A Fund Raising Tradition - The Tulsa Spotlight Theatre

Over the years the Tulsa Spotlight Theatre has helped raise money for many charitable causes: Workshops for the Handicapped, Meals On Wheels, Eldercare, Easter Seals, Goodwill Industries and Domestic Violence Intervention, to name a few. We've also raised money for the purchase of hospital equipment such as SIDS monitors, which were loaned to young families with at risk newborns. (You can imagine that a G-rated, family-friendly show with a politically incorrect name like "The Drunkard", is destined to have image issues which must be offset by great PR). In past years the local media sponsored annual fund raisers for the March of Dimes and Easter Seals with Friday night Spotlight Specials, television station personalities LeAnne Taylor, Carol Lambert and Don Woods have all performed onstage at the Spotlight Theatre.

But times change. In recent years for whatever reasons, "Spotlight Specials" have virtually disappeared. Last fall, however, someone asked if they could rent our theatre to raise money for their charity, and just like that the Spotlight Special was repackaged and reborn. Since then, we have helped raise money for Disabled American Veterans, Happy Hands (a charity teaching deaf children to sign) and for TCC students bound for a project in Alaska.

So, how does it work? Local businesses, individuals or groups make a tax deductible donation to The Spotlight Theatre which buys a free show for the charity or benevolent cause of their choice. The designated charity is entitled to choose the type and date of the performance, set ticket prices and sell or even give away up to 110 admissions to either The Drunkard & Olio, or a special Super Variety Show featuring Tulsa's finest local entertainers, dancers, singers, magicians, comedians, jugglers and more. The special performance can be arranged for any night of the week except Sunday.

Does your church, charity or civic group need to raise money? The Spotlight provides the space, the entertainment and the refreshments and you show up for the fun...and, oh yeah, to collect the money for your special cause. Besides that, it's more fun, less trouble and more profitable than most car washes and bake sales (with fewer calories to boot).

Think Tulsa Spotlight Theatre. Call Larry at 587-5030 for more information.