Denver Actors Fund and Dr. Brian Kelly fit local theatre royalty with a new crown
About Leslie O’Carroll: Award-winning actor Leslie O’Carroll has made so many appearances as Mrs. Fezziwig in Charles Dickens’ holiday classic that the story could be renamed “A Christmas O’Carroll.” (Seriously, see the video below. Westword’s Juliet Wittman called Leslie just “the dearest little twinkling dumpling of a Mrs. Fezziwig” all the way back in 2003. She’s been performing with the DCPA Theatre Company since 1995 in all kinds of roles, including Nurse Susie in “Wit,” a simpleton named Betty June in “Eventide” (Denver Post Ovation Award), and she was the only actor who appeared in both parts of “A Doll’s House.” At the Arvada Center, she was a frightful Ann Putnam in “The Crucible,” among many others. She’s also performed for Colorado Springs TheatreWorks, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Curious Theatre, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company and others. On screen, Leslie made an appearance on “Breaking Bad,” and she played Erleen in “Footloose” (the movie). She Leslie is a recipient of Best of Westword, True West, and Denver Post Ovation Awards. “A Christmas Carol” runs through Dec. 26 at Denver Center’s Wolf Theatre. Call 303-893-4100 or go to denvercenter.org.
Her medical story: Leslie was in need of emergency dental assistance.
How we have helped: The Denver Actors Fund has a partnering dentist in Dr. Brian Kelly DDS, who accepts a limited number of emergency cases each year as his personal, in-kind donation to The DAF (along with his kind associates at the Dental Center at Thornton Plaza). Dr. Kelly provided Leslie with an examination and crown. The value of his services would have run another patient $1,458. The Denver Actors Fund paid an additional $99 for a third-party lab fee. In total, our overall support for Leslie is now $2,057.
‘I GOLD BLESS US, EVERYONE – ESPECIALLY DR. BRIAN KELLY.’ – LESLIE O’CARROLL
A message from Leslie: “I have a new tooth! Yay! Thanks to Dr. Brian Kelly and The Denver Actors Fund, I can smile again! I’m grateful that the DAF exists to help actors in this community. I am grateful for Dr. Kelly and his entire staff, who take such great care of those of us experiencing emergency situations. Our industry was almost completely shut down for a year and a half, and with a freshman in college, every penny really counts. He and his staff are so kind and so professional. They really understand the actors’ plight and make us feel at ease in the chair. It would have been miserable if I had to perform Mrs. Fezziwig in pain. God bless us, everyone – especially Dr. Kelly.”
How you can help us help us help more Colorado theatre artists: The Denver Actors Fund has sent out more than $190,000 in artist assistance in 2021 alone. But because of the ongoing difficulty raising funds during a pandemic, we have brought in less than half of that back in from donations. If you would like to make a donation to help The Denver Actors Fund replenish, simply mail checks in any amount made out to Denver Actors Fund to P.O. Box 11182, Denver, CO 80211. Or use this donation link, with our humble thanks.
Video Bonus: Leslie O’Carroll performs “A Christmas O’Carroll” … in five minutes
Read testimonials from other Denver Actors Fund beneficiaries here
The Denver Actors Fund has now made $885,000 available to Colorado theatre artists.
Note: At The Denver Actors Fund, anonymity of aid recipients is presumed and fully protected, unless and until the recipient chooses to have their story told.
ABOUT THE DENVER ACTORS FUND:
HOW TO APPLY FOR AID:
To apply for Denver Actors Fund aid: Fill out this brief online form
NEW: AFFORDABLE MENTAL HEALTH CARE
The Denver Actors Fund has announced a major new collaboration with the Maria Droste Counseling Center of Colorado to provide affordable, professional health care to any qualifying Colorado theatre artist who needs it. Click here for information
GET INSTANT, FREE MEDICAL ADVICE: The Denver Actors Fund has launch of a major new FREE medical service for qualified Colorado theatre artists: We are partnering with Hippo Health to provide access to emergency medical evaluations via video conferencing with a Board-certified physician. Click to read more about this wonderful, innovative new partnership that will further improve the lives of artists!
MORE WAYS TO HELP:
DONATE ONLINE:
Go to our online giving site at: ColoradoGives.Org
DONATE BY MAIL:
Send checks made out to The Denver Actors Fund to:
P.O. Box 11182
Denver, CO 80211
VOLUNTEER:
Ever thought about taking a more active role in The Denver Actors Fund? Click here for more information
SHOP AT KING SOOPERS
Sign up for King Soopers’ Community Rewards Program and raise money for The DAF just by shopping for your groceries – and it doesn’t cost you an extra penny. It’s like the Amazon Smile Program. To sign up, simply go here and designate The DAF as your preferred non-profit. Each quarter, King Soopers sends us a donation based on how much our supporters have spent. Thanks to all of you who are shopping for The DAF.
DONATE YOUR CAR
The Denver Actors Fund is now registered to accept vehicle donations, thanks to a new partnership with Vehicles for Charity. You can turn your unwanted but usable vehicle into greatly appreciated funds for The Denver Actors Fund. The process is simple. The DAF will receive 80 percent of auction proceeds, and a receipt for the donation will be sent to you that can be used for tax purposes. Read all about it here.
SHOP AMAZONSMILE
When you shop on Amazon, there is a simple and automatic way for you to support The Denver Actors Fund, at no cost to you. Simply click on the “Get Started” button to the left. Once you sign up with The Denver Actors Fund as your preferred charity, Amazon will donate 0.5 percent the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. When you shop AmazonSmile instead of the regular Amazon, it’s still Amazon. You will find the exact same prices, selection and shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a potion of your proceeds to The Denver Actors Fund. The gift to us is not added to your bill. It comes from Amazon. Questions? Here’s more info.
COME TO (OR STREAM!) THE EVENTS THAT SUPPORT US:
MONDAY, DECEMBER 6: Climate Change Theatre Action is presenting “A Future We Create,” a performance about climate change that benefits the Denver Actors Fund. It is an evening of performances based around the theme “envisioning a global green new deal” meant to inspire theatremakers and theatrelovers to take action on climate change in their lives and in the industry. This event is part of a global theatre festival called Climate Change Theatre Action, with performances all over the world. Every other year, 50 professional playwrights, representing all inhabited continents as well as several cultures and Indigenous nations, are commissioned to write five-minute plays about an aspect of the climate crisis based on a prompt (envisioning a global green new deal). Meagan Holderman has chosen six of the plays and a handful of songs to tell an inspiring story of change. It is meant to inspire action and create support for a Greener Theatre movement in the Colorado theatre community. The event will take place at 7:30pm December 6 at the Town Hall Arts Center. Tickets are free but donations will be accepted for the Denver Actors Fund. Find tickets here!
READ AN INTERVIEW WITH MEAGAN HOLDEMAN HERE!
MONDAY, DECEMBER 13: Our friends at Town Hall Arts Center have announced an incredible promise to designate one performance per run with 100% of proceeds from ticket and concession sales to be donated to The Denver Actors Fund, which has made $885,000 available to Colorado theatre artists in need since 2014. Spend an evening with “Winter Wonderettes” on Monday, December 13, and lend a hand to members of the local theatre community. “Winter Wonderettes” finds the young women entertaining at the annual Harper’s Hardware Holiday Party. When Santa turns up missing, the Wonderettes use their talent and creative ingenuity to save the day. Featuring great ’60s versions of holiday classics. Tickets –> 303-794-2787 or townhallartscenter.org.- Directed by Bob Wells
- Music Direction by Donna K Debreceni
- Choreography by Kelly Kates
- Production Stage Manager: Jane Stewart
CAST:
- Rebekah Ortiz as Missy
- Abby McInerney as Cindy Lou
- Cara Lippitt as Suzy
- Caitlin Hilzer as Betty Jean
- Understudy: Rachael Lessard
MUSICIANS:
- Donna K Debreceni: Piano
- Scott Alan Smith: Guitar
- Larry Ziehl: Percussion
ONGOING: “Waiting for Obama,” the audio version of DAF Founder John Moore’s play that was an official selection at the 2016 New York International Fringe Festival, has been released as way of raising funds for The Denver Actors Fund. A Colorado Springs family is convinced that Barack Obama is coming for their guns in the final weeks of his presidency – and they’re right. Featuring Laurence Curry, Drew Horwitz, Chris Kendall, Leslie O’Carroll, Jenna Moll Reyes, Jessica Robblee, Luke Sorge and Mare Trevathan. It was recorded by the staff of Parker Arts at the PACE Center as an in-kind donation to The Denver Actors Fund. Listen for FREE on all major podcasting platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Podbean. Just by listening, you will be raising revenue for The DAF! Or, WATCH the recording as a pay-per-view video for $9.95 on Broadway on Demand. ‘Waiting for Obama’ was recorded by the staff of Parker Arts at the PACE Center and edited by Ray Bailey TV as in-kind donations to The Denver Actors Fund. The actors also donated their services.
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