Denver Actors Fund and Northern Colorado theater community together hold, help and love Mark Lewis through catastrophic medical journey
About Mark Lewis: The Lewis family has been performing, set-building, set-painting and costuming local theater productions around Colorado since 2012. Together with his wife, Rachael, and son, Salem, Longmont actor Mark Lewis has made many friends in the theater community, especially at the Longmont Theatre Company, The Upstart Crow and around Northern Colorado. “We have enjoyed doing it together and, while usually not paid, it was time that our family spent together,” said Rachael. Mark enjoyed his largest and most challenging role just a few months before his medical emergency, playing Judge Turpin in The Arts Hub’s production of “Sweeney Todd.” The year before, he played Caldwell in the Arts Hub’s “Urinetown,” alongside Rachael and Salem.
Mark’s medical story: Mark had a major stroke on July 7, 2024, and was rushed by helicopter to the hospital, where he had two additional strokes. He has continued to struggle with aphasia and apraxia – that’s difficulty speaking and understanding speech. He has regained the majority of his mobility, but he has struggled with communication. “We have continued physical, occupational and speech therapy with the hope that, at some point, Mark might be able to get back on stage – even if it is with an assistive speech device,” Rachael said.
‘MARK COULD NOT HAVE HAD SUCH EXTENSIVE THERAPIES WITHOUT HELP FROM THE DENVER ACTORS FUND.’
A message from Mark and Rachael: “The Northern Colorado theater community and the Denver Actors Fund have really made this scary time manageable. They have been there to hold us, help us and love us through this journey.”
How you can help the Lewis family: Donations are being taken at gofundme.com.
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:
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.
- Monday, June 9: “Director’s Choice”
- Monday, June 23: “Follies In Concert”
THURSDAY, JUNE 5: Shifted Lens 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, JUNE 9: Please join us for Town Hall Arts Center’s Industry Night performance of “On Your Feet: The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan.” 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, JUNE 9, 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.
FRIDAY, JULY 11: Our friends at Openstage Theatre & Company in Fort Collins have a unique, signature program to support The Denver Actors Fund called “Final Fridays.” On the, yes, final Friday of every mainstage production run, cast members gather in the lobby after the show to greet departing audience members and collect bucket donations for the DAF. Next up: OpenStage will be collecting after the Friday, July 11, outdoor performance of “Pride & Prejudice.” In this fast-paced Kate Hamill adaptation of the Jane Austen classic, the outspoken Lizzy Bennet is determined to never marry, but can she resist her enterprising mother, and society itself? This performance will take place in a park and under the stars, so you can walk in, bike in or drive in. With food trucks! Directed by Heather Ostberg Johnson. Tickets regularly up to $39 but are just $25 for industry, with a limited number of $15 tickets while they last for those using the code 15FOR15. Please see this show anytime before July 12, but if you want to support the DAF as well, why not join us on July 11 at The Park at Columbine Health Systems? Note the 7 p.m. start time. Tickets at https://openstage.com/show/pride-prejudice/#tickets
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.
