs.
- - Bootless has won various awards including winning Delaware's state play festival four years in a row.