Rubicon Theatre Announces Benefit Raffle

Rubicon Theatre, a not-for-profit professional regional theatre company in Ventura, California, has launched a British-themed spring raffle to raise funds for the company's summer education and outreach camp programs.

Rubicon's summer programs include the Stinky Feet Theatre Workshop (ages 5-10); the Fearless Shakespeare Intensive, the Musical Theatre Intensive, the Theatre Camp (ages 11-14), the Acting Intensive, Internships and Apprenticeships. Camps range from two weeks to five weeks and are taught or guided by professional teachers and actors from the Rubicon stage. Although all programs are process-oriented, each culminates with performances on the Rubicon stage with sets, lights and costumes. Upcoming programs presented publicly by young artists include We Are Monsters (July 11), Disney's The Little Mermaid, Jr. (July 1 - 5), West Side Story (August 5 - 15), and Hamlet (July 24 - 25).

Acceptance to the programs is by audition and is based on talent, regardless of the students' ability to pay. More than 100 students from age 5 to age 22 are expected to participate in the 2015 program, with more than half of the students on full or partial scholarships based on financial need.

Proceeds from the raffle will support scholarships and pay for direct program costs, including teacher fees, production elements, etc.

The Grand Prize for the raffle is a trip for two on Rubicon's "theatrically thrilling royal adventure" to Stratford-upon-Avon and London from September 22 to 29, 2015. The trip is valued at approximately $9,900. The package includes round-trip airfare on Air New Zealand, ground transportation from Rubicon, two nights 4-star hotel accommodations in Straford-upon-Aven (birthplace of William Shakespeare and home of the Royal Shakespeare Company), four nights in the 5-star Goring Hotel (where Her Royal Highness Catherine Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, stayed the night before her marriage to Prince William), three shows, a guided tour of Buckingham Palace, a meet-and-greet with West End theatre artists, and a group dinner with other Rubicon supporters. One very unique recent addition to the trip is an exclusive private candlelit dinner inside the Tower of London after closing with students from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama performing excerpts from Richard III. Attendees will also witness the oldest continuous ceremony in Western civilization, the "Ceremony of the Keys." (Please note that if the winner has already made a deposit for the Rubicon trip, a full refund will be provided sans any upgrades. Additionally, individuals who need to travel from other airports may also enter to win and will then receive a check for the designated air portion of the trip.)

First Prize in the raffle is two rare, hardback first-edition books (Spangled Unicorn: An Anthology by Noel Coward and Theatrical Companion to Coward) signed by Sir Noel Coward, donated by Simon Ruddick in London and purchased at Peter Harrington, Antiquarian Bookseller, the premiere bookseller in London and one of the leading rare book firms in the world.

The Second Prize raffle winner will savor all the Beatles' secrets, along with a British-style lunch with Ventura-based writer Ivor Davis, author of "The Beatles and Me on Tour," also receiving a signed copy of his book. Davis will pick up the winner and their guest and drive them for a lunch at the best "Chish and Fips" eatery (as John Lennon would have put it). Davis, a noted British journalist, traveled with the Beatles on their historic first American tour. At the secret rendezvous, fish and chips are served the way the Beatles loved them best: in old newspapers.

Other prizes include a beautiful Waterford Crystal Bowl and antique tea cups donated by Ann Bardo and vintage Wedgewood Jasperware donated by Jan and Hal Wasserman.

Raffle tickets are $150 each, with a maximum of 250 to be sold. Winning tickets will be drawn on Monday June 1, 2015. Winners will be notified in e-mail and by phone and need not be present to win. Says Rubicon Development Manager Alyson Melling, "We thought this would be a fun and special way for our community to support Rubicon's fantastic youth programs."

Tickets may be purchased by calling Rubicon Development Director Alyson Melling at 805-667-2912, ext. 237. Those who wish to purchase tickets in Thousand Oaks may call Judi Garcia at 805-725-7741; for those in Camarillo, Stephanie Becerra at 805-312-1861, and for Ventura, Harriet Clune at 805.302.9001 or Rich Stewart at 805.320.4388.