HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT!
R2P is a community theatre. We want to serve EVERYONE in the community. Years ago we eliminated a major barrier by making participation 100% FREE for all of our students. Today we are excited to announce the book-end to that policy change:
From now on, ATTENDANCE AT OUR SHOWS WILL BE 100% FREE!
This decision is not the result of a sudden financial windfall. Rather, it was the result of us re-examining our priorities and principles as an organization and then making a change that puts those values into practice. This move has been in the works for a while, however the inequities in our society revealed over the course of the pandemic and through our Racial Justice Working Group that we convened last year made clear that the time for this change is now.
Too often, theatre (and the arts more broadly) is accessible only to people of means. A family of four, considering spending $60 to see a show, might rightly decide, that despite the ways it could enrich their lives, their household budget simply doesn’t allow for it.
So when a child in that family reaches middle school and is finally eligible to participate in R2P, would it be a surprise that they decide not to if they’ve never had a chance to see a play in the first place?
Theatre offers so much more than entertainment. Participation in R2P provides a supportive and inclusive environment for young people to develop life skills that will benefit them no matter what they do later: working under pressure with a deadline, improvising when the unexpected happens, taking direction gracefully, collaborating with people outside of one’s everyday experience, and so much more.
Additionally, attending theatre is a joyful, communal experience. When we witness stories being told in the dark, we learn empathy for people who are different from us. Plus it’s fun!
Which children in our community should be excluded from these experiences?
With the support of our community, none will be excluded.
To make this change possible, we are introducing a new donor/membership support model. Members, called R2Patrons, can help sustain R2P for as little as $5 per month. Think of it like NPR – content is made available for free, but those who are able to donate, do so to keep it available for all. (Plus, like NPR, there are nifty thank you gifts, too!) You can join now at www.runningtoplaces.org/join.
Keep your ears open for new offerings also coming soon: a podcast, workshops for students, even classes for adults! (R2Patrons can get discounts on adult classes, as an extra bonus.)
Information about all of this is now available at www.runningtoplaces.org, freshly redesigned from the ground up. Look for the “Become an R2Patron” button and join us today!
We hope you’re as excited about all this as we are. With so much tough stuff in our lives lately, we’re eager to offer delightful and meaningful experiences to everyone in our community.
Thank you for supporting us through the years - we’re excited to see you all again soon!