Fort Collins wig assistant: The Denver Actors Fund saved me from having to take out loans to cover my bills.’
About Marisa Sorce: Marisa is a wig technician, stylist and student from Fort Collins who has been working in the Denver area since 2021. She has worked many shows in the Wig Department at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, including the most recent staging of “A Christmas Carol,” and loves to build wigs from scratch. She is also currently a student at Emily Griffith Technical College in the Cosmetology Program to expand her skills and knowledge. She is a member of IATSE Local 719. Marisa rescued her 12-year-old pit-bull mix Dandie in January 2021, and they have been in love ever since. .
Marisa (and Dandie’s) medical story (in her words): “In the summer of 2024, I started to develop stomach issues that made eating uncomfortable and painful. I had to visit Urgent Care, my general practitioner, several GI specialists and a nutritionist while also going through expensive tests. Also: Last year, Dandie, was diagnosed with a heart murmur and needed to see a cardiologist for an echocardiogram. Dandie was healthy when I rescued her as a senior dog, but I knew there would be expenses as she continued to age. Her echocardiogram cost more than $700, and the DAF’s PAWS Fund’s saved me from this unexpected bill with an additional grant.”
‘THE DAF TOOK AWAY THE FINANCIAL STRESS I HAD WHILE DEALING WITH MY ILLNESS AND DIAGNOSIS.’
A message from Marisa: “The Denver Actors Fund saved me from having to take out loans to cover all of my bills. The DAF took away the financial stress I had while dealing with my illness and diagnosis.”
How you can help us help us help more Colorado theater artists: 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, or click on a recent name below:
The Denver Actors Fund has now made $1,600,000 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.
Read more Denver Actors Fund testimonials by clicking here
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 presents the memorial video at the Colorado Theatre Guild’s 2023 Henry Awards.
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 $1.6 million to more than 625 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.
SHOP AMERICAN DOG: We have an exciting new partnership to share! American Dog, a USA-made company that makes dog toys, dog beds and accessories, has put together a special promotional offer to support the PAWS Fund. When you use the code DAFPAWS at checkout, 10% of your purchase will be donated to the PAWS Fund. Visit americandog.com/ to learn more! Thank you so much to Tina Anderson and our friends at American Dog!
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, May 23: “Ride the Cyclone”
- Monday, June 9: “Director’s Choice”
- Monday, June 23: “Follies In Concert”
MONDAY, APRIL 7: Please join us for Town Hall Arts Center’s Industry Night performance of “Once, the Musical.” Our friends at Town Hall 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 on MONDAY, APRIL 7 at 2450 Main St. in Littleton. Tickets are only $22 (normally as much as $52). Reserve your seats at 303-794-2787 or townhallartscenter.org.
PLAN YOUR UPCOMING DAF NIGHTS AT THE TOWN HALL ARTS CENTER!
- Monday, June 9: “On Your Feet: The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan”
MONDAY, APRIL 14: Please join us for Miners Alley Playhouse’s Industry Night performance of its world-premiere play, “National Bohemians,” On this night only, $47 tickets can be yours for only $28, with all proceeds going to The Denver Actors Fund! “National Bohemians” is a dark comedy written by local playwright Luke Sorge. Thom and Oscar are two estranged brothers who return to their tiny hometown in the Chesapeake Bay. They find that their oldest brother, John, has taken their mother out of her care facility and is planning to “put an end to her suffering.” Legal ramifications, financial implications and family history are all uncovered — as is John’s true motive. Funny, moving and just a little supernatural. Directed by Warren Sherrill. If you plan to see “National Boehmians,” please consider joining us at 7:30 p.m. on MONDAY, APRIL 14. Call 303-935-3044 or choose your own seats at minersalley.com. The (new!) Miners Alley Playhouse is located at 1100 Miners Alley in Golden. Since 2014, MAP has generated more than $74,000 in donations to The Denver Actors Fund through evenings just like this one. Thank you to all involved, including Len Matheo, Lisa DeCaro, Warren Sherrill, Jonathan Scott-McKean, Amy Arpan, cast, crew, creatives and staff. We love you, Miners Alley Playhouse!. And if you can’t join us on DAF Night, please support the companies that support the DAF. This play runs March 28-April 20.
PLAN YOUR UPCOMING DAF NIGHTS AT MINERS ALLEY PLAYHOUSE!
- Monday, June 2: “Ring of Fire”
- Monday, August 18: “Assassins”
- Monday. October 20: “Diva Royale’
MONDAY, APRIL 28: “Charlie’s Turnabouts” feature up to three people who are transformed by a drag queen. Each participant picks a drag name prior to the event and does a lip sync. Tips from these special performances go to the DAF. The idea is to get some fun people who are willing to do this and try to get as many people there as possible. Next date: August 25. More details to come.
SUNDAY-MONDAY, MAY 11-12: The 32 Musical Theatre BFA students at Metropolitan State University Denver have designated their annual (free!) spring talent showcase as an opportunity to raise money for the Denver Actors Fund! This will be the first time EVER the MSU students will be performing in the beautiful Rawls Courtyard Theatre on in the King Center on the Auraria Campus. For your GPS, that is 855 Lawrence Way, Denver, CO 80204. Mark your calendars! The dates are May 11-12 at 7 p.m. Just show up and throw a few bucks in the bucket for DAF! The MSU program is run by the great area choreographer, director, teacher and actor Carrie Colton, who said to us: “Thank you for all the incredible work you do for the Denver Theatre Community! We appreciate y’all so much!”
Note: Not suitable for younger audiences.
THURSDAY, JUNE 5: Shifted Lens, a new nomadic community theater company, is donating 100 percent of proceeds from its June 5 performance of the Go-Gos musical “Head Over Heels” to the Denver Actors Fund! This electrifying jukebox musical is a high-energy mashup of a 16th-century romantic farce and, yes, timeless Belinda pop hits like “We Got the Beat,” “Vacation,” and, of course, the title song. This performance has been designated “Pay What You Can” (from $17-$37). Please join us at 7:30 p.m. on THURSDAY, JUNE 5, at the ArtsHub, 420 Courtney Way, Lafayette, Get your tickets at https://us.patronbase.com/_TheArtsHub/Seats/NumSeats?prod_id=HOH1&perf_id=7§ion_id=THEA&action=ChooseForMe&seat_type_id=GEN
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2026: Save the date for the third annual “Applause for PAWS” cabaret at the Denver Improv.
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.
