Thank you for saying yes. You did it!
Now it's our turn to WOW you with Shakespeare this summer!
You are amazing!
Preliminary video from Deb and Chris Get Married - The Musical!
Say YES to Theater 150 for more of this!
Preliminary video from Deb and Chris Get Married - The Musical!
Say YES to Theater 150 for more of this!
On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for keeping this vital thread in the fabric of Ojai alive and creating.
Chris Nottoli and Deb Norton
Co-Artistic Directors, Theater 150
The Full Story
Say 'Yes'
We were married on May 15th, in Libbey Bowl, with the help of hundreds of friends, family members and theater supporters. We turned our wedding, which we performed as musical, into a fundraiser for Theater 150. Explaining to our board that our wedding would be a magical, funny, moving, musical extravaganza fundraiser was a hard sell, but we knew it would work. Those intrepid folks who said, ‘yes’ and got on board with the idea – volunteers, sponsors, spectators, performers, donors and press – shared in the secret that has been the success of Theater 150: In no other town could you get this many people together to believe that a wedding could be more meaningful if it was a community-created fundraiser. This was possible only in Ojai.
When we marry, we do so knowing that the odds are stacked against success, but we lend our hearts to it anyway. The same is true when we make art. Whether we do so vocationally or philanthropically, we courageously step out on that limb and strive to make something beautiful happen. In the face of the impossible, we do it anyway, and in the end, the impossible is shown to be nothing more than a difficult task conquered by ordinary people willing to say ‘yes.’
The wedding/musical was a fundraiser for the inaugural production of Ojai’s Shakespeare in the Bowl: The Orphan Season (due to the successful rebuilding of Libbey Bowl this summer) which will take place outdoors, in the quad behind Chaparral auditorium. It’s a gorgeous setting amidst ancient trees, a backdrop of the Topa Topa’s and Ojai’s signature starry skies. Jessica Kubzansky, director of last year’s critically acclaimed, award-winning, sold-out run of Hamlet, is back with her powerful, eye-opening brand of storytelling for The Winter’s Tale. Ojai’s newest and funniest musical playwright Niki Blumberg will have her World-Premiere Love’s labor’s LOST: The Musical! produced inside at Theater 150. A musical mash-up of the time-challenged world of TV’s LOST and the timeless world of Love’s Labor’s Lost running concurrently with a brilliant new staging of The Winter’s Tale, is a summer of theater not to be missed in Ojai.
And here’s where we ask you to say, ‘yes,’ in the face of the impossible: We produced the wedding/musical/fundraiser for just under $13k thanks to a ton of in-kind donations. We netted $30k. But, fresh on the heels of this miracle, comes a hard deadline to start work on Ojai’s Shakespeare in the Bowl. We have until Monday to raise a substantial portion of the $140k we need to create this new annual festival and finish out our season. For complex reasons, if we do not raise the money, we will very likely have to cancel the festival. If that happens, Theater 150 will likely close as well. Within one week of the wedding, four Ojai leaders stepped forward and pledged $10k each to create a Founders Circle whose purpose is solely to support Ojai’s Shakespeare in the Bowl. That gives us $70k, but we need more folks to join the Founders Circle to raise the other seventy to start paying the cast and crew to build and create this summer's work. We can solve this by breaking it down to manageable chunks. If one person pledges $20k, three people pledge $10k, ten people pledge $1k and 100 people pledge $100 we’ll make it. No pledges will be collected or money spent until we reach that goal.
Over the past 3 years, Theater 150 has done the impossible: It has managed to pay its rent and stay open through a recession that has been devastating for so many arts organizations. It has continued to produce vital, innovative, professional and stirring shows on a shoestring budget. It has provided a place to grow and learn with some of the best teachers available when performing arts are being excised from curriculums to balance school budgets.
If you say, ‘no,’ the sound of the word will trail off and disappear, like smoke, and life will go on undisturbed. But, if you say, ‘yes,’ Theater 150’s creation of Ojai’s Shakespeare in the Bowl will blend the perfect summer nights of Ojai with the greatest playwright the West has ever known. If you say, “Yes,” Theater 150 will continue to court the sublime by challenging the impossible. If you say ‘yes,’ the sound of that small word will resound for decades to come, as you experience this amazing new festival and call it your own.
This impossible plan will work and here's why: Stop for a moment and imagine that Theater 150 doesn't exist. No more music shows, no more classes or workshops, no more Shakespeare, no more audaciously ambitious productions, no more great stories, no more art lovers coming to Ojai to see what the buzz is about. Can you imagine Ojai without Theater 150? Nope, neither can we. Theater 150 is here and it will be here because we all know has to be. Led by the Founders Circle, the year ahead will bring dramatic changes for Theater 150 that will allow it to thrive in a new way and scale heights of artistic greatness we can only dream about.
But we need you to go to www.theater150.org and say ‘yes,’ with your pledge, right now.
Thank you,
Deb Norton and Chris Nottoli
Co-Artistic Directors Theater 150
Quotes from the 232 donors who made this happen:
This is scraping the bottom of my barrel, but I can't stand the thought that Theatre 150 could disappear. NO #@%ING WAY! Hey, guys, wonderful wedding. You did a great job and it was just a fantastic idea. Well done! And congratulations! I hope you will have every happiness that life has to offer. Peace, Vickie
A hundred bucks ain't much but it's better than nothing. - Bill
I wish I could give more. I'll pass this around and see if I can't get some more support for ya'll!! God Save the Shakespeare! - Danielle
Wish it could be more, but I had to pledge something to help keep you guys afloat. All the best, Suzanne
That was a wonderful letter. Good luck and I hope you reach your goal. - Linda
I can pledge $50 now, and hope that it can be more in the future. It’s not much, but I know that every little bit helps. … I do believe that you have a magical thing there. Good luck. - Liza
Hope our pledge … helps Theater 150 pull through. Love, Bill & Kathy
We think you are absolutely vital to this community. I pray that your needs will be met and passed in this effort. - Stephanie
I am distraught to think that this could all fall apart. I don't have very much money at all but will gladly pledge $100 and pray that others follow suit. Please keep me posted as to your progress. With very best wishes, Susan
GO TEAM GO!!! - Patricia
I'm in. xox, Sonia
I believe in you guys and in the theater! You all are the best!!! Keep your chins up and believing this will come about! - Mary
Good luck. You can do it! – Jan and Bill
Good luck reaching this important goal! - Ann
In a healthy society, good Shakespeare is the last necessity to go. -Nietzsche
Put us down for a $100 spot. If you can pull off "that wedding", then you can do this. - Chris and Lara
Best of luck with this very important artistic outlet of creative folks! - Katheryn
Got fingers, toes, and eyes crossed. - Jim
We wish you lots of luck and send our love to all at Theater 150. - Bill and Laura
There was not a theatre like Theater 150 in Ojai when I was growing up. I was so excited when I read in Equity News that Ojai had an Equity theatre company! So exciting! I think it is such a valuable asset to both the adults in the community and to the kids growing up in Ojai today. For them to be able to see the collaboration of great pieces of theatre, wonderful professional talent, along with a passionate, creative staff, it will affect the way they view the arts for the rest of their lives. Best of luck to you! - Angela
Please help this lovely theater. It's one of the reasons Ojai is such a wonderful place to visit and to live. - Cathryn
I can not imagine what life would be without Theater 150. It houses 2 artistic directors, (who I am proud to call my children), who with their talent and generous spirits, have assembled a staff of equally talented people and made magic happen time and time again. My love and best wishes to all concerned - Becky
Times ARE tight for many of us, but I can more afford to lose money than I can afford to lose Theater 150! - Steve
I would like to pledge $300 and ask all of the 300 club members from several years ago to also contribute $300.
I would also like to encourage and challenge all other Ojai merchants to pledge $300 in order to keep an Ojai treasure alive! - Geoff
I'd pledge you my first-born child, but I don't have one yet -- so how about a hundred bucks? - Lucy
Michelle and I want to always have theater 150 in Ojai. WE ARE WITH YOU ALWAYS. - Ron and Michele
Without Theater 150 Ojai would be less... - Lynn
We can't bear to contemplate an Ojai without Theater 150 -- a unique combination of ground-breaking productions, professional talent, abundant creativity and good clean FUN! - Peter and Sarah
To salute your wedding ,your courage ,your total commitment to theatre and the arts here's a hundred bucks. God bless and God speed. - Chris and Terrence
I will quote Joni Mitchell here " you don't know what you've got till it's gone." This, I fear is what will happen to Theater 150 if we lose it. What I can give now is a pittance, but hopefully it can help even the slightest bit. You guys are truly the little engine that could. Good luck, I wish I had a million, it would all go to you! - Tara
We're pledging because we believe you (Deb and Chris) and Theater 150 make this beautiful place even beautifuller! We hope to be able to give more in the future. Go Bill! - Tim and Alana
Theatre 150 is one of the things we miss most about Ojai. You go, guys!!! - David, Gabriela, and Vida
We wish you the best of luck!! Ojai benefits greatly from Theater 150! - Russell and Sherry
Count us in. A company that can produce the best Hamlet we have ever seen deserves to be nurtured. It looks like you have a ton of support out there and are going to make it. Bravo! - Gary and Susan
My family was very involved in Shakespeare in the Park for many years and had starring and supporting roles in many plays. I'd like to see this become a reality again. - Jennifer
I say YES!!! - Bernadette
The show must go on! - Alison
All love to the newlyweds and their fearless band of artists - Jenny
We are looking forward to Shakespeare, and so much more! Sign us up for the 300 Club. - Betsy
I just can't imagine a world without Theater 150. It's been such an enormous part of my life for so many years and has brought so many wonderful things to fruition. The more I reflect on the gifts it has given me, the more I want to give back -- so here's to another hundred dollars. May it bring you one step closer to VICTORY! - Lucy
I am visualizing your pledge drive as completed. xxoo - Julie
Onward, Theater 150! - Chris and Stephanie
Hamlet was extraordinary, and I intend to see many more shows in Ojai in the future, including THIS SUMMER!!! Your (our) theatre MUST survive this challenge. I wish it could be more, but I'm pledging $150 to Theatre 150, 'cause the poetry of that amount is just too "right". - Thomas
I am holding with you! - Martha
I know you will make your goal!! Glad to help. Let's all PAAAR-TAY when the good news is that you have succeeded tomorrow! (Yes, even obnoxious, biker-types support the arts) - Steve
You're too close to not to make it now. I'll put in another $50. Go Theater 150! - George
I pledge $100.00 in thanks for all awesomeness you provide for our beautiful town. - Linda
Here's to taking a stand for seventy grand! All the best for continued success!! - Frank
$100 pledge for suspending disbelief. Thank you for reviving the muse! - Gary & Theresa
WE LOVE YOU! - The Big Couch fom LOST
Your fund raising effort has been an inspiration to me and I am sure to many others. Now I have a better idea of what it really takes to support your passion. - Bob
Break a leg! - Marty
You're just too close not to make it now! We pledge another $100 to make this thing happen -- you're worth every cent! - Sarah and Peter
Theatre 150 keeps Ojai from becoming just another small town with predictable cultural offerings. I hope you continue to challenge our predicatable thinking and make us laugh. - Christy
