Tool Time!
As the city grows, it’s encouraging for those of us on the cultural front to see multimillion-dollar donations being made to local arts groups. However, most of us are never going to be able to make contributions of that magnitude. In fact, for many arts lovers a financial gift of any kind is out of the question. Are there ways for these folks to make meaningful gifts to the cultural groups they love without writing a check? Well, sure. Every arts company, no matter what size it is, can always use volunteers, to usher at performances or help out at the box office or concession stand or answer phones or help with grant applications, publicity, newsletters, Web sites, and so on. Some companies can also use the things you have around the house and may not need any more: appliances, software, office supplies, tools. What’s cool about these kinds of contributions is that they don’t usually fade away the way money sometimes seems to once it’s spent. They go on giving, every time that donated hammer or accounting program or microwave is used by someone in the company, every time the Web site you worked on gets a hit or an actor uses the dressing room you helped build.
This week, two local theatre companies are offering splendid opportunities for contributions of this kind. The friendly folks of Frontera@Hyde Park Theatre need a battalion of able-bodied workers to help make major improvements to its performance space in preparation for FronteraFest, the annual performance festival it hosts each January. Both experienced carpenters and nonexperienced helpers are welcome. The Frontera gang will be going at it full blast this Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 16 and 17, 8am-6pm, both days. Artistic Director Vicky Boone notes that “This is a project that will make a big difference to Frontera for a long time to come.” She says the company will provide meals — not pizza, she emphasizes, but good, healthy food, with pie, that’s right, pie for dessert. All you need to do is let her know you’re coming by sending her a message at vbnj@compuserve.com or vicky@frontera.org. If you have work gloves, eye protection in the form of goggles or safety glasses, a hammer, or a screw gun or drill, bring ’em along. And if you want to bring other tools or have questions, e-mail project supervisor Neal Jodeit at njvb@earthlink.net.
The Rude Mechanicals aren’t making any major improvements to their home space, The Off Center, this weekend, but the company wants to be prepared whenever it does, so it’s hosting a Tool Party and Dance-a-Thon, where you can choose to either pay five bucks for admission or donate a hand tool to the Rudes. Screwdriver (Phillips-head or flathead), crescent wrench, needle-nose pliers — they’ll take ’em all, as well as C-clamps, framing hammers, socket sets (they have ratchets), 12- or 14-gauge extension cords, vise grips, tape measures, chalk lines, framing squares, levels, matte knives, wire brushes (for cleaning paint brushes), speed squares, channel locks, wood clamps (Jorgensen), crowbars, staple guns, caulk guns, drill bits, peg board and peg board tool holders, cordless power drills (Dewalt w/ two batteries preferred), router, circular saw, jig saw, power drills w/ cords, power saws. Once you drop off your tool, so to speak, you’ll be able to flail to the music stylings of Aleph, the too-phat DJ from the Rudes’ production of WAR, or just watch as Anderson Mills, the dancer from WAR who will be on hand showing off his considerable dance-floor moves. The event is Friday, Dec. 15, 8pm, at The Off Center, 2211-A Hidalgo St. All proceeds benefit Rude Mechanicals. Call 476-RUDE for more information.
This article appears in December 15 • 2000.