Benefit Performances

It isn’t quite clear when the idea of selling out the house to an organization for benefit purposes came about.

A notice regarding the upcoming performances of Spoon River Anthology announced that the opening night of the run, June 17, 1972, would be a “benefit performance for the Women’s Auxiliary of Warren Memorial Hospital” (“Spoon River Anthology ….” NVD.  26 June 1972).  This type of sponsorship continued for a number of years when a sponsor for a particular show would use the first night or the final dress rehearsal as a benefit for their employees.

This is not to be confused with corporate sponsors who would buy out the house for a particular show, often the opening night, for their employees/staff.

Information on these events is not readily available.  The ones that can be confirmed are listed below:

2000, March 5 & 6 - - Song of the Shenandoah, which is listed as a reprise of last year’s very successful Bluegrass event, featuring the Lynn Morris Band and others.

2000, March 13 - - The Unfortunate Rakes, an evening of Celtic music.

2000, April 7 – 11 - - Shepherd! The Music of King David, featuring George Fischoff at the piano in a one-man show on the Biblical stories of King David.

It should be noted that this area has not been completely researched and that there is most-likely additional material to be included.