The Show Went On... Thanks to You!

Three wonderful things happened in the last few weeks - our air conditioning broke at the studio, the water main was turned off, and we were a few volunteers and one room short for our summer intensive production of Madagascar JR. 

Madagascar JR - I Like to Move it

These sound like things that would have made producing Madagascar JR in two weeks impossible - but it was one of the smoothest and celebratory show days that we’ve ever had.

How? 

First, our space problem was solved by Mr. Kevin - BRYT’s resident engineer, facility manager, general contractor… and my incredible dad. He gave up his weekends and spare time after to work to transform the unfinished room upstairs into our third studio space. 

Studio C - Just needs flooring!

Then, families and our community partners like the Post Oak Mall and Texas A&M let us borrow fans and portable air conditioners to help everyone stay cool during rehearsal while the HVAC technicians work on major repairs to the rooftop air conditioning unit. 

When a major city water pipe broke at the mall and the water supply for our wing had to be turned off for a few days, the Madagascar JR parents donated extra hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and bottled water so that we could keep holding rehearsals while the City of College Station worked on fixing the utilities problem. One family even brought us enough snacks to last the whole summer -- just to keep everyone's spirits up.

Thank you City of College Station!

While the work crew dug a ten foot deep hole to search for the big leak, the actors’ parents and BRYT instructors who were not scheduled to help with this show volunteered to help the intensive keep running smoothly as we walked actors to alternate restrooms and checked that they were empty. (thank you JC Penny!) 

When it was time to move everything for the show from the studio to Rudder Theatre… and then back to the studio again, we had more help than ever before. A process that had taken us upwards of four hours (both ways), took two! There was even time to clean up the studio.

Through all of this, the intensive’s staff—a truly incredible team—remained positive, kind, and professional. I am so impressed and inspired by all that they accomplished in the last two weeks... and grateful that our actors have such great role models.

Some of the staff leaving the theatre after the best show day yet!

Every new show we start rehearsing, we tell the actors that it takes a really big team to produce a musical and an even bigger team to make a nonprofit functional. In the last few weeks, our actors got to see firsthand how wholeheartedly this community supports them, the arts, and making the world a more creative place. 

And... as always, your generosity has both encouraged and amazed me, the BRYT Board, the hardworking volunteers and instructors, and our community partners. We're lucky to be here, lucky to have all of you, and lucky to get to do what we love (empower young creatives and make fantastic theatre!) every single week.

Thank you for making that, Madagascar JR., and all BRYT gets to do possible! - Olivia Parker (Executive Director) PS. Come support our youngest performers at the 1st - 6th Grade Camp performance of the Jungle Book Kids! Tickets here: https://bryt.ludus.com/200532594