Denver Actors Fund, theater community rally around young stage manager with cancer
Financial-aid recipient: Bryanna Scott was the resident stage manager at the Miners Alley Playhouse in Golden from 2010-20, working pretty much every show there during that time, including operating the light and sound boards. When she left, MAP issued a statement saying, in part: “Your kindness is something we will always try to emulate.” Bryanna, who attended Red Rocks Community College and is a distant cousin of Broadway star Beth Malone, briefly returned as a stagehand for MAP’s production of “The Crucible” last fall.
Her medical story: Bryanna, who turned just 29 on April 5, was recently diagnosed with Stage 3C ovarian cancer and has been through surgery and multiple hospital visits since. She is about halfway through her chemo, which will go into June.
How we have helped: To date, the Denver Actors Fund has paid Bryanna’s out-of-pocket obligation for her medical bills and supplies in full, totaling $2,131.66. And we intend to stay on her side as more bills and expenses come in. We are also activating our Army of Angels, otherwise known as the DAF volunteer corps, to provide meals and other assistance over the coming months.
‘THE BIGGEST HELP SO FAR HAS BEEN ALL OF YOUR AMAZING SUPPORT.’
How you can help us help Bryanna more: Just this week, Bryanna had to leave her day job to fully focus on her cancer journey. That means she is facing financial challenges that extend well beyond her medical bills. The DAF can no longer accept targeted community donations on behalf of a specific beneficiary, so the best way to help Bryanna directly would be to Venmo her at @BryannaCOScott. Separately, if you would like to help the Denver Actors Fund to replenish, simply mail checks made out to The Denver Actors Fund to P.O. Box 11182, Denver, CO, 80211. Or use this donation link. Your donation will be applied to the replenishment of the Denver Actors Fund’s general fund.
A message from Bryanna: “When I was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer, I didn’t know how I was going to get through this. Now here I am, fighting through cancer with all of your help; the biggest of all having been from all of your amazing support. No matter how big or small, the gesture never goes unnoticed. I will keep fighting knowing you are all on my side. Love to you all.”
Read more Denver Actors Fund testimonials by clicking here
Note: At the Denver Actors Fund, anonymity of aid recipients is presumed and fully protected, unless and until the recipient chooses to have his or her story told.
HOW YOU CAN HELP US REPLENISH:
To DONATE the Denver Actors Fund, please CLICK HERE (with our humble thanks)
ABOUT THE DENVER ACTORS FUND:
Video above: The Denver Actors Fund receives the Colorado Theatre Guild’s 2016 Community Impact Award.
The Denver Actors Fund is a modest source of immediate, situational relief when members of the local theater community find themselves in medical need. To date, the Fund has allocated more than $950,000 to artists facing medical need. In addition to financial relief, a team of more than 100 Denver Actors Fund volunteers offers good neighborly assistance including meal prep and delivery, child care, transportation, errands, construction, pet-sitting and more. For more information, visit our web site at DenverActorsFund.Org.
HOW TO APPLY FOR AID:
To apply for Denver Actors Fund aid: Fill out this brief online form here
MORE WAYS TO HELP:
DONATE BY MAIL:
Send checks made out to the Denver Actors Fund to:
P.O. Box 11182
Denver, CO 80211
SUPPORT THE EVENTS THAT SUPPORT US:
MONDAY, APRIL 25: Our reliable friends at the Firehouse Theater Company have designated their upcoming Industry Night performance of Pearl Cleage’s “Flyin’ West,” presented in partnership with 5280 Artist Coop, as a benefit for The Denver Actors Fund. The play, directed by the intentionally lower-cased donnie l. betts, follows former slaves who took advantage of the Homestead Act and went west to build new lives for their families. The New York Times calls it “a potent, gripping play and a plea for all women with vibrant lives to tell their oral stories.” Thanks to cast, crew, volunteers and producer Helen Hand, a longtime DAF donor. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the John Hand Theater, 7653 E. 1st Place, on the campus of the Colorado Free University. Tickets 303-523-3232 OR firehousetheatercompany.com
CAST
- Kenya Fashaw as Fannie
- Adrienne Martin-Fullwood as Sophie
- Latifah Johnson as Miss Leah
- Don Randle as Wil
- Hunter Yasmine as Minnie
- Abid Hassan as Frank
SUNDAY, MAY 8: Our friends at the Arvada Center have designated the 2 p.m. matinee performance of “Stick Fly” as a benefit for The Denver Actors Fund. Fifty percent of all ticket proceeds will be donated to The DAF. This fundraiser was the brainchild of cast member Abner Genece, who received DAF assistance after he and his son were nearly killed in a violent car collision. “Stick Fly,” written by by Lydia R. Diamond and directed by Jada Suzanne Dixon, is described this way: “What should be a relaxing summer weekend on Martha’s Vineyard goes south when the LeVay brothers bring new girlfriends home to meet their wealthy and imposing parents. But Mom’s not there, and Dad’s acting weird. Lydia Diamond’s refreshing and bold story grapples with race, class, jealousy and cultural expectations.” Tickets at 720-898-7200 or go to arvadacenter.org
Read Abner’s harrowing story here
CAST
- Lavour Addison as Kent “Spoon” LeVay
- Ryan George as Flip LeVay
- Abner Genece as Joe LeVay
- Constance Swain as Taylor
- Kristina Fountaine as Cheryl
- Noelia Antweiler as Kimber
CREATIVE TEAM
- Jada Suzanne Dixon: Director
- Christine Moore: Stage Manager
- Brian Mallgrave: Scenic Design
- Shannon McKinney: Lighting Design
- Meghan Anderson Doyle: Costume Design
- CeCe Smith: Sound Design
- Constance Swain: Fight Director
- Lynne Collins: Artistic Director of Plays
ONGOING: “Quarantine Week by Weak” is a new photographic coffee-table book by Susannah McLeod and her wife, Chloe McLeod, who chronicled their home life during the COVID19 shutdown with a light-hearteded photo series documenting their lives during quarantine. They produced more than 35 sets of humorous photos comparing the beginning of quarantine to later in the “stay-at-home” period. Susannah pulled out her camera and we started to play,” said Chloe McLeod. As popularity for the series grew on Instagram and after a feature in Westword, the couple started exploring options to publish the series as a book to benefit The Denver Actors Fund. To order, visit mcleod9creative.com. This project is generously sponsored by: The Albritton Family; Natalie Bowen and Jim Corbett; Dave Dyer; Julie Dyer; and Denise Gentilini and Lynette Prisner. Additional support provided by Angie Flachman and Sandy Birkey at The Publishing House and Sandra Lee Stuart.
VISIT OUR ONLINE MERCH STORE:
Click here to see how you can buy DAF products such as T-shirts, key chains, puzzles and much more
