Project SUCCESS

Now here is a really cool idea and a great organization.

I've noticed a post card coming in the mail every month or so ever since Fiona started high school from an organization called "Project SUCCESS." I noted vaguely that it said something about theater tickets (this was still during the layoff; how could I afford to go to the theater?) and pitched it without really looking at it the first few times it came in.

Then a couple of months ago, Fiona mentioned that a friend of hers had an extra theater ticket to a play and invited her along. When she got home, I said casually that it was awfully nice of Maren to pay for a ticket for her.

"Oh, Maren got the ticket for free, through Project SUCCESS."

Project SUCCESS? Wasn't that the organization I'd just seen on the post card on the other day?

So the next time it came in, I looked, really looked at the post card. It was offering free theater tickets to children and their parents. All you had to do was call. For real?

I took note of the two shows and got excited. One was The Triangle Factory Fire Project, being put on by the Minnesota Jewish Theater Company, an organization I'd never heard of before. Why, Fiona did her National History Day project on the Triangle fire a couple of years ago; she'd love to see that! And the other show was Romeo and Juliet, put on by Bedlam Theater. I'd never seen anything by them, either, but hey, it's Shakespeare, and both of the girls loved the Zeffirelli movie. So I picked up the phone and called and was told by the friendly person on the other end that tickets would be set aside for us for each show. Absolutely free. "Do you need transportation or child care?" she asked. "That's provided, too."

You're kidding. As it turns out I don't, but they provide transportation and childcare? That's amazing.

And on Wednesday, I got a friendly follow up call the day before the show, reminding us that we had the tickets waiting for us at the box office, and giving us directions on how to get to the theater, and again checking as to whether we needed transportation or childcare. That was a very nice touch, too, I thought.

We went to see The Triangle Factory Fire Project last night, inviting Fiona's friend Sydney along (she'd done the project with Fiona). The Star Tribune's review was right; it was really an excellent show. So now I've been introduced to a new theater company I didn't know about before, and I'm looking forward to seeing the Bedlam show tomorrow. On the ride home, Fiona talked more about Project SUCCESS. "They come into the classrooms once a month, and do these really fun exercises, to help you figure out and follow your dreams. Our facilitator's awesome." (There's that word again.)

"I remember now," I said. "You told me about it; you did that exercise where you talked about wanting to become a sensei some day, and you and your group brainstormed about what intermediary steps you needed to take to reach that goal. I didn't realize that was Project SUCCESS."

So I went to the Project Success website this morning and learned more. I am really impressed.( Project SUCCESS does much more than just the theater program and the in-class visits. I am seriously impressed )

You'd better believe I'll be watching for their postcards in the future. This sounds like a totally cool organization.

I might look into seeing if I can volunteer somehow. *Sigh* In my copious spare time.

Ministry of Magic info

Album news from Ministry of Magic. They have the list of songs up and say they'll have a release date in "a few weeks."

And they have two new songs that'll be on that album on their player (both lumped under "Phoenix Lament.") Personally, I think they're gorgeous.

I'm sure you're all soooo sick of hearing me rave about Ministry of Magic.

Sorry. Tough. Deal.

Pre-screening

She is so nervous. She's downright scared.

She keeps muffing her form. Nerves, I think.

Pray, people.

Back from the Pre-screening

She lived through it. We think she did pretty well, but we'll find out for sure maybe Monday.