Daily Loaf

Zombies are always hungry — good thing they aren’t real.  Metropolitan Ministries have hungry families and their need is real, so the cast of Jobsite Theater’s Night of the Living Dead is teaming up to help!

All jokes aside (and I can’t take credit for that headline, that’s the work of our resident designer Brian Smallheer), hunger is serious business. For over 35 years, Metropolitan Ministries has helped over 150 families a day get GEDs, find employment and overcome homelessness. Their Backpacks of Hope program helps put the tools kids need in their hands to be successful students. At the holidays they provide food and toys for thousands and thousands of area families.

If you’ve spent much time in Tampa during the holidays, you’ve no doubt seen the large tent on Florida Avenue not that far north of downtown. My wife and I have personally contributed in some fashion every year, and it’s impossible not to be moved by the holiday spirit when you stop in to drop things off.

This year, I have read over and over again how many organizations like MetMin across the country are hurting far worse going into the holiday season than ever before.  The economy is still down, unemployment is still up. All non-profits are taking a hit in this economy. Even Jobsite has had some stressful moments. But not with this show, so let’s face it, when it comes to a hungry actor or a hungry family — the hungry family wins every time.  Metropolitan Ministries is facing a perfect storm: Growing need and diminishing contributions.  Over 8,000 families will need assistance this holiday season, from food to warm clothing, shelter to toys from Santa.

Jobsite Theater (disclosure: I am the Producing Artistic Director of the company) has been fortunate enough to have had an extremely successful run of  Night of the Living Dead.  To this point the show has sold out a majority of performances, and it has been held over through Nov. 15 to accommodate for this demand. By all appearances this show will close as the fifth most popular in terms of attendance and receipts in the company’s 11 year history.

Jobsite wants to share a bit of their good fortune and hopefully raise both food and awareness this holiday season for a good cause.  They are offering a $10 ticket to performances of Night of the Living Dead this final weekend on Thu., 11/12 and Sat., 11/14 at 8pm as well as Sun., 11/15 at 4pm with the donation of any two non-perishable items per person. Only one $10 ticket per two items donated. More fine print: this offer is not valid on prior sales or in conjunction with any other offer and is subject to availability. Not good for the 11/13 8pm show.

To participate in the food drive and score the $10 tickets, bring your items down to TBPAC as of 90 minutes to curtain on any of those available days. You win, Jobsite wins, MetMin wins — it’s a slam dunk. Even if you’ve perhaps been to the show already, or even if you’re not interested in seeing it (blasphemy!) you may still come down and drop items off 6:30-8pm Thu. – Sat. or 2:30-4 on Sun. If you’re just coming to drop items off and not see the show, we might even have a special surprise for you.  See us at the table.

We have four barrels to fill — I know we can do it!  Can you help?

Posted in Activism, Arts & Entertainment, Theater | Leave a comment