San Diego Theatre Connection Launches The Summer of The United Way: Laughter and Literacy

It's called the 'Summer Slide'. Students lose literacy skills over summer vacation before returning to school in the fall. This summer, The United Way of San Diego County is committed to those children who need the most support in maintaining their reading. The U.S. Department of Education reports that 80-percent of low-income children are reading below level by fourth grade. These struggling readers are six times less likely to graduate from high school on time.

The San Diego Theatre Connection has launched the Laughs and Literacy Donation Drive June 21-August 26, 2017 in conjunction with the United Way campaign. See one of our shows this summer and donate new or gently used books for reading students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Financial donations can also be made directly at www.uwsd.org and click on the donate button.

Laughs and Literacy Donation Drive: See a show, bring a book!

The summer lineup of shows includes two family friendly award-winning Broadway musicals and a couple of hysterical comedies for adult audiences.

Patio Playhouse presents HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING June 30-July 15th at the Kit Carson Park Amphitheatre in Escondido. Big business means big laughs in this delightfully clever lampoon of life on the corporate ladder. A tune-filled comic gem that took Broadway by storm, winning both the Tony Award for Best Musical and a Pulitzer Prize. INTO THE WOODS, the Tony Award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical, runs later in the summer August 11-August 26th. Donations will continue for this production. www.patioplayhouse.com

Lamplighters Community Theatre presents WOMEN IN JEOPARDY July 7-July 30th. Divorcees Mary and Jo are suspicious of their friend Liz's new dentist boyfriend in this hilarious comedy! Imaginations run wild as the pair trade their wine glasses for spy glasses and set off on an adventure to learn the truth. This romp from The House of Yes playwright Wendy MacLeod brings with it some serious Thelma and Louise-meets-The First Wives Club fun. www.lamplighterslamesa.com

PowPac Community Theatre presents PERFECT WEDDING July 21-August 20th. This is the ultimate hanger over nightmare. A bridegroom on his wedding day wakes up with a girl in his hotel bed who is not his fiancée! Lots of lies and laughter keep everyone guessing whether this story will have a happy ending at the altar. www.powpac.org

San Diego Theatre Connection welcomes partnerships among performing arts organizations across the county. Our mission is promoting quality entertainment and creating community collaborations through theatre. We are committed to raising donations, increasing awareness, and developing volunteerism for our member non-profit organizations. Our current theatres include Patio Playhouse (www.patioplayhouse.com), Lamplighters Community Theatre (www.lamplighterslamesa.com), PowPac Community Theatre (www.powpac.org), Circus Collective of San Diego (www.circuscollectivesd.com), Turning Tydes Theatre Company (www.turningtydes.org) and the Above Board Theatre (www.aboveboardtheatre.com).

San Diego Theatre Connection is on Facebook at http:/www.facebook.com/sdtheatreconnection, and on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat @SDTheatreConnection.