Denver Actors Fund and Dr. Brian Kelly fit Shakespearean newcomer with new crown
About David Anthony Lewis: The recent Colorado transplant has been a professional actor for more than 20 years and has appeared in several productions since moving to Colorado Springs two years ago. Recently, David appeared in TheatreWorks’ “Witch” and the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center’s “Cinderella.” Before that, he was among those who experimented with pandemic theatre in TheatreWorks’ online production of “House Arrest” in the fall of 2020. David, originally from Twin Falls, Idaho, spent eight seasons with the American Shakespeare Center and has performed with the Seattle Repertory Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Seattle Shakespeare Company. His wife is Colorado Springs stage manager Sarah Dale Lewis. They are the parents of three “incredible and inspirational” children who sleep surrounded by no fewer than five animals.
His medical story: David broke a tooth that had been in need of a crown while eating backstage during a performance of “Witch” a couple of months ago. When the situation worsened, he contacted The Denver Actors Fund for 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 David with an examination and crown. The value of his services would have run another patient $819. The Denver Actors Fund paid an additional $99 for a third-party lab fee, making our overall support for David to be $918. With this latest gift, Dr. Kelly passed $40,000 in free dental care for 2021, and $125,000 since 2017.
‘I MADE A PLAN TO SAVE UP AND GET TO MEXICO FOR THE CHEAP DENTAL WORK AVAILABLE THERE.’
A message from David: “Long after I broke my tooth, I told a coworker my tale of woe, and of my plan to try to save up and get to Mexico for the cheap dental work available there. But he sent me the link to the Denver Actors Fund instead. Within 12 hours of applying for assistance, I was given a next-day appointment to see Dr. Kelly, with all fees paid by the Denver Actors Fund. I will forever be grateful to the DAF and Dr. Kelly for their immediate and much-needed assistance.”
How you can help us help us help more Colorado theatre artists: The Denver Actors Fund sent out more than $200,000 in artist assistance in 2021 alone. 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.
Read testimonials from other Denver Actors Fund beneficiaries here
The Denver Actors Fund has now made $900,000 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:
JANUARY 7-9: “The Future is Bright,” and we sure do know it because of the existence on this planet of young people like 15-year-old Eli Testa, who has spent much of the past year putting together a musical-theater cabaret featuring young performers, with every penny raised going directly to The Denver Actors Fund. Why is he doing it? “With everything going on in the world and with the performing community being hit so hard by the pandemic he wanted to put together something to show that the performing arts is not going away and that his generation will continue to persevere,” said his father, Dan Testa, known by some of you from his days as a performer at Country Dinner Playhouse and elsewhere. Eli had one caveat – two actually. This project had to be all student-produced, directed, choreographed, designed, stage managed, and performed. And that any and all proceeds had to be donated to The Denver Actors Fund. Within two weeks, Eli had the songs picked out, a show order and had found a music director and a choreographer. In the following weeks, the team had auditions scheduled and more than 40 student performers signed up and ready to donate their time for this effort. Eli was able to get a space donated for the performances by the Parker Performing Arts Center. Since then, the cast has met every weekend. Now they are less than one month away from presenting “The Future is Bright,” a cabaret celebrating love, hope and happiness for a better tomorrow. Let’s encourage this amazing act of kindness by filling the house with as many people from the community and other actors, dancers, directors, producers we can find. This event already has been a great success and shows what our youth in this community can do with a little heart and support! Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9, at the Parker Performing Arts School, 15035 Compark Blvd., Parker, CO 80134. Tickets are just $10 and are available here.
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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