Pajama Raffle!

New England Youth Theatre will be holding a raffle during each performance of its upcoming musical The Pajama Game.  Prizes will be all sorts of pajama-related items - from men’s plaid flannel pajamas from Sam’s to toddlers pajamas from Carters, Llama, Llama Red Pajama from Everyone’s Books and Polly’s Pink Pajamas from The Book Cellar, to a lovely ladies’ bathrobe and pajamas from Peebles, pajama bottoms from Adivasi paired with NEYT t-shirts, pajamas from Dragonfly Dry Goods, home-made cookies with tea provided by the Twilight Tea Lounge, and a copy of The Pajama Game original movie starring actress Doris Day -choreographed by Bob Fosse.

The funds from selling raffle tickets, which cost $2 for one ticket or $5 for 3, will be put into NEYT’s financial aid fund.  The Youth Theatre is committed to never turning away a student in financial need.  We believe that it is important for all youth to be engaged in the arts and in collaborative ventures that help students build teamwork and leadership skills, confidence, and, most importantly, friendships.

During the summer, New England Youth Theatre distributed a total of over $7,000 in financial aid to all 40 students who applied for assistance. This money came from paid tuitions; concession sales at intermissions; donations in the lobby box; generous donations to our "Angels in the Wings" fund, set up specifically for this purpose; and from fundraisers geared towards boosting the financial aid funds.

Purchase your tickets at performances of The Pajama Game at New England Youth Theatre, August 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 at 7 PM or August 7, 8, and 14 at 2 PM.  Get your advance tickets to this production online at www.neyt.org.  Raffle tickets will be sold during performances.  A winner will be drawn at each performance.  Winners will be able to choose their prizes!  Come take in a great show with some superbly talented actors and actresses, and help support NEYT’s scholarship fund!

Angels in the Wings

In the last year, NEYT has seen a 25 percent increase in financial aid requests. In 2008 close to $10,000 was given out in financial aid – this money comes from concession sales, fundraising events, and 10 percent of tuition income. With “Angels in the Wings” the theatre hopes to double that amount in order to provide families with the needed extra support to continue participating in NEYT’s dynamic programs, as well as to those families who have not considered it affordable. “If a mere 100 people donated a mere $10 per month, that would be $12000 per year, which would accomplish the goal we have set very painlessly and democratically,” says Rick Barron, Director of the Technical Theatre Program.

Taking steps to meet the increased need for financial assistance by NEYT families who have been affected by the economic downturn, New England Youth Theatre has created a new financial aid program:  “Angels in the Wings.” This program is an effort to reach beyond what NEYT’s Financial Aid Program can fund, and both help those families whose financial need has increased, and reach out to new families and students who may have found the tuition expenses prohibitive to participating in NEYT’s programs.

Donations to “Angels in the Wings” will be gratefully accepted and can be made on a one-time or on-going basis. Please contact the NEYT office at 802-246-NEYT or michelle@neyt.org. Donations can also be made online using a credit card at www.neyt.org.