THE SOUND OF MUSIC Raises $11,700.00 For The Actors Fund Of Canada

Audiences were alive with the sound of generosity at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre, donating $11,700 to the Actors' Fund of Canada following performances of The Sound of Music from December 1 to 6. Mirvish Productions' run of the popular classic stars Elicia MacKenzie as Maria and ends its fifteen-month stay in Toronto on January 3, 2010.

By allowing the Actors' Fund to conduct audience appeals on a regular basis, Mirvish Productions has proven itself to be a major supporter of the Fund. In the past two years, Mirvish audiences have donated close to $75,000 in support of its mission to assist entertainment industry members in distress.

Reflecting on his company's ongoing commitment to the Actors' Fund, Producer David Mirvish commented: "The Actors' Fund has truly earned the title ‘the lifeline for Canada's entertainment industry'. By supporting countless talented Canadians through difficult situations, it has allowed them the opportunity to continue giving their best to audiences even after experiencing devastating personal and financial crises. The role the Fund plays in strengthening our industry cannot be overstated and we at Mirvish Productions are proud to support such a vital organization."

Performers and others who work behind the scenes in film and television, theatre, music and dance can apply to the Actors' Fund for emergency financial aid. The Fund recently set a new record for the amount of financial aid delivered to industry members in a single year, topping $600,000 in 2008, and has helped over 10,000 entertainment industry workers recover from illness, injury or other circumstances causing severe economic and personal hardship since it was founded in 1958.

The Actors' Fund of Canada is a registered charity that has paid out over $3.7 million in rent payments, grocery money, utility payments and other basic living expenses in the last 10 years. Performers, creators, technical staff and other production team members can benefit from the Fund, which receives no major government funding and is sustained by support from individuals and entertainment industry organizations.