Education & Outreach Fund

Empower youth and veterans in our community!

We believe that theater has the power to embolden those who feel like they don’t have a voice. We believe that engaging theatergoers at a young age will help to ensure a well-rounded life. We believe that there are people out there, like you, who want to see at-risk teens, people diagnosed with Autism, and local veterans find their voice and be heard.

You can help make that happen. Scholarships are $600, but every dollar makes a difference.

Donate Now!

Help inspire creativity in our community and receive exclusive benefits. Not only are you joining us in this important effort, you’ll get to know program participants and Chance artists. Take a look at the benefits below and consider sponsoring a student, mentor, teaching artist or a full program today!

	DONOR	STUDENT/ VETERAN	MENTOR	TEACHING ARTIST	ASSOCIATE SPONSOR	EXECUTIVE SPONSOR
Gift Range	<$599	$600	$1,200	$2,500	$3,500	$$5,000
BENEFITS
Tax Receipt & corresponding Annual Fund Benefits	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Recognition in Show Programs for one year (Annual Fund and Producers Circle)		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Photo with Speak Up class		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Two Admissions to Design Preview Parties		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Two Tickets to Opening of Holiday Literature Series		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Sponsorship Listing in Speak Up program		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Lobby Recognition for one year			✔	✔	✔	✔
Invitation to Director’s Dinner events			✔	✔	✔	✔
Sponsorship Recognition in Speak Up programs			✔	✔	✔	✔
Coffee with a Founding Artist				✔	✔	✔
Dine with Teaching Artists (FMV* $80 for two)				✔	✔	✔
Lobby Recognition on Producer’s Circle Display					✔	✔
Recognized at all Speak Up Performances					✔	✔
Recognized at all Education & Outreach Events						✔
Education Main Page Website Recognition						✔

*FMV = The Fair Market Value (A good faith estimate of the value of the benefits received.)

Speak Up – Take a “Chance”

For over a decade, the Chance has worked with local teens to “speak up” about their lives and experiences through an original production as part of the Speak Up Summer Program. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, hundreds of students have participated in this program free of charge.

About the Program

For over 10 years, we have been helping underserved communities find their voice through theater and Speak Up. What originally started with at-risk teens (Teens Speak Up) has expanded to include Speak Up programs for Veterans and people on the Autism Spectrum.

Through story circles, improv games, and writing exercises, people learn the fundamentals of storytelling and have a ton of fun. For 5-6 weeks, they work collaboratively with their peers from all over the county to write, design, and perform a new play!

By participating in all elements of constructing and producing a new play (playwriting, acting, design, marketing, etc.), under the guidance of Chance staff, professional designers and professional actors and our program director, the participants take ownership of every aspect of a creating original theatrical work, and learn that theater can be a powerful means for self-expression. Additionally, during the process, they also gain confidence, grow a sense of community, as well as learn leadership, team-building, communication, and public speaking skills.

Studies show that developing “21st Century Skills,” which include problem-solving, critical and creative thinking, dealing with ambiguity and complexity, integration of multiple skill sets, and the ability to perform cross-disciplinary tasks, is in decline due to the loss of many arts programs in schools. By teaching these skills to our students, they will personally benefit and, ultimately, our community will benefit ten-fold as they mature and join the workforce with these skills.

Support the program: This program is funded through the generosity of foundations and individuals like you. You can sponsor any program participant for $600. If you are interested in being a sponsor, click here or contact Erika C. Miller at [email protected] or call (657) 549-0499.

More information about the Speak Up programs:

TEENS SPEAK UP is open to ALL STUDENTS (grades 7-12).

SPECTRUM SPEAK UP is for teens with high functioning Autism, Asperger’ or PDD-NOS.

VETERANS SPEAK UP is for all local OC veterans.

Relaxed Performances

Continuing the initiative that started with the inaugural TYA Family Series, the Chance will be presenting at least one special “relaxed performance” per TYA show. This special performance is specifically designed to welcome people that will benefit from a more relaxed environment, including children under 4 years of age, people with an Autism Spectrum Condition, sensory and communication disorders, or a learning disability. There will be minor alterations made to some technical elements, and the house lights will be left on at a dim level to create a conducive environment for all audiences to enjoy the story. There is also a designated “relaxing and activities area” set up in the lobby for any audience members who may need to take a break during the performance. Children under the age of 4 are admitted for FREE to our relaxed performances, so long as they are accompanied by an adult and not sitting in a seat by themselves.

Student Tickets

The cost of attending live theater can be a barrier for some, especially young people. To help alleviate this issue, The Chance heavily discounts the cost of tickets for students, to as low as $13 for groups of 10 or more, or $21 for individual students at the door. Consider subsidizing the true cost of these discounted tickets with a gift of any size.