Wow! What a Response to Our Plea--and MORE

      Now to the greatest news!   We are only $1,831 away from reaching the $30,000 needed to keep our doors open.   What a great thrill to see how much the theatre and school means to our community and beyond.  We have a couple weeks to raise the final amount and we are so hoping that we can claim success!!!   If you would like to contribute to this campaign, please drop off a check to the theatre or mail it or just give me a call.   WE ARE SO VERY CLOSE!!!

      

         It has been an incredibly busy couple of weeks.   We were scheduled to produce DUBLIN CAROL in THE BOX, opening last weekend.  However, with the extreme financial challenges facing us last December,  we decided that it would have been fiscally irresponsible to do that show at this time.   We did, however, have the resources available to mount The Musical Adventures of FLAT STANLEY essentially due to the quick response we received from our End of the Year Plea.   This production will be absolutely adorable and fun for everyone.   It really shows off the many talents of 38 of our LAMB School students who are in 3rd through 8th grade.   Our patrons who have been attending THE Young People's Theatre at LAMB productions have remarked about the depth of talent, the consistent professionalism and the rapid growth of these young people.   This show will be a testament to all of those.   It is a darling story with great music and high energy.  Playing without intermission, this hour long show is a great introduction to the magic of theatre for kids of all ages!

        

          As I said, this has been a very busy couple of weeks.   Our school's second semester  begins this week and if you or members of your family are interested in classes or lessons, email melissajames.lambschool@gmail.com or call us at 712-255-0536. CABARET, which runs in March, has been cast and the cast list is very impressive.   Director Russ Wooley is excited to present this show as it "has been on his list" for a very long time.  MOM-ologues has an incredible cast as well and will be ready to entertain in THE BOX beginning February 17 for two weekends. 

NOW FOR SOME FUN!   Anyone ever involved in LAMB:   actors, patrons, students, parents, teachers, ANYONE!   Do you have a special LAMB memory?   We are going to start collecting thoughts, stories, anecdotes, etc. and put together a TOP TEN LIST of LAMB Memories to share with everyone.   Have something to share?   Jot it in the comments section below or email me at diana.wooley@gmail.com and we will put it on the list.   This could be so much fun!   

         Hope to see you at The Musical Adventures of FLAT STANLEY opening this Friday at 7 p.m.

Have a great week---and think of something you would like to share....

Diana Guhin Wooley
CEO LAMB Arts Ltd
417 Market Street
Sioux City, IA 51103
712-293-0930
Keep current with LAMB--:www.lambtheatre.com

I DO Believe in Miracles!

The last blog I wrote, although thankful for all the wonderful kindnesses and memories of actors, students, patrons through the past 32 years, I had a very "heavy heart".    Financially LAMB was struggling to the point of having to close her doors. (Yes, the "her" was intentional) Having to admit there is a problem is difficult for me.   I am the perennial Pollyanna.  I don't want anyone to know there is something that I can not do - or fix myself.   In other words, I HATE to reveal a problem and...even more...I HATE to ask for help.  But help was what was desperately needed.   Believe it or not, we wrestled with the idea of what would happen if we just couldn't continue.    Would LAMB be missed?  Had LAMB outlived her place in the Siouxland community? What would Russ and I do ourselves without the creative outlet of LAMB?  What ramifications/complications would there be in dissolving such a longtime institution?  We did the old pro and con comparison of closing our doors with that of trying to remain open.   We shared our thoughts with a few people and it became clear that no matter how difficult it would be for me personally, we would just have to ask for help.  As CEO, that was in my "job description".  Now that LAMB is a not for profit  organization, she is no longer "owned" by two...but "owned" by the Siouxland community at large. The decision to reveal the financial difficulties was not mine to conceal.   We knew that if we made a plea and if help came, LAMB was meant to survive and we would be charged with doing our very best to allow her to thrive into her fourth decade and beyond.

Well....as you may recall, I stated that $15,000 was needed prior to the end of December, with another $15,000 needed by the end of January.   I made the situation known on December 20. 

I DO Believe in Miracles!   

By the end of December, our supporters had raised $19,000!  This past Friday, only 18 days from when I revealed our financial challenges, we are only $4,311 away from our $30,000 goal!!!!   $25,689 has come in from over 20 different zip codes! As absolutely awesome this financial response has been, the comments/encouragement/best wishes/memories/thanks have been just as incredibly heartwarming.   I was wrong to even doubt the impact that LAMB has had in our community...and beyond.   LAMB still has a future worth fighting for.   We still have an important place to fill in our community.

Well.....we STILL need to come up with the final $4,311 in the next 21 days.   This $30,000 will allow LAMB to survive until our annual campaign in late spring, when we will be able to add the "thrive" to the "survive". 

Our community of LAMB Patrons are awesome!   We deeply appreciate your gifts.   We are heartened and encouraged by your support and encouragement. You are demonstrating to all of Siouxland that LAMB is meant to continue to offer high quality theatrical presentations and excellence in theatre arts learning experiences.  

We just need a "little more" in the Miracle department before January 31---and we are SO close!

If you are one of our angels....THANK YOU!   If you would like to be a part of that angelic group that is breathing new life into LAMB Theatre, please consider your gift today!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to respond to this blog and I will get back to you asap.
(The photo is from EVE'S ODDS, an opera presented by The LAMB School in January 2010---yup....those are angels there too!)

Diana Guhin Wooley
CEO LAMB Arts Ltd
417 Market Street
Sioux City, IA 51103     712-293-0930
Keep current with LAMB--:www.lambtheatre.com