Denver Actors Fund is there for Creede family through two harrowing child deliveries
About Brittni Shambaugh Addison and Lavour Addison of Creede: Brittni and her husband, Lavour, both separately qualify for Denver Actors Fund assistance. Lavour most recently appeared in the Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado’s “The Royale” and Brittni in Creede Repertory Theatre’s “Steel Magnolias.” Lavour previously starred in the epic solo play “An Iliad” at Creede Rep, and will soon return for a second season with the Arvada Center’s Black Box repertory company. Last year, he appeared there in the award-winning “Animal Farm” and “Stick Fly.” Lavour was raised in Freeport Bahamas, graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and earned his master’s through the Cleveland Play House MFA Program. Other Colorado productions have included “House Arrest” and “Small Mouth Sounds” for Colorado Springs TheatreWorks, and “The Gospel of Bob,” directed by his wife, for Creede Rep. Brittni is the year-round Education Director at Creede Rep, and in that capacity, she has served as actor and director of the young audience summer offerings there since 2019. She graduated from Wake Forest University and earned her master’s from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She recently directed “Hansel or Gretel” and “Derring-Do” at Creede Rep. She also plays Sunny in the online web series “The Adventures of Sunny and Blue.”
Their initial medical story: The couple welcomed their first child in February 2021. Brittni was admitted to the hospital at 35 weeks in pre-term labor and delivered daughter Aria two weeks later. Even after insurance, complications from the delivery left the couple with one whopper of a hospital bill totaling $8,156.
Their more recent medical story: In December, the couple welcomed son Idris into the family, but only after another harrowing experience. This time, the couple planned a natural birth at an out-of-town birthing center. However, there were again complications and Brittni was transferred to Boulder County Hospital, where she survived only after having lost more than half of the blood in her body. All four Addisons are now reported to be in good health – but the Boulder hospital bill came to $4,240.90,
How we have helped: In 2021, The Denver Actors Fund paid the $8,156 hospital bill from Aria’s delivery in full. And this time, we have paid the full Boulder hospital bill of $4,240.90. The couple accrued many thousands more in lodging and other expenses owed to the out-of-town birthing center, and the Creede community has helped to defray by another $2,000 after hosting a fundraiser at the Creede Community Church. Including previous pandemic assistance from the Denver Actors Fund’s DEAR and Kindness Funds, the DAF’s direct overall support for the Addison family is now $13,361.
‘THERE ARE NO WORDS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.’
A message from the Addisons: “There are truly not enough words to express our gratitude to The Denver Actors Fund. This organization has literally changed our lives, and we are overwhelmed by their generosity. It leaves us speechless. When we finally were able to begin settling into our new life with our first newborn, it was everything we expected: Beautiful, terrifying, exhausting, thrilling and truly magical. However, when we received our bill for the delivery, we were ferociously slapped back into reality. Because of COVID, Lavour lost a significant amount of acting work, and we were depending primarily on Brittni’s salary at Creede Rep. We had to set up a five-year payment plan to pay it off, but the Denver Actors Fund took care of that for us. We cannot adequately articulate the relief that came with knowing that we no longer had that bill hanging over our heads. It meant we could focus on spending our time raising and enjoying our beautiful baby. And when we had to go through it all over again, the Denver Actors Fund was there for us again. Our gratitude is overflowing. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
How you can help us help us help more Colorado theatre artists: The Denver Actors Fund has sent out more than $38,000 in artist assistance since the recent start of 2023 alone. And we have brought back in barely a fraction of that. 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 $1,115,000 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.
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 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 $1,085,000 to more than 500 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
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. 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.
VOLUNTEER:
Ever thought about taking a more active role in the Denver Actors Fund? Click here for more information
COME TO THE EVENTS THAT SUPPORT US:
MONDAY, FEB. 13: Please join us for Miners Alley Playhouse’s Industry Night performance of “The Great American Trailer Park Musical.” Miners Alley is continuing its groundbreaking, trendsetting commitment to dedicate ALL PROCEEDS from one designated performance of each run to go to the Denver Actors Fund. And on this night only, $51 tickets can be yours for only $15. This hilarious, toe-tappin’ musical by Betsy Kelso and David Nehls captures trailer park life where bad decisions are everyone’s business – especially a love triangle between an agoraphobe, a highway toll collector and an exotic dancer. Since 2014, MAP has generated more than $60,000 in donations to The Denver Actors Fund through evening just like this one. If you plan to go see this musical, please consider joining us at 7:30 p.m. on MONDAY, FEB. 13. Miners Alley Playhouse is located at 1224 Washington Ave., in Golden. Call 303-935-3044 or choose your own seats at minersalley.com. Be sure to choose Feb. 13. The promo code for $15 tickets is DAFNIGHT.
CAST
- Jeanie: Abby Apple Boes
- Norbert: Rory Pierce
- Betty: Julia Tobey
- Lin: P-Jay Adams
- Pippi: Norrell Moore
- Duke: Nick James Johnson
- Pickles: Jenna Moll Reyes
“The Great American Trailer Park Musical” is directed by Piper Arpan and continues through March 5, so go see it even if you can’t come on DAF Night. Thank you to all involved, including cast, crew, creatives, staff, Producing Artistic Director Len Matheo and Executive Director Lisa DeCaro. We love you, Miners Alley Playhouse!
TUESDAY, FEB. 14: Want to do something cool this Valentine’s Day? Come see six veteran Denver theater artists perform the Pulitzer Prize-finalist play “Love Letters” by A.R Gurney, with all proceeds doing to The Denver Actors Fund!. The two-hander, produced the world over since 1989, is the seemingly simple story of two people who exchange letters over their lifetimes. But when are relationships ever simple? This tender, funny and honest play will be performed in three parts by three pairs of actors telling the story through an LGBTQ+ lens. Your couples are Stuart Sanks and Tyrell Rae; Susannah and Chloe McLeod; and Josh Hartwell and Jim Hunt. This one-time performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, at The Savoy, 2700 Arapahoe St. in Denver. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with drinks and goodies for all. All tickets $20. Reservations at cloverandbeeproductions.com.
Thank you, Jessica Robblee, Mark Ragan and The Savoy Denver!
MONDAY, FEB. 27: Our great friends at Town Hall Arts Center are continuing their incredible commitment to designate one performance per run with 100 percent of all proceeds from ticket and concession sales to be donated to The Denver Actors Fund. Join us for “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” a lighthearted look at the mating game that looks at contemporary relationships from first date to death through songs and sketch comedy. This popular and enduring musical revue is told through the eyes of those who have loved and lost, to those who have fallen on their face at the portal of romance, to those who have dared to ask, “Say, what are you doing Saturday night?” Tickets only $27 (normally as much as $52). Reserve your seats at at 303-794-2787 or townhallartscenter.org.
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.
