United Way and Relative Theatrics are co-sponsoring a virtual talent show fundraiser for local and statewide nonprofit organizations that will be publicly aired tonight (Friday, October 16^th) at 5:30PM (MST). Eleven different local talent acts will represent eleven organizations, and audience members can vote for their favorite talent by donating to the organization represented. See below for the link to watch and how to donate.

United Way is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization that raises funds and distributes those funds to seventeen participating agencies that are also nonprofit service-based organizations. The nonprofits represented tonight include ARK Regional Services, Big Brother Big Sisters, Laramie Reproductive Health Center, Laramie Soup Kitchen, Wyoming 211, Eppson Center for Seniors, American Red Cross, Downtown Clinic, Family Promise of Albany County, Laramie Interfaith, and My Front Door.

The talent show is co-sponsored by Relative Theatrics of Laramie. Anne Mason, the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of Relative Theatrics, explains that “Relative Theatrics is a nonprofit arts organization here in Laramie, we present thought-provoking theatre that examines the joining qualities of the human race. We provide a community gathering place where thoughts can be exchanged about society, culture, and the power of creativity.”

Relative Theatrics usually performs in the Gryphon Theater of the Laramie Plains Civic Center, but for the past six months, the company has been providing theatre for the Laramie community completely virtually. “We really just attacked the problem solving and trouble shooting of virtual performances aggressively,” Mason says. “Which set us up to navigate all different sides of virtual performance.”

This time of year, United Way usually holds a live fundraising event to support their seventeen organizations. “So often, nonprofit organizations will hold a live, in-person fundraising event that often has artists as entertainment for the evening,” Mason says. “That’s a really wonderful way for these organizations to raise those critical funds that they need in order to fulfill their mission and to serve the community on an annual basis.” But because of safety measures taken for the Covid-19 pandemic, the fundraiser will be held completely virtually this year with a new way of raising funds.

United Way has implemented a Text-To-Give donation system in which audience members can text in their vote and donation amount during the streamed event to support a specific organization. Eleven agencies are participating in the fundraiser, nine of which are specifically Laramie organizations with two statewide organizations.

Many of the performers are connected in some way to the organization they are representing, one performer being the executive director of her agency. “Beyond that, we have reached out to talented performers in our community,” Mason explains. “We have a wide range of actors, singers, dancers, and musicians, we have individuals of all ages and abilities…The entire lineup is inspiring and diverse, and creative, and a just beautiful representation of the massive talent that exists in our community whether individuals identify as performers or not.”

The talent show will be airing Friday, October 16^th at 5:30 over Facebook live. Videos of the eleven talent submissions will be available to view and voting will be open for the week following the Friday event. The overall talent winner holding the most votes will be announced by next Friday, and will receive $500 towards their represented agency in addition to the individual funds raised through voting. Votes are all by donation, but no amount is too small to contribute.

To watch the live streamed show tonight at 5:30, visit the Facebook event at:  https://www.facebook.com/events/323643465390300

For more information on United Way, visit: https://unitedwayalbanycounty.org/ or https://www.unitedway.org/

For more information on Relative Theatrics, visit: https://www.relativetheatrics.com/