The Great Canadian Theatre Company, with the cast of Heroes, collected $25,671.54 in donations to the Actors’ Fund of Canada, one of the largest single-campaign amounts raised.
The Actors’ Fund provides emergency financial aid to entertainment industry workers. Supported entirely by money raised from theatre-creators and theatre-lovers, the Fund has provided emergency support to over 10,000 artists since its inception in 1958.
Theatres across Canada are asked to support the work of the Actor’s Fund, often by allowing a direct appeal to the audience for donations. GCTC gave the entire run of the final play of the season, Heroes by Gérald Sibleyras; translated by Tom Stoppard. Starring Peter Froehlich, John Koensgen and Paul Rainville, the play was on GCTC’s mainstage from June 8 – 27.
Froehlich, Koensgen and Rainville spearheaded the campaign: one of the actors spoke to the audience following every performance, while the other two collected donations in the lobby. Rainville spoke to the audience about being personally touched by the Actors’ Fund, when he received assistance to pay for emergency dental work, “Every time I eat, I thank the Actors’ Fund.”
For more information about the Actor’s Fund of Canada, visit www.actorsfund.ca
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Kevin Falkingham
Marketing and Communications Manager
Great Canadian Theatre Company
613-236-5192 ext 229
publicity@gctc.ca
