Mesa Legend - ARCHIVES - Volume 40, Issue 14


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Volume 40, Issue 14
May 6, 2003

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May 6, 2003

Play raises charity funds
By Andrew Fogoros
Mesa Legend

Fundraising was the name of the game for the cast of the musical comedy “Rumors.”

The play, which was performed last August, was designed as a benefit for the “Literacy-Outreach” programs, the REACH program, and the Veatch scholarship.

“You make the money and I’ll deliver
the program.”

– Duane Oakes

The results from last year’s play were astonishing. Twenty-two trained college students provided over 1,000 hours of free tutoring for school children struggling with reading and writing.

The play also raised over $8,000 for “Literacy Corps.”

Literacy Corps is a local tutor program that is based on the nation-wide program Americorps.

Americorps offers scholarships to students who donate their time to educate children about reading, mathematics, and also help out with health and safety.

Duane Oakes, the faculty director for Service Learning at Mesa Community College, is very involved in Americorps.

“It’s a great opportunity for future careers and to help with the community,” Oakes said. “It’s making a huge difference.”

Americorps has 250 slots in its program with each individual donating anywhere from 300 to 900 hours of service, resulting in scholarships worth $1,000 to $2,300.

Oakes wanted a more localized program, with less community service hours, but still focused on giving time to the community in exchange for scholarships.

It was this desire that led to the creation of the Literacy Corps.
MCC English professor, Gene Fazio, also had an interest in providing literacy programs for the community.
Fazio and Oakes joined forces to raise funding for Literacy Corps.
“I told him, ‘you make the money and I’ll deliver the program,’” said Oakes.

The result came last summer when 10 students wanted to perform a fundraising play.

The students took their idea to Fazio in hopes of gaining assistance in finding a suitable venue.

Fazio found the Bullpit Auditorium in Phoenix.

At the time, no money was available to assist the troupe.

The cast held a car wash to raise money for newspaper ads.

They also took the photos for the ads that they designed, negotiated on prices, produced the program, sold over 300 tickets, and recruited a set designer.

The cast didn’t stop there. They made their own costumes, and helped build the set at the Broadway Palms before driving the set over in one truck to Bullpit Auditorium.

“We went from having absolutely nothing, and then five months later, we put on the play,” said Fazio, who also served as executive producer.

The play earned a number of awards.

Among the awards received were the Valley’s Best Comedy, Best Comedic Actor for then 16-year-old Ben Giroux’s performance, and Best Comedic Director for 22-year-old David Chorley.

The awards would be notable for any play, but when considering it was an amateur play competing against professional performances, the students’ work is quite unique. Fazio attributes a lot of the credit to Sonia Moreno-Filan, who heads up the Institutional Advancement at MCC.

Fazio said she helped put on the play and was a great overall support.
“It’s nice to think that there’s another rational adult who thinks it is a good idea,” Fazio said about Moreno-Filan.

Fazio said his “hat is off” to Sue Ann Lucious and Lyn Dutson, head of the theatre department at MCC, for offering helping hands.

The cast of “Rumors” is not done yet.

They will be paired again in the near future, starring in this summer’s musical comedy “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”

The year’s performance will take place on July 18, 19, 25, and 26 at the Phoenix Theater. Tickets can be purchased after May 15 by calling (602) 254-2151.