When this little corporal went into medical battle, the Denver Actors Fund had his back
Aid recipient: Brian Colonna became a founding member of the Buntport Theater ensemble upon graduation from Colorado College in 2000. Since then, he and his collective have created 51 original full-length plays as well as hundreds of hours of sit-com episodes and other programming. Brian won the 2022 Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play for “
Richard,” Buntport’s 50th original full-length. He followed that by playing Le Petit Caporal in “The Death of Napoleon a Play in Less Than Three Acts.” No. 52 will be the upcoming original play “Best Town” (May 19-June 11). Because he does not participate in social media, no actual biographical information on Brian before joining Buntport is known to anyone.
His medical story: Brian underwent a recent colonoscopy, and a few resulting related tests left him with some unexpectedly high out-of-pocket medical expenses totaling $1,298.
How we helped: The Denver Actors Fund Board unanimously approved payment of Brian’s out-of-pocket expenses of $1,298. Including some previous help with a broken toe, the Denver Actors Fund has now provided $1,665 in overall support for Brian.
‘Applying for aid through the Denver Actors Fund is easy. Thank you!‘
A message from Brian: “Dealing with multiple medical bills for one procedure is hard. Applying for aid through the Denver Actors Fund is easy. Bills I’d been shuffling around my desk for months were taken care of in one day. Thank you! What an incredible service for the community!”
How you can help us replenish: At The Denver Actors Fund, we love it when the money goes out as fast as it comes in, which means we are in a constant state of replenishment. That’s the gig. If you would like to help us keep up, simply mail checks in any amount made out to Denver Actors Fund to P.O. Box 11182, Denver, CO 80212. Or use this donation link, with our humble thanks,
Read testimonials from other Denver Actors Fund beneficiaries here, or click on a recent name below:
PETER TRINH: $2,908
KENT SUGG, $8,413
LYNNE HASTINGS: $1,309
BRITTNI AND LAVOUR ADDISON: $13,361
The Denver Actors Fund has now made $1,150,000 available to more than 540 Colorado theater artists. Read testimonials from other Denver Actors Fund beneficiaries here
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. 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, APRIL 24: Vintage Theatre in Aurora has undertaken its largest production since “Angels in America” in 2010 with “The Inheritance,” a two-part, six-hour play by Matthew Lopez (“The Legend of Georgia McBride”). And they have designated 50 percent of all proceeds from both Industry Nights as a donation to the Denver Actors Fund. “The Inheritance” updates E.M. Forster’s novel “Howards End” as a treatise on gay life for three generations of men in present-day New York. A critic for The Daily Telegraph called it “perhaps the most important American play of this century.” Coming up on Monday, April 24 is Part 2. NOTE: 7 p.m. start. Information and tickets here.
MONDAY, APRIL 24: 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 “La Cage Aux Folles.” In St. Tropez, there is a drag club owned by devoted husbands Georges and Albin (who is also the star attraction). Life is good. Then their son, Jean-Michele, drops a bomb: He is getting married to a woman whose father is a homophobic, conservative politician. To ensure a smooth “meet the parents,” Georges and Albin try to act “normal” – leading to a night of chaos and hilarity. Directed and choreographed by Nathan Halverson, with music direction and tracks created by Phil Forman. Tickets only $27 (normally as much as $52). Reserve your seats at 303-794-2787 or townhallartscenter.org.
MONDAY, APRIL 24: Our NEW friends at Boulder’s Happy Dagger Inc. (welcome!) are hosting an Industry Night performance of Duncan Macmillan’s achingly wonderful play “Every Brilliant Thing” at R Gallery + Wine Bar, 2027 Broadway in Boulder. Thank you, Todd Morton and Sean Mallary, and company! Part of the proceeds from the evening will be donated to The Denver Actors Fund. Reserve your seat at eventbrite.com. (Note: Although there is laughter and a beautiful spirit that carries this piece, the story deals with suicide, and the principal character struggles with mental health issues.)
SATURDAY, APRIL 29: Clover & Bee Productions is staging a reading of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” at the Savoy Denver that will reunite much of the cast from the Breckenridge Backstage Theater’s 2021 production. The play includes two self-absorbed ingénues, jealous fiancées, one haughty dowager, and the most infamous handbag in British history. Directed by Jessica Robblee. All proceeds will go to The Denver Actors Fund. Appetizers and drinks at 6:30 p.m., reading at 7:30 p.m.
MONDAY, MAY 8: 11 Minutes Theatre Company is staging “Elizabeth Rex” as a DAF benefit. It’s a funny and provocative drama about a group of Shakepeare’s actors, including Shakespeare himself, as they duel and banter with each and Queen Elizabeth. 7:30 p.m. at The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave. Info at 11minutestheatre.com.
MONDAY, MAY 15: Cherry Creek Theater is designating its Industry Night performance of local playwright Jeffrey Neuman’s “The Headliners” as a DAF benefit. “The Headliners,” a play with live music, tells the true story of two vaudevillians who thumbed their noses at gender norms by publicly announcing their engagement while wearing gender-reversed attire – In 1908. “Eva Tanguay and Julian Eltinge were two of the most famous people in America, if not the world,” Neuman said. She was the Lady Gaga of the day; he was the world’s foremost female impersonator. And there is a reason you have never heard of them. 7:30 p.m. in the Pluss Theatre at the JCC Mizel Center for Art and Culture, 350 S. Dahlia St. Information at cherrycreektheater.org.
THROUGH JUNE 25: This just in! During its entire run of “Cats,” The Candlelight will be collecting once again for the Denver Actors Fund at ALL performances. Incredible! 4747 Marketplace Dr. in Johnstown. Tickets at 970-744-3747 or coloradocandlelight.com.
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.
