OVATIONS STUDIO HOME FUND

 

HOME! We’re coming home today!

 

My name is Darnell Patrick Morris and I am the founder and owner of OVATIONS THEATRE; A small black owned LLC business www.ovationstheatre.com. As the community I have worked hard to build over the last 6 plus years readies themselves to dive back into making a place for young artists to thrive this fall, I am beyond thrilled to share with you OVATIONS THEATRE has found their home studio space in the Shady Grove/Rockville area just 10 minutes from our rental homes for the past 6 years!

 

Being the premiere youth theatre in the DMV, most recently recognized by www.broadwayworld.com where we were voted "First Theatre You Want to Go Back To” by the 2020 BroadwayWorld.com Washington, DC Awards this past summer, we’ve been looking for a place to put down roots and give our students a place to call home!

 

OVATIONS THEATRE is a place that has become my life’s passion. I’ve put my blood, sweat, tears and savings into creating a world where young people can use musical theatre not only as a vehicle for self-expression and a training ground for working artists, but also a place where young people care about the world and those around them. With our diverse programming ranging from performance to training to even social justice activism. Our social justice program, AHA : Artists helping Alliance, is student led. Students take themes and issues from the productions we produce and find non-profits to raise money for. Over the past 6 years we’ve raised close to 15K for such organizations as the ADL, The Baltimore Station, Free Minds Book Club, and more.

 

My students have performed on Broadway and regional theatre including Signature Theatre, Arena Stage, Olney Theatre Centre, Wooly Mammoth and Ford’s Theatre. They’ve attended prestigious musical theatre programs around the country including Michigan, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, Syracuse, NYU, Elon, Boston Conservatory, Marymount Manhattan and more!

 

Our staff is a diverse group of professional artists who have a heart for storytelling and empowering young people through art. Our leadership, outside of myself, is staffed with women; with over half identifying as POC. We seek to have a place where young people see women and POC in leadership roles.

 

This year, after being out of operation for most of 2020 due to quarantine, we were able to bring back our programming including adding three internships; two of which were alumni.

 

OVATIONS has once again proven that we are amendable and resilient and able to continue to meet our communities needs and interests even in difficult times like these! Being that we are not a non-profit we’ve been able to operate and provide elite level support to our community simply through tuition and ticket sales! At this time we are asking for your help to keep our outstanding and award-winning productions and summer intensives thriving.

 

To ensure our students have the best place to learn we are needing help to add to get our home ready to welcome students this fall. By donating to this black & queer owned small business you would be helping to ensure a successful opening this fall and more importantly a continuation of the quality and level of programming we’ve given over the past six years.

 

Below is a list of just SOME of things your donations would be going towards:

 

*Studio Mirrors

*bluetooth/wireless speakers for each studio

*Front desk and lobby seating

*Studio Seating, tables and rolling storage rack

*Water coolers

*Hand sanitizer stations

*Janitorial equipment

*Automatic bathroom soap dispensers

*Sound System

*Front area signage/fixtures/bag and jacket storage

*Storage cabinets and shelves

 

No gift is too small (or large for that matter).

 

Up to $25: Name included in our program as a donor.

Up to $50 : Early access to discounted tickets for performances and special events and what’s above.

 

Up to $150: Name engraved on chair in studio. And above.

 

$250- $1000: invite for you and a friend to each final dress and opening weekend celebrations for our 2021-2022 season.

 

$1000-$2500: Enjoy a private performance for you and up to 15 guest featuring OVATIONS students, alumni and friends. To be scheduled during the 2022 calendar year.

 

$2500-$5000: Enjoy a catered private performance for you and 30 guest featuring OVATIONS students, alumni and friends. To be scheduled during the 2022 calendar year.

 

$5000 and above: Have your name proudly hang above one of our 3 studio signs!