TEENS ORGANIZE “HURRICANE DRAMATHON” AT BERKELEY REP Six hours of plays set in New Orleans to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina WHO: Local teens and theatre lovers of all ages WHAT: Hurricane Dramathon—Six nonstop hours of staged readings featuring plays set in New Orleans WHERE: Berkeley Rep School of Theatre / The Nevo Education Center / 2071 Addison Street @ Shattuck / Downtown Berkeley WHEN: Sunday, September 25, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM WHY: To benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina HOW MUCH: Donations of all sizes welcome INFO: 510.647.2972 or teencouncil@berkeleyrep.org BERKELEY CA, SEPTEMBER 7, 2005 Seeing the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, the members of Berkeley Rep’s Teen Council knew they had to act. Literally. Their response to the disaster is to do what they do best—perform in plays—and in the process they’ve pledged to raise funds for their displaced Southern peers. On Sunday, September 25, the teens are holding a unique event at the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre: the Hurricane Dramathon. Starting at 10:00 AM, it’s six nonstop hours of staged readings, featuring plays set in New Orleans. The public is invited to enjoy the marathon show, and all teens are welcome to participate. All day, they’ll take turns performing in popular plays such as A Streetcar Named Desire. Proceeds will help the Parent Teacher Association provide school supplies and book bags to the thousands of students in the South who have been relocated due to the storm. Berkeley Rep also announced that a percentage of all ticket sales from September 11 through September 15 will be donated to the same cause, including seats for its upcoming production of Our Town, the world premiere of Finn in the Underworld and the highly anticipated Brundibár from Tony Kushner and Maurice Sendak. “I am truly moved that the teens came forward to create this benefit,” remarked Rachel Fink, director of the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre. “For displaced students on the Gulf Coast, I believe it is essential to provide a sense of normalcy and a return to the familiar routine of school. So I am proud to see local teens in the theatre community unite and use their art as a vehicle to help our neighbors.” Here’s how you can help: • Participate: Teens should contact the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre in advance at 510.647.2972 or teencouncil@berkeleyrep.org. Every teen who participates must recruit sponsors. • Attend: Just come by at any time during the event! You’ll be asked for a donation at the door. The Berkeley Rep School of Theatre is at 2071 Addison Street just off Shattuck in downtown Berkeley. • Donate: Donors can sponsor a certain amount of money per hour, or they can donate a lump sum. Write your check to Berkeley Rep, with “Hurricane” in the memo line. Mail it to the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre at 2025 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94704. • Or just buy tickets to any Berkeley Rep show: If you buy seats between Sunday, September 11 and Thursday, September 15, a percentage of the purchase price goes to hurricane relief! Call the box office at 510.647.2949 or visit berkeleyrep.org. The Berkeley Rep Teen Council is a theatre youth group organized by teens for teens. Its goal is to foster the theatre audiences and theatre professionals of tomorrow by opening channels of communication between teens, theatre professionals and the community at large. The Teen Council allows youth to participate in all aspects of the dramatic process: on stage, backstage and in front of the stage through an affiliation with Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Activities include poetry slams, improv nights, theatre workshops, a festival of one-act plays and a theatre trip to New York City. For more information, call 510-647-2972 or e-mail teencouncil@berkeleyrep.org. Media contact: Terence Keane 510.647.2917, tkeane@berkeleyrep.org BACK TO TOP