Child's Play Touring Theatre to Host 'FriendRaiser' Next Week

Child's Play Touring Theatre is holding a fun networking event at the Underground Wonder Bar on August 8 at 6:00 pm.

Anyone who wants to attend the 'FriendRaiser' is welcome and can be considered to join the board of directors for Child's Play Touring Theatre or find volunteer opportunities. We will be announcing the surprise details of our Sept. 14th event.

Donations from anyone who can contribute will be welcome. June Podagrosi is the Executive Director and one of the founders of the theatre, with her late husband Victor Podagrosi. The event falls on Victor Podagrosi's birthday.

Child's Play's illustrious alumni students and instructors include Tina Fey, Jeff Richmond, and Adam McKay. Child's Play Touring Theatre is a 501(c) 3 not­for­ profit organization, founded in 1978, and based in Chicago since 1982. Child's Play was the first theatre company where professional actors take original works written by children and perform them on stage. Since its founding, Child's Play has touched over 4.5 million children and fostered confidence and a sense of artistic and social accomplishment. Also, more than 18,000 writers of ages 4 to 14 have been given the opportunity to experience their words transformed into live theater ­ an experience that lasts a lifetime. From workshops at inner­city schools to traveling performances in small towns, Child's Play has encouraged endless creativity of children coast­to­coast.

"I thought about all of the times that I was able to help encourage the spirit of creativity, or the lightbulb going off for one of our students, and I knew it was really inspiring" June explains. "I just thought to myself that I wanted to make this last as long as I could, and that I wanted to find a way to do this, not for a living, but for a calling."

Some of the productions that she has put together were from international students. "When we were looking for material for our Writing our World show that premiered at the Goodman Theatre Children sent in stories after the genocide in Rwanda. I could not get through reading them without a box of tissues. Fast forward about ten years and I cried tears of joy when I read the uplifting poetry about the country had wind and solar power and the writings were positive and we used them in our Global Energy Show. The young people were thrilled how life altering their lives had become; having water at a touch of a button instead of carrying up hill from a stream. They were transformed out of the darkness into the light" June goes on to say. When asked, she confirmed that these international educational exchanges are slated to continue.

"I want to provide a safe space for young people. It is most important for us to create opportunities for everyone. I have seen plays done by young and old, and I always see the same thing. People strive for Excellence," June says of Child's Play. "We want people to come no matter if they're brand new in their career or if they've got tons of experience, this is a place for us all to grow."