First Stage touches hearts, engages minds, and transforms lives by creating extraordinary theater experiences for young people and families through:

 

•    Professional Theater Productions that inspire, enlighten and entertain
•    Unparalleled Theater Academy training that fosters life skills through stage skills
•    Dynamic Theater in Education programs that promote active learning in our schools and our community

 

The three components of our mission are fundamental to First Stage and all programming works toward the same end – the education and personal development of our community’s youth. 

First Stage donors play a vital role to our success. With an annual operating budget of $4.6 million, $2 million of which is contributed revenue, we rely on charitable contributions to help keep our programming accessible to young people and their families.  

One of the primary ways that your support impacts the children in our community is through First Stage’s Community Partnership Program.  Designed to “open new doors for low-income City of Milwaukee youth,” the Community Partnership Program reaches 4,800 children and their families annually. First Stage’s Community Partnership Program budget has grown from $400,667 in 2004-2005 to a $911,722 initiative in 2011-2012. Approximately 90% of the Community Partnership Program is funded by generous contributions, indicating the widespread community support for this critically important and highly-valued educational initiative. 

With appreciation, we offer these incentives which are cumulative as giving increases:

• Star ($100+) – Recognition in the First Stage Playbill and Lobby Sign
• Playwright ($250+) – 2 tickets to a Donor Preview Performance and Reception in our 2012-2013 Season
• Director ($500+) - 2 additional tickets to a Donor Preview Performance and Reception in our 2013-2014 Season Individuals who give $1,000 or more become members of the Ovation Society.
• Artistic Director ($1,000+) – Special recognition and gift of appreciation
• Producer ($2,500+) – Invitation to a special Academy Beginning-of-Day breakfast
• Impresario ($5,000+) - Receives an invitation to our New Play Development Workshops and other exclusive events 
• Goodman ($10,000+) - Create your own First Stage experience. Call (414) 267-2936.

 

PLEASE SUPPORT FIRST STAGE AND HELP US CONTINUE TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH THEATER.