[themarshtheater]

The Thrill of Unique Derique and the Office

[Photo credit: Eric Carmichael]

I was in the office yesterday afternoon when all of a sudden I heard hubbub. "Trepidatious" until I realized it was coming from Derique. He had burst into a hambone improv.

Wow. We all giggled with delight. If it had been a Glee episode, the entire office would have evolved into a musical. Well isn't that one thing to do around that kind of energy? Unique Derique is a force of nature a.k.a. performance!  So, I am thrilled that not only does Marsh office staff get to experience his talent, but starting this Sunday, you too can enjoy FOOL LA LA! and Derique's world-renowned circus skills in San Francisco. AND he will lead a post-performance hambone and juggling mini workshop for the whole family. Come join the fun this Sunday, March 8! To celebrate, we are offering a pair of comps to the first five who follow this instruction:  

Click here and use comp code 'hambone' to reserve tickets for this Sunday's show.

Temp? Lawyer? Ever Employed? THIS SHOW IS FOR YOU!

Speaking of office environments, there's only three weeks left of Josh Kornbluth's HAIKU TUNNEL at The Marsh Berkeley. Use 'haiku2015' for $10 tickets.  

For this Friday's show, click here and use discount code 'haiku2015' to purchase tickets.

For this Saturday's show, click here and use discount code 'haiku2015' to purchase tickets. 

(Also, don't miss Josh's REPORTS FROM THE ZEN HOSPICE improvs, Monday nights in Berkeley)

Marsh Talk 2 / Performance?  Ann Randolph

Coming right up on March 18, Ann Randolph is giving a one-time talk/performance INAPPROPRIATE IN ALL THE RIGHT WAYS.  Although she developed it as a talk, her feedback has been the "best performance they've seen." So not to be missed. Also, there's just a few spots left in Ann's two-day workshop, March 14 and 15. Can't wait to see my pal!!!

Also: This Week on the Mainstages!

SAN FRANCISCO Don Reed's STEREOTYPO: Rants and Rumblings at the DMV Brian Copeland's THE WAITING PERIOD

BERKELEY Charlie Varon's FEISTY OLD JEW This week's special guests, Sat: David Kleinberg  Sun: Paul Sussman, opening act and Rita Glassman, post-performance cabaret.

Have a great week!

[themarshtheater]

Demolish. Build. Performance!  February 27, 2015

[Appleachia's 1050 Valencia]

Dear Marshians,

Wow. After all the fighting we've all done over the past couple of years to get conditions supporting The Marsh's survival during and post construction of the building next door, it's started.

On Friday morning, the next-door building was demolished. IN ONE HOUR!!!

Unbelievable. Since it was before 8 am, I missed it. But, I was around to watch the backhoe breaking up the concrete foundation. I was totally immersed. In fact, oddly enough, motivated, For the first time since my Appleachia photo exhibit this past summer (iPhone photos of "apples on the go" from dashboards to mule pastures in Trinity County), I was inspired to take an apple photo documenting the process. See above.

And most importantly it made me think again of how grateful I am to all of you who worked so hard to help The Marsh get its conditions. Because at 4 pm on Friday, the backhoe stopped breaking up the foundation, just like the conditions required. Quiet. Peaceful. Marsh Youth Theater's class could take place in relative quiet. And for the staff, the performers, the directors, the tech and myself, total relief from all those "mini earthquakes" rocking the building.

So here's The Marsh "skinny"

Coming up real soon!

Ann Randolph will be giving our second Marsh Talk, on Wednesday March 18, titled

INAPPROPRIATE IN ALL THE RIGHT WAYS.

AND JUST IN, Ann is also offering a two-day workshop, March 14 and 15. It's just been up a week and it's already half full, so sign up quickly!  Ann teaches all over the country and I am thrilled she is back at The Marsh. It's been a couple of years.

Speaking of talks, our first by David Ford was INCREDIBLE. In fact, we just put it up on our website. Click here to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m-csnYnnso

This Week

SAN FRANCISCO

SOTA/ Don REED

We've offered our SF upstairs stage to SOTA (School of the Arts) this Friday and Saturday night, so stop by and see this high school show. This also means that Don Reed's STEREOTYPO, Rants and Rumblings at the DMV has been moved slightly later to 9pm on both of those nights, so have dinner and catch his new show.

BERKELEY

Eastbayers, you have a chance to see our very first show, Josh Kornbluth's HAIKU TUNNEL, is not only as hilarious now as it was 25 years ago, but has been made into a movie and is totally GREAT!  So catch Josh Kornbluth this Friday and Saturday night for $10 using the discount code 'HAIKU2015'

For Friday 2/27/15, click HERE and enter the code 'HAIKU2015'

For Saturday 2/28/15, click HERE and enter the code 'HAIKU2015'

Charlie Varon's Feisty Old Jew has some special events this week.

2/28: Special pre-Purim show co-sponsored by Lehrhaus Judaica. Opening act: Peretz Wolf-Prusan tells stories of Jewish survival by wit and foolishness.

3/1: APPETIZER: David Jacobson's wild new story "Uncle Jack."          POST SHOW Jazz and FREE Pizza in the Marsh Cabaret.

Well, in summary: Great performances and the SF building still stands. PHEW!

[themarshtheater]

New, Renew and RUMORS! - February 20, 2015

[Charlie Varon in 'Feisty Old Jew']

Do you remember Charlie Varon's line in Ralph Nader Is Missing?

"It's new, it's new, I want it. I want it!"

What's new is that Charlie Varon's FEISTY OLD JEW renews this week at The Marsh Berkeley.

You should have seen Mr. Feisty, hawking his show on Addison Street in downtown Berkeley. Apparently he caused quite a stir. An unsubstantiated rumor has it that the mister had on a gray wig.

This week Mr. Feisty moves to where he belongs, that being The Marsh Berkeley on Allston Way, and not only is there the wonderful show, but there are some associated special events-which I can attest - are not rumors.

Don't miss this three-course evening on Saturday February 21.

Appetizer: Jeff Greenwald (travel writer extraordinaire) is opening act for Mr. Feisty.

Main Course: Of course, the brilliant Charlie Varon performing FEISTY OLD JEW

Dessert: I am making my sweet noodle kugel for this (and only this) opening performance on February 21. Substantiated rumor has it that my mom's recipe is the best kugel Charlie has ever tasted.

In addition to renew we have some major NEW his week:

Geoff Hoyle's LEAR'S SHADOW, two more workshop performances this month.

Three (3) Special Gifts for new and renew!

Brian Copeland's THE WAITING PERIOD. The first five to click here and enter the code "winnercopeland0221" when making a reservation for this Saturday will win a pair of comp tickets to this Saturday's show.

Don Reed's STEREOTYPO: Rants and Rumblings at the DMV. Previews start Saturday!  The first five to click here and enter the code "winnerdonreed0220" when making a reservation for this Friday will win a pair of comp tickets for this Friday's show.

Welcome to Berkeley! Josh Kornbluth's HAIKU TUNNEL. The first five to click here and enter the code "winnerkornbluth0220" when making a reservation for this Friday will win a pair of comp tickets for this Friday's show. This first five to click  here and enter the code "winnerkornbluth0221" when making a reservation for this Saturday will win a pair of tickets for this Saturday's show.

[themarshtheater]

Elon Musk, Alain de Botton, and Josh Kornbluth: Courage! – February 12, 2015

[Josh Kornbluth in 'Haiku Tunnel']

I was listening to Alain de Botton on NPR a few days ago and he said that one of the problems of celebrity driven news is that it causes envy. He cited his jealousy for Elon Musk, a founder of Pay Pal, Tesla, SpaceX, who also has a beautiful wife, and to top it off, the guy cooks and is younger then Alain.

Alain then proceeded to let us know that he’s not jealous of the startups, the beautiful wife or the cooking. He is jealous of Elon’s courage to do things.

Not that I’m anywhere in the same league, but I am always puzzled when people come up to me and tell me how courageous I was to start The Marsh, keep it going, buy our SF building, move to Berkeley. Courage I think? That was courage? It was more like putting my toe in the water and watching it go deeper and deeper while “praying” not to slip and drown.

I always also think that my spatial “defunctiveness” has something to do with it. Wow! Maybe that’s the difference between me and Elon, his courage has a spatial base!

Anyway, if we are using courage as a barometer, I think about the courage of our solo performer’s first Monday Night; or just what it takes to sign up for a class. What it takes to do something different and then if you like it enough, to go deeper into the process.

I don’t know if it was courage, but I do remember the moment I decided to ask Josh Kornbluth to do our first full-length Marsh show. And I remember other things like building the stage, painting the back wall at the Café Beano (now Café Ethiopia) and watching Josh run out into the café area one night, to announce that “everyone looked good in their black clothes and could they please tone it down.”

HAIKU TUNNEL moves to Berkeley, this Valentine’s Day Weekend

I am really glad we are moving The Marsh’s revival of HAIKU TUNNEL to The Marsh Berkeley starting this Friday.

To celebrate, we are offering $10 tickets for this Friday (2/13), 8 pm and Saturday, 5 pm with the passcode “Haiku2015”

Click here to purchase tickets for this Friday Click here to purchase tickets for this Saturday

VOLUNTEER NIGHT

This past Wednesday night, we had a wonderful Marsh volunteer celebration at The Marsh Berkeley Cabaret, with pizza, salad, hummus, cake and wonderful jazz with Randy Craig, Robbie MacGregor and Friends. Please let me know if you think we should continue these special events.

We were also treated to some exciting hambone by Unique Derique. He gave us a hambone teaser from FOOL LA LA!, Check it out this Saturday at 2 pm. We only have 3 more Berkeley shows. Don’t miss the show and the post-performance circus skills workshop.

ALSO

Josh Kornbluth’s REPORTS FROM THE ZEN HOSPICE: IMPROVS, Mondays Craig and MacGregor jazz, Wednesdays.

STARTING NEXT WEEK

Don Reed’s STEREOTYPO: Rants and Rumblings at the DMV (SF) Geoff Hoyle’s LEAR’S SHADOW (SF) Charlie Varon’s FEISTY OLD JEW (Berkeley)

[themarshtheater]

Support our Mission Community and Victims of the Fire on 22nd

Residents congregate across the street of the building they once called home. Photo by Daniel Mondragón.

During last week’s Marsh Rising of HEY HEY LBJ, a Vietnam’s Vet story, it felt like a war zone. A fire raged a block away, helicopters were circling (the sound was muffled inside by our MainStage’s new soundproofing), leaving 54 residents homeless and 30 businesses damaged.

If you want to donate to and find out more about a fundraising drive that is going directly to the victims, please go to http://www.gofundme.com/l1hrw8.

We are also looking for more ways The Marsh can support this drive.

Meanwhile, we will have a donation jar for fire victims at the shows. So see this week’s FINAL 3 San Francisco performances of Josh Kornbluth’s HAIKU TUNNEL and make a donation.

Or go to Saturday’s performance of Brian Copeland’s THE WAITING PERIOD and make a donation.

Or go to Berkeley and see Aaron Akins’ INTO THE COLE, an evening of Nat King Cole, and make a donation (we will get it across the bay).

Or take your family to Unique Derique’s FOOL LA LA!, enjoy the post-performance circus workshop for the whole family, and make a donation.

Or watch REPORTS FROM THE ZEN HOSPICE improvs on Mondays and Randy Craig and Friends on Wednesdays.

And the fund will still be going as we start these new shows!

Don Reed’s STEREOTYPO: Rants and Rumblings at the DMV 2/13 (SF) Geoff Hoyle’s LEAR’S SHADOW 2/18 (SF) Charlie Varon’s FEISTY OLD JEW 2/21 (Berkeley)

P.S. To make a donation: http://www.gofundme.com/l1hrw8.

[themarshtheater]

Josh Kornbluth’s HAIKU! Audience “Rolling With Laughter”

I have to admit, I was so excited to have Josh Kornbluth’s HAIKU TUNNEL back on our stage. Our first show…Our first runaway hit…The movie. Twenty-five years later, I couldn’t wait to see it again. And to be honest, I had a bit of trepidation too. Would it still be as great as it was all those years ago? I mean Josh is using Word Perfect for goodness sakes.

All anxieties gone! It was a smash of a show. It’s still a smash of a show. And Josh doesn’t look more then a day older. (Me neither, of course ;). And honestly, his performance after all these years is even crisper and funnier. Don’t take it just from me, the audience was in stitches. The critic’s all loved it. So there you have it – Marsh first show still soaring after 25 years. YAY! http://myculturallandscape.blogspot.com/2015/01/subversive-thrills.html

Marsh Youth Theater teen program starts this Saturday at 11 am! Do you have or know teens interested in Playwriting and Acting? We have one wonderful workshop starting with the incredible drama denizen, Liz MacAninch of the fabulous Mercy High School theater department and local/global playwright/poet, Ron Jones of THE WAVE fame (and Kids Called Crazy). Sign up/contact us if you have any questions. http://themarsh.org/winterspring-classes or email [email protected].

Brian Copeland’s THE WAITING PERIOD at The Marsh SF this Saturday at 5 pm.

Unique Derique’s FOOL LA LA back at Berkeley! Post performance circus workshop for the whole family.

Only 2 more weeks! Aaron Akins’ INTO THE COLE, an evening of Nat King Cole songs.

More Berkeley Monday: Josh Kornbluth’s REPORTS FROM THE ZEN HOSPICE improvs Wednesday: Jazz with Randy Craig and Friends

Coming up! Don Reed’s STEREOTYPO: Rants and Rumblings at the DMV 2/13 (SF) Geoff Hoyle’s LEAR’S SHADOW 2/18 (SF) Charlie Varon’s FEISTY OLD JEW 2/21 (B)

[themarshtheater]

Romantic/Classic Nat King Cole and Sign Up The KIDS!

(photo from topfloormusic.com)

There’s still time! Register now. MYT Spring Classes start January 28 for youth (pre-K through high school). Scholarships abound.

Ages 4-6:        Storytelling with Puppets and more with Emily Butterfly

Grades 2-5:    Ensemble Created Theater with Maryssa Wanlass

Grades 2-6:    Trapeze, Bailando Con Trapecios with Maica Folch

Grades 3-6:    Hip Hop and World Dance with Rebecca Cervantes

Teens:             Playwriting and Acting with Ron Jones & Liz MacAninch

Please tell your kids and/or your friend’s kids about our fantastic youth classes.

For more info: Click on http://themarsh.org/winterspring-classes or email [email protected].

Brian Copeland continues to bring us his most wonderful important show, THE WAITING PERIOD to The Marsh SF every Saturday at 5 pm.

BACK NEXT WEEK Unique Derique will be back with FOOL LA LA, The Marsh’s supreme family show, next Saturday.

INTERESTING FACT (and back next week): Why is Josh Kornbluth not performing this weekend? Answer: Josh is doing a movie in NYC. Way to go Josh!  Now how did Josh get this movie role? Well, the movie director is a huge fan of Josh’s because he saw HAIKU TUNNEL (the movie). Buy your tickets to see this fantastic revival which critic’s say even “trumps the movie” (Stark Insider) and “What a delight … characters as alive today as 25 years ago” (SF Theater Blog).

AND Monday: Josh Kornbluth’s REPORTS FROM THE ZEN HOSPICE improvs Wednesday (Berkeley): Jazz with Randy Craig and Friends Wednesday Rising (SF): David Kleinberg’s Hey Hey, LBJ! (SOLD OUT).

[themarshtheater]

Josh’s Haiku Tunnel / Into the (Nat King) Cole

As promised, shows are coming fast and furious (Did you know that my neighbor growing up was Rob Cohen, director of many of the F&F movies?)

There’s an opening night reception on Friday.

To celebrate we are offering 10, $10 tickets to all three shows this weekend with discount code haiku2015.

Click here to buy tickets for Thursday’s show (1/15) Click here to buy tickets for Friday’s show (1/16) Click here to buy tickets for Saturday’s show (1/17)

Aaron Akin’s INTO THE COLE When I was a young kid, some nights my mother used to sing Nat King Cole’s Nature Boy to me and my sister; so of course it is one of my favorite songs. And that very song is going to be one of the many songs Aaron Akins croons during his cabaret performance of INTO THE COLE, opening this weekend at The Marsh Berkeley.  I’ll be there on Saturday!

DON’T Forget Unique Derique’s fabulous family show, FOOL LA LA is extending in Berkeley and it is so SO much fun. We are offering limited number of FREE tickets to this Saturday’s show. Email [email protected] now with subject line “Fool La La” to enter the contest. Contest registration will close this Friday at noon.

Speaking of Family it’s time to sign up Winter/Spring classes for Marsh Youth Theater. It was great seeing the young’uns hip hopping, drama’ing, and flying on the trapeze at this past Sunday’s Family Fun Day. We also have a wonderful teen program happening in partnership with Mercy High School and Ron Jones. Email us at [email protected] for more info!

Also in San Francisco Tonight! (1/14) Marsh Rising, Karen Ripley’s OH NO THERE’S MEN ON THE LAND, Saturday: Brian Copeland’s THE WAITING PERIOD.

Also in Berkeley Monday: Josh Kornbluth’s REPORTS FROM THE ZEN HOSPICE improvs Wednesday: Jazz with Randy Craig and Friends

[themarshtheater]

GREAT JANUARY SHOWS

As we settle into 2015, shows are ramping up!

Starting this week Is there a better way to start 2015 then with a FUN, DELIGHTFUL family show? Not in my thoughts, so we are extending Unique Derique's FOOL LA LA at The Marsh Berkeley, Saturdays at 2 pm.The first 10 to use discount code "happy2015" get $5 per ticket for this and next Saturday.

Click here for this Saturday's FOOL LA LA (1/10)

Discount code will be invalid once all $5 tickets have been claimed.

And is there a better way to delve into the year then by being engaged by Brian Copeland's THE WAITING PERIOD in San Francisco. To celebrate its 2015 revival, we offer $10 OFF per ticket to the first 10 people to use the code "10offbrian" for this and next Saturday.

Click here for this Saturday's THE WAITING PERIOD (1/10)

Click here for next Saturday's THE WAITING PERIOD (1/17)

Discount code will be invalid once all $10 OFF tickets have been claimed.

Starting next week San Francisco MainStage The Marsh revives its very first full-length show, the audience and critically acclaimed HAIKU TUNNEL, by Josh Kornbluth. Starting Thursday, January 15

Also in San Francisco Marsh Rising, Wednesday, Karen Ripley, OH NO THERE'S MEN ON THE LAND, January 14.

Berkeley Cabaret Like the songs of Nat King Cole? Join musician,  Aaron Akins INTO THE COLE, starting Friday, January 16.

Also in Berkeley Monday: Josh Kornbluth's REPORTS FROM THE ZEN HOSPICE improvs Tuesday: WRITING CABARET with Rebecca Fisher Wednesday: Jazz with Randy Craig and Friends

Thank you to everyone who made an end-of-the-year donation last year. It was fabulous. And of course open to donations all year long! Click here to donate.

Let's have a great 2015 together!

[themarshtheater]

The Marsh revives HAIKU TUNNEL

January 15 - February 7, 2015

San Francisco

Thursdays thru Saturdays | 8pm

After long runs in the Bay Area (at The Marsh and elsewhere), Haiku Tunnel was adapted into a feature film (co-directed by Josh and his brother Jacob) that played at Sundance and was released nationally by Sony Pictures Classics.

Josh Kornbluth has been doing autobiographical one-man shows since 1987.  Many of his pieces were developed at The Marsh, and Josh is thrilled to be returning to this remarkable incubator of theatrical wonderfulness.  For two years he was the host of The Josh Kornbluth Show on KQED-TV.  He is currently completing his second feature film with his brother Jacob, Love & Taxes; in 2001, the Kornbluth Brothers’ first movie, Haiku Tunnel, went to the Sundance Film Festival and was distributed nationally by Sony Pictures Classics.  His second audiobook, titled Ben Franklin: Unplugged … and Other Comic Tales, will soon be released by Audible.com.  Two of his one-man shows, Red Diaper Baby and The Mathematics of Change, are available on DVD.  This fall he will be returning to Stanford University to teach a course in “The Ethics of Storytelling.”  Josh lives in Berkeley with his wife and son.

For tickets, please visit www.themarsh.org or call [phone].

[themarshtheater]

We have extended Unique Derique's FOOL LA LA!!!

NOW EXTENDED thru February 28!

Saturdays at 2pm | Berkeley

Unique Derique, also known as Lance McGee, has been delighting audiences with his special brand of clowning for years. Derique has performed with such entertainers as Bobby McFerrin, The Temptations, Lou Rawls, and the late Sammy Davis Jr. He has been featured on the Disney Channel and hosted the Emmy Award-winning children's television show "Short Stories and Tall Tales" for KQED. At the age of 15, Derique began clowning in Berkeley with Circus A La Mode and later joined San Francisco’s Pickle family Circus and Make-A-Circus. Derique is also a practicing Marriage and Family Therapist and Drama Therapist who regularly works with students on the tenets of mindfulness.

For tickets, visit www.themarsh.org or call 415-282-3055.

[themarshtheater]

Brian Copeland is back with THE WAITING PERIOD!!!

Written by Brian Copeland

Directed by David Ford

January 10 - February 7, 2015 | San Francisco

Saturdays at 5pm

Copeland hopes this very personal, and ultimately redemptive, story will reach people who struggle with depression—often called the last stigmatized disease—as well as their families and loved ones. Interspersed with interviews with other sufferers, the play, like so many Marsh stories, also offers outsiders an insider’s view, thereby expanding our understanding and, hopefully, our humanity. As critic Sam Hurwitt put it in The Idiolect: “It’s a play I’d strongly recommend to anyone who is now or has ever been depressed or who knows someone in that situation. But honestly, it’s such a strong piece that I’d recommend it just as heartily to anyone who’s ever been human.”

Brian Copeland has been in show business since he first stepped on the comedy stage at the tender age of 18. Soon he was headlining clubs and concerts across the country and opening for such artists as Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Ringo Starr, and the Queen of soul Aretha Franklin, in venues from The Universal Amphitheater to Constitution Hall in Washington DC. Soon, Copeland branched off into television, appearing on comedy programs on NBC, A&E and MTV. He spent five years as co-host of San Francisco FOX affiliate KTVU breakfast program Mornings on 2 and two years hosting San Francisco ABC affiliate KGO’s Emmy Award winning afternoon talker 7Live.

In 1995, ABC affiliate KGO Radio premiered “The Brian Copeland Show”. It’s unique mix of talk and entertainment soon made it the most listened to program in its time slot. Copeland branched out into theater in 2004 with his first solo play, NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN. This critically acclaimed exploration of race and identity created an audience pleasing blend of laughter, tears and sociology that led to the show becoming the longest running solo play in San Francisco theatrical history. Successful runs in Los Angeles and Off Broadway and a bestselling book adaptation followed. GENUINE has been performed in over 30 cities across America.

Copeland’s other theatrical work includes THE WAITING PERIOD, a solo play about his lifelong struggle with depression and the Christmas play THE JEWELRY BOX, opening in November 2013.

His first network special, NOW BRIAN COPELAND will air in NBC in January 2015.

Tickets are available at www.themarsh.org or [phone].

[themarshtheater]

Happy New Year! Tax or Tax Deductible?

Supervisor Scott Weiner Commends The Marsh for its 25th Anniversary. (L-R)  Weiner, Weisman, Unique Derique (photo by Kenny Yun)

Happy Happy New Year! Here's to a wonderful, healthy, joyous, creative, flush and inspirational 2015.

This week my focus, besides wishing you all a Happy New Year, is a short treatise about how The Marsh is like (and not like) the government. Ok, it's a bit limited and perhaps outrageous, but onward...

Like the government, The Marsh has a vast array of performances reflecting the voices and stories of our time, including: police and community (what could be more topical and important than Piper Ferreira's COPS & ROBBERS?), aging, racism, Hollywood, depression, the digital age, the country, murder, mayhem, hilarity and much more. And like our local government, as a Bay Area conduit, Marsh performances are at the forefront of social change issues.

Citizen Support

Like the government, we support our Marsh Citizens with funded programs. On our small and overly lean budget of $1.2 million, we support nearly 600 performances every year, programs and classes for new performance development, an extraordinary youth program, where no child is ever turned away because of financial need. And we are unparalleled in our support of artists as partners. 

We also have "well fair." All our wonderful shows are affordably priced and include a sliding scale (Ok, we may be a bit more socialist than capitalist in our economic approach.)

  Support by the Citizens

Our citizens - that's you - support The Marsh with their/your participation, artistry, skills, volunteerism, and economic support. THANK YOU MARSHIANS!

  UNLIKE THE GOVERNMENT, WE DON'T PRINT OUR OWN MONEY.

So in these final days of 2014, PLEASE support our vibrant nonprofit with a tax-deductible donation by clicking here!

  And again, have a wonderful New Year!

[themarshtheater]

Merry Merry From The Marsh!

I want to wish you all a VERY MERRY of all sorts. So merry Christmas, merry post Hanukah, merry Kwanza, merry Pagan and even merry, it's just a day.

And I, along with everyone at The Marsh, wish that whatever and whomever your Santa is, s/he/it drops great gifts down your "chimneys"-from warm gloves and scarves, to health, friendship and love, to inspiration and joy.

Click on 12/26 or 12/27 or 12/28 and enter discount code "merrymerry" to get free tickets. 

Code will be invalid once all comp tickets have been claimed. 

I LOVED Fool La La. It's a truly entrancing, hilarious and delightful spectacle-a mini "Cirque" with heart, lots of soul and love by the brilliant clown, Unique Derique. It's even followed by a post-performance short circus skills workshop for both kids and parents. Pure joy.

So, please enjoy our gift of performance.

Thank you dear Marshians for all your support this year!

 And merry merry!

  P.S. If you would like to make a Merry Merry (end-of-the-year tax-deductible) Gift to The Marsh, click here.

[themarshtheater]

Not a Hollywood Thing!

I had a revelation about the letter I wrote last week. Well actually a question that led to a revelation.

(In my last weekly email, I reported gooey feelings during the movie, Ghost, when Patrick Swazye, the ghost, made Whoopi Goldberg, the spiritualist, give nuns ringing bells for money, a $4,000,000 check.)

So much for Hollywood inspirations.

But alas, where else can our community see 600 shows each year-intimately affordably?

Where else can you see the most socially relevant shows of the year?  (Did you catch the article about Piper's COPS & ROBBERS in Newsweek/Daily Beast? If not, click here.)  

Where else can you have so much laughter in one place? Where else can you get two holiday shows? Brian Copeland's THE JEWELRY BOX, destined to holiday "classicness"? Or, Unique Derique's FOOL LA LA, a circus show for the whole family. WITH a post-performance workshop, teaching juggling and hambone.

To celebrate FOOL LA LA's opening Saturday we are offering a limited-time $5 TICKETS  for all of his shows with discount code "christmas". The discount code will expire on 12/25/2014.

And then there's what's coming up in our 25th Anniversary Year. Premieres by Geoff Hoyle, Don Reed, Sara Felder and more. And revivals from our 25 years of shows. Starting in January, Josh Kornbluth's revives HAIKU TUNNEL.

And the youth, what a wonderful program for our youth, both onsite and in San Francisco Public Schools. Where no child is turned away because they can not afford to participate. So back to Ghost. We don't want murder or mayham to get your donations. We just want to exchange gifts!

Please support us today by purchasing a gift of theater or making a tax-deductible donation! And partner with us for another wonderful year of incredible shows, developing theater and youth programs (where no youth is turned away because of financial resources).

Plus it's tax-deductible.

Click here and donate now!

[themarshtheater]

Raining Manna and Gooey Feelings!

For those of you who had them, wasn't it like a snow day, Thursday?

My husband, Marsh mascot, Trinity, and I got our "rain day" and got all cozy in the house. We watched the movie, Ghost.

Remember that one with Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Bay Area's own, Whoopi Goldberg? Remember the scene where Whoopi hands over the 4 million dollar check to the nuns? It made me all gooey inside thinking someone might do that for The Marsh. 

4 million, 1 million, $1,000, $100, $10, we wait, arms and heart open, as you sustain us better and better with your year-end tax-deductible donations and continued presence/presents!

It's the season of giving and it's raining!  Nirvana! Manna from heaven!

Support us today, by purchasing a gift of theater or making a tax-deductible donation! And partner with us for another wonderful year of incredible shows, developing theater and youth programs (where no youth is turned away because of financial resources).

Click here and donate now!

[themarshtheater]

Giving and Receiving the Gift of Theater

Terrific Thursday, Fabulous Friday, Super Saturday and Sunny Sunday

Well it's past Giving Tuesday. Oops we missed it.

It's all about fundraising this time of year for nonprofits. Seeking and receiving end-of-year tax-deductible donations to make the new year bright and sustainable. The thing about fundraising is that it takes extensive personnel. We are working on getting it right, but as you might have guessed, The Marsh is limited in staff resources. So it's slow.

Our major focus for twenty-five years has been developing and presenting the art and its artists; and supporting our community from youth to YOU.

(Stats:our earned to contributed income ratio for our non youth programs is around 75% earned, 25% contributed with 33% of our earned income going directly to performer pay. In fact, mainstage performers can make more at The Marsh than at any other local theater. Pretty unheard of in the nonprofit world. Alas, these statistics do not support staff growth.)

So, what should The Marsh do?

Should we be less exuberant and cut the more than 600 shows we offer annually in half? Or decrease our performer pay?

Should we cut scholarships for our youth program, where no child is turned away if they can't afford to pay for a class?

Should we not instigate new ventures, such as our 25th Anniversary Talk Series, which we are inaugurating this week on December 7, with a talk by genius Marsh Artist in Resident teacher and director, David Ford?

NO!!!

We won't be cutting our programs. We will continue to provide affordable critically acclaimed theater and youth scholarships. AND we will continue to build our fundraising skeleton and muscle.

SO, we will ask that you continue to support us as you do, with your presence at our shows, your wonderful volunteerism and of course, we are happy to take your donations.

And please, give the gift of Marsh theater this holiday season.

Here's three choices.

1.   Holiday Performances

Join us at our two holiday shows.

Brian Copeland's THE JEWELRY BOX, holiday classic in-the-making, opens Friday in SF.  

($20 OFF tickets for Brian's opening weekend with the passcode "blackfriday14")

Purchase tickets by clicking 12/4 or 12/5 or 12/6 and enter discount code when checkout. 

Clown extraordinaire, Unique Derique premieres FOOL LA LA at The Marsh Berkeley, starting December 20.

  2.   Gift Marsh Tickets

Click here to buy tickets or an annual pass as a gift for family or friends (or gift yourself!). Holiday gift card enclosed.

  3.    Make a Donation

Click here to make an end-of-year donation.

  Here's to the making and watching of theater at The Marsh, the premiere home for solo performance, charging and chugging along.