Village Theatre Donor Events
Discover the many events curated exclusively for Village Theatre donors, then make a gift to guarantee your invitation!
Village Theatre presents four Backstage Parties each year, including Backstage/Centerstage. Backstage parties provide our donors with an exclusive, sneak peek behind the curtain at the magic Village Theatre artisans create onstage. Each party features a presentation of some aspect of theatre, from sound design to script-writing, directing, and more.
Invitations to Backstage Parties are sent to donors of $1,000 or more. Donors of $500 or more are invited to one of our parties each year. For more information, contact us at giving@villagetheatre.org.
Though we can’t currently gather in person, the parties continue online! Get a feel for these exclusive conversations in recordings of recent events:
October 2020: Our most recent Backstage Party featured Executive Producer Robb Hunt and Board President Jill Klinge in conversation about the state of the theatre several months into the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our May 2020 event gave insight into our new works program, Village Originals, with Associate Artistic Director Brandon Ivie.
Friday, February 12, 2021 is Sing It Forward Day! Mark your calendars for a virtual celebration of the amazing work created by our students in our youth education programs. Bid on silent auction items, raise your paddle, and share in the experiences of our students from the comfort of your home. The proceeds from Sing It Forward benefit over 57,000 youth and families that participate in Village Theatre’s Youth Education classes, productions, outreach, and scholarships.
Each fall, Village Theatre invites donors to a special look at the technical side of the stage. We’ll tour the technical studios where the sets are built & painted and the props are stored (Making Magic) or bring everyone onstage for a close-up look at what happens backstage to bring your favorite shows to life (Backstage Centerstage).
In the early part of each year, Village Theatre hosts the New Works Cabaret at First Stage Theatre in Issaquah. Donors and Village Originals Members are invited to a lively party highlighting songs from new musicals and our Village Originals program, performed by audience favorite artists who have appeared on our stages.
Donors are invited to attend one “Meet-and-Greet” presentation each season, in which the director and designers (costume, lighting, and set) come together to share their vision of an upcoming production with the cast. Meet-and-Greets provide an exciting first look at a show before it has been created!
Each August, Village Theatre presents the Festival of New Musicals, a weekend of parties, events, and readings of five new musicals in development. The Festival is open only to Village Originals Members and industry insiders. At the Festival, not only will you enjoy watching a reading of what could be the next big musical on Broadway, you can also take part in in-depth discussions about the new musicals with fellow Village Originals Members, mingle with the performers, writers, and directors, and attend various parties and events—which all adds up to a fun and memorable weekend!
- Kick-Off Party: Join us on Friday evening for drinks and hors d’oeuvres in the lobby of the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre and special Festival preview performance of select songs from the weekend’s readings. The kick-off party will be followed by the first reading of the Festival.
- Member Brunch: On Saturday morning, Members are invited to a brunch in the lobby of the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, featuring complimentary food and mimosas! The brunch will be followed by a special Festival performance at First Stage.
- Meet-the-Artist Party: Open only to our Circle Level Members, the Meet-the-Artist party is held at the home of Village Theatre Executive Producer Robb Hunt on Lake Sammamish, and gives guests the opportunity to mingle with Festival writers, directors, and performers, as well as fellow Members.
- Circle Level Dinner: Open only to our Circle Level Members, the Circle Level Dinner is held on Sunday afternoon/evening in between the final two readings of the Festival. Guests are invited to eat, drink, and enjoy an exclusive question-and-answer session with the a Festival insider. Past presentations have included writing teams, out-of-town directors, and the Executive Producer of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre.
Our Annual Auction & Gala, On the Town with Village Theatre, is a fantastic night of fundraising and celebration in honor of the work being done at Village Theatre. Join us for an elegant evening filled with exciting silent and live auctions, gourmet food and wine, and live musical performances for one night only at the stunning Fairmont Olympic Hotel. Join other supporters for an unforgettable night of fun & fundraising for Village Theatre.
Formerly held as a holiday event, the annual Donor Cruise shifts to warmer waters in Spring 2021. Donors embark on a cruise of Lake Washington and Lake Union while enjoying food, drink, and a performance by Village Theatre favorites. And don’t forget about the lovely skyline view to top off our voyage!
Village Theatre provides three performers for up to 30 minutes of entertainment for you and your guests, performing musical theatre standards (or holiday music depending on the time of year). Donors can enjoy this benefit for holiday events, birthday parties, anniversaries—whatever event you choose, Village Theatre will be there to make it that much more special!
Join Village Theatre on an exciting trip far from our Puget Sound home. Trips include New York City, London, Edinburgh, and Scotland. Explore theatre experiences in new locations. Additionally, each city offers walking tours with our professional guides and premier hotel accommodations to return to each night. An amazing experience is in store for all theatre lovers who sign up—we hope you’ll join us!
Contact Us
Danielle Franich
Associate Development Director: Events & Annual Fund
(425) 392-1942 x116
dfranich@villagetheatre.org