Actors performing in Thingamajig Theatre Company’s brilliant summer musicals will be auctioned off during the exciting Broadway Gala fundraising event next Tuesday, July 30, at 5 p.m.
The event will include a cabaret-style evening showcasing their talents and the opportunity to bid on unique private events with them.
It’s part of an elegant evening of live music and entertainment at the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts to raise funds for Pagosa’s only nonprofit live professional theater.
As well, for the first time ever, Thingamajig fans have the opportunity to place advance bids on various actor interactions whether or not you are attending the gala.
“With production costs up by 25 percent, we urgently need your support to cover essential costs and continue our mission of cultural enrichment and community engagement,” said Tim Moore, artistic director and co-founder of Thingamajig with his wife, Laura. “Our theater is more than just entertainment; it’s a community cornerstone, providing educational programs and opportunities for local artists and youth.”
Unique auction items
A look at just five of the one-of-a-kind live auction offerings gives you a good idea of what remarkable fun will be available to you if you are among the many lucky auction winners:
• Actors will come to your home and perform a 45-minute concert for a very special Christmas party hosted by you.
• Longtime favorite actor Tyler Price Robinson and some talented friends will come to your home to sing, talk and drink with you and your guests.
• At a progressive dinner for eight, the actors will chauffeur you and your friends to stunning Pagosa homes where you’ll enjoy serenades along with wine and cocktail pairings to go with a multicourse meal prepared by the cast.
• Join Tim and Laura Moore on a trip for two to New York City as they audition potential actors to perform in next year’s summer musicals. This trip also includes visiting with past Thingamajig performers, enjoying dinners out in the Big Apple and shows on Broadway. Airfare is not included.
• Enjoy a campfire sing-along with voices, laughter and good cheer provided by the actors.
How to advance bid on auction items
Whether or not you attend the gala, you can easily participate in the auction in advance. For a complete list of the auction items, their cost and how to bid, please go to https://www.pagosacenter.org/our-2024-gala-auction-now-offers-advanced-buy-it-now-option/.
“Right now theaters across America are facing a crisis that hasn’t been seen since the Great Recession of 2008,” Tim Moore said, pointing to New York City, Dallas and others struggling with significant layoffs, season pauses and emergency fundraising. “Our theatre is facing similar challenges, and we need your support to continue bringing the arts to our community.”
He noted that Thingamajig’s small size “provides an intimacy that creates a closer connection between the performers and the audience. But our small size also limits our revenue, as we can’t sell 300 tickets per night like larger venues.
“We value this special aspect of the Thingamajig experience and are committed to preserving it, even as it presents financial challenges. Despite these hardships, we’ve continued to bring incredible talent to our stage, with many performers moving on to Broadway.”
Gala entertainment and food
Attending the gala in person offers a remarkable experience, with performances by the entire summer cast and dueling pianos played by actors Dominic Girolami and Zac Mitchell.
Other highlights in addition to the live auction for one-of-a-kind interactions with the actors include a catered meal served by the actors. There will be a cash bar with tips going to the actors.
Tickets are $150 for the dressy gala evening and are on sale now on the theater’s website, pagosacenter.org, or by phoning the box office at (970) 731-SHOW (7469).
More about Thingamajig
Thingamajig Theatre Company is an award-winning professional nonprofit 501(c)(3) theater in residence within the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts. Its talented cast and crew come from across the U.S. to produce musicals, comedies and dramas year-round.
The theater was co-founded in 2010 by Tim and Laura Moore, both award-winning actors and directors in their own right.
Their mission is to provide high-quality theater experiences at a low cost to our community, thereby making art accessible as well as providing a major economic driver for our tourist industry. They also provide youth, many of whom are recipients of scholarships, with low-cost, hands-on educational opportunities to see and participate in professional productions of important plays.
