Dear GTT Friend
&
Supporter:
I'm writing you
today to share the news that Group Theatre Too’s new
musical Count To Ten has been chosen as an
official selection of the 2009 New
York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) which has
been hailed as “The Sundance of Musical Theatre” by Rob Kendt
of Newsday.
I first became aware of Count To Ten in
1991 when it was workshopped downtown at Musical
Theatre Works where my mother, Gwen Verdon,
served as a board member. Since
that time the show has been developed through a series
of presentations from New York to Tennessee and
provides a multitude of opportunities for young
performers, new designers, musicians and
cross-generational audiences. I am
thrilled GTT has received this honor and recognition and
look forward to the bright future this new musical
holds.
I know from personal
experience that GTT puts a great deal of care and
passion into producing theatre and educational performing arts
programming while providing support for new and
established artists. My belief in their efforts has led
me to accept a seat on their Honorary Artistic Board,
along with Chita Rivera, Theodore
Mann, Maurice
Hines and many others. The company’s artistic
risks and bold programming has attracted such artists as
Pulitzer Prize finalist David Rimmer, choreographer Kate
Swan, Emmy-winning costume designer Bob
Flanagan, and even my own children have
participated in their spectacular educational
programs.
The new play,
aftermath, developed at The Group Theatre Too,
has provided insight to over 5,000 Tri-State students on
the issue of respect-for-one’s-body and is now being
published for national release through Heuer
Publishing. GTT’s One-Act
Playhouse Jr. program, in residence at Manhattan’s
P.S. 75, has also led to the creation of new, published
works. Building on a living theatre
requires new and innovative voices and GTT consistently
provides that platform.
The Group Theatre
Too and I appreciate the support you have consistently
given, and we want to invite you to deepen your
commitment by donating to GTT’s Count To $10,000
Campaign. Our goal is to raise $10,000 by October
1st 2009 to cover
all productions expenses during the NYMF performances of
Count To Ten. Step up with GTT and be a part of
the Campaign and show by contributing $35 or more today
- or whatever amount you are able. No
amount is too small to make a difference.
Rehearsal Halls, event insurance, participation
fees and promotion do not come easily, especially during
this precarious economic time. Even $1.50 can buy a cup
of coffee for a professional lighting
designer (working pro-bono) on a long tech
day.
I certainly
understand the commitment of time and money necessary
for live
theatre productions. By making a tax-deductible
donation through GTT’s fiscal sponsor, The Field, and
earmarking it for Group Theatre Too you can make their
work possible. To support the Count To
$10,000 Campaign please visit www.coun210thousand.com.
If it’s not possible to make a
donation, please consider purchasing tickets for
Count To Ten at the NYMF. They go on
sale this Tuesday, September 1st. Visit
www.nymf.org/counttoten to
reserve.
Thank
you,
NICOLE
FOSSE
Honorary Artistic
Board
The Group Theatre
Too