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Category Archive: Ariel News

  1. MONTEREY COUNTY GIVES! IS OPEN

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    CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO ARIEL THROUGH MONTEREY COUNTY GIVES!

    For nearly four decades, ARIEL Theatrical has provided opportunities for young people to experience the thrill of live performance. Participants discover however, that there is much more to creating magic on stage than memorizing songs and learning lines.

    At ARIEL, kids are taught the importance of accountability and respect among cast members. They are also encouraged to give their best efforts and lead with integrity, no matter what role they play in the production. The magic created at ARIEL doesn’t end when the curtain closes. It continues to inspire our young participants as they utilize lessons learned at ARIEL to impact the world in positive ways.

    Josephine Swanson, ARIEL participant and Youth Leader, described the powerful influence that ARIEL has had in her life. In her words, “ARIEL has taught me so much, not just about who I am, but who I want to be…..I look forward to being an accountable, respectful, integrity filled, and excellent leader for the rest of my life and showing others how to do the same.”

    Please consider supporting our efforts to teach and inspire the leaders of tomorrow by making a donation to ARIEL through the Monterey County Gives! campaign. Online donations are simple, secure, and will be increased with matching funds (up to $75,000) through December 31st.

    Visit www.montereycountygives.com/ARIEL
    and invest in the future of ARIEL today.

  2. MAKE ARIEL’S WISHES COME TRUE!

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    You can help make ARIEL’s wishes come true and there are several ways of doing so!

    1. Visit our Amazon Wishlist! – All items will be shipped to ARIEL so we can use them right away!
    2. Donate the Cost of an Item – In our lobby there are yellow stars labeled with an item we need. Simply grab a star and bring it to the box office and donate the cost of the item.We will take care of the ordering making sure to get whatever ARIEL needs most! 
    3. Bring in an Item – Have an extra of something? We are more than happy to accept in-person donations. Give us a call at 831-775-0976 to coordinate a drop-off!

  3. VOTE ARIEL THEATRICAL FOR BEST LOCAL THEATRE COMPANY

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    ARIEL has been nominated for Best Local Theatre Company in the Monterey County Weekly “Best of Monterey County Finals 2024.” Take a few minutes and vote for your favorite things in the Best of Monterey County Readers’ Poll. We need YOU to vote for ARIEL Theatrical! THANK YOU!!!

    Show that you are “TEAM ARIEL” by voting ARIEL Theatrical as the BEST LOCAL THEATRE COMPANY!

    Last day to vote is August 23, 2024.

  4. EARN SUPPORT FOR ARIEL AS A RODEO VOLUNTEER

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    We are excited to be “backstage” at the Salinas Rodeo again this year, and we invite you to participate as a Rodeo volunteer representing ARIEL Theatrical as part of our summer fundraiser. This opportunity will put you behind-the-scenes at one of the largest annual events in Monterey County as you work with friends and neighbors setting up and serving in the VIP Hospitality Tent. Volunteers ages 14 and up are welcome.

    Fundraising couldn’t be easier! All hours worked by ARIEL volunteers will be tracked to calculate the contribution amount that will be given to ARIEL from the Salinas Rodeo Foundation. This charitable donation could be quite substantial and is only possible with help from our amazing community – you!

    There are many shift options including Pre-Rodeo (beginning on July 11), Rodeo (beginning July 18), and Post-Rodeo (beginning on July 21). You are welcome to sign up for multiple shifts, and organizing a group of friends and family to volunteer for the same shift is highly encouraged! All details are listed on the Google sign up form that can be found HERE. Please note shift sign ups are due by July 8, if possible.

    We hope you will consider joining this fundraising effort that will directly benefit ARIEL Theatrical programs for youth. If you are unable to volunteer at this time but would like to make a direct donation to ARIEL, please click HERE to access our Zeffy donation page.

    We look forward to seeing you at the Rodeo, and at ARIEL!

  5. THE WINNER OF THE 2024 DISNEY EXPERIENCE RAFFLE IS…

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    On Saturday, March 16, a sold-out audience for Disney Frozen Jr. watched with anticipation as we drew a winner for our 2024 Disney Experience Raffle. Congratulations to the big winner, Roberto J. Mora!

    A big “THANK YOU” to all who entered for supporting our theatre programs that help young people learn to lead principle-centered lives.

  6. Farewell to Ileen Groves

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    It is with broken hearts that we say farewell to Ileen Groves who passed away on February 7, 2024. Ileen was part of the ARIEL family for more than a decade as an accomplished performer, a generous supporter, and a skilled bookkeeper and financial advisor. Ileen was smart, funny, hard-working, thoughtful and talented. By day, she answered hundreds of financial questions for the ARIEL staff and kept the books balanced and organized. Evenings and Saturdays, Ileen was often found at rehearsal in preparation for an ARIEL production. Whether she was in the ensemble or played a more prominent role, Ileen could always be counted on to bring her best to every performance. Some of her more notable roles were Marilla in Anne of Green Gables, Nina in Schoolhouse Rock Live TOO!, Widow Douglas in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Nana in Tuck Everlasting, Mrs. McCarthy in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Mrs. Whatsit from A Wrinkle in Time,  Laundress in A Christmas Carol, and Grandma Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof. Ileen gave the world so much and will be missed by many, including her adoring fans at ARIEL.

    For more information about Ileen’s life and legacy, along with details regarding her memorial services, click HERE. In lieu of flowers, Ileen requested that donations be directed to the ARIEL Theatrical Ileen Groves Memorial Fund. Access the fund online HERE or mail checks to ARIEL Theatrical at P.O. Box 1268, Salinas, CA 93902.

  7. Thank you to our community! – MC Gives! Fundraising Update

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    A big “THANK YOU” to those in our ARIEL community who contributed through the Monterey County Gives! fundraising campaign. We exceeded our $33,000 goal, raising an impressive $40,814! This total will grow even larger when matching funds, which are currently being calculated by the Community Foundation for Monterey County, are awarded. We are so grateful for the loyal and dedicated support of ARIEL families and other individuals throughout the community who joined this tremendous effort. Each and every dollar raised will support ARIEL programs focused on helping young people learn to lead principle-centered lives. Stay tuned for the updated total and a complete list of our Monterey County Gives! donors.

  8. MONTEREY COUNTY GIVES! UPDATE – SUPPORT FOR ARIEL IS ADDING UP!

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    We are amazed by the quick and generous response of those who answered our call to keep the momentum going for Monterey County Gives! Not only did we hit our December 20th goal of $27,000, we passed it, several days early even! Amazing!!! But why stop there? If you’d like to be entered into the drawing for a pair of Frozen Jr. tickets, your donation of $50 or more received by midnight on December 20th, the original deadline of this benchmark goal, will still be honored. Let’s see how high the total can go! Knowing that we can count on so many of you gives us hope that ARIEL will likely hit our grand total goal of $33,000 before the December 31st deadline. One thing we know for sure, people who love ARIEL know how to make things happen.

    Thank you for “making things happen” at ARIEL and reinforcing our efforts to help young people learn to lead principle-centered lives. To make a donation, jump on over to the ARIEL landing page on the Monterey County Gives! site here.

  9. A very big “THANK YOU” to our generous ARIEL Sponsors

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    Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Our wonderful sponsors show us that they not only understand this idea, but their generosity indicates that they are all in! Programs at ARIEL would not be possible without donations from the community, including the investments made by local businesses. We would like to thank the following 2023 ARIEL Theatrical Sponsors:

    Season Sponsors:

    Aladin Properties

    Cardinale Moving & Storage

    Taylor Farms

    Summer Sponsors:

    Hastie Financial Group

    J.V. Organics/Triangle Farms

    Little Bristles

    Individual Show Sponsors:

    Prunedale Chevron

    Pacific Coast Pediatrics

    Jack Grossman Family

    Smith & Enright Landscaping, Inc.

    General Sponsors:

    Granite Construction

    Toro Park Animal Hospital

    If you or someone you know might be interested in becoming an ARIEL sponsor, check out the sponsor packet HERE for more information about our 2024 Season.

    THANK YOU for investing in ARIEL programs and the young people we serve.

  10. The Magic of Gratitude

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    There are so many things for which to be grateful at ARIEL. We have a beautiful theatre on a tree-lined street in a wonderful community where hundreds of young people and their families come together to be part of something very special, some might even say, magical. As our young and often inexperienced cast members attend the first day of rehearsal, they initially see the tasks that lie before them – memorizing lines, learning songs and practicing dances in an effort to tell a compelling story on stage. However, what may not be apparent on day one is the magic that happens when kids learn to work together, respect differences, treat each other with kindness, develop and practice integrity, embrace accountability, commit to excellence, and lead by example. There is definitely a magical feeling that comes over audiences when the lights dim and the curtain opens. But the real magic can be seen in the lives of our performers as they impact the world in positive ways by applying lessons learned on stage at ARIEL.

    We are so grateful for those who understand the “magic” of principle-based theatre programs at ARIEL and support our activities with their time, talent and treasure. Throughout the remaining days of 2023, we will highlight select organizations, businesses and individuals who have contributed to ARIEL. We would like to begin by offering heartfelt thanks to our 2023 Presenting Partner, The Sally Hughes Church Foundation.

    Sally Hughes Church was born and raised in Salinas and lived a life of purpose and joy. Overcoming challenges only strengthened her resolve to accomplish goals and make a difference in the world. “Sally understood what it was like to have a dream just out of reach, but she also experienced the joy of achieving a dream through the kindness and generosity of strangers. By creating and funding the Sally Hughes Church Foundation, Sally was able to put other’s dreams within their reach. The grant making objectives of the foundation reflect Sally’s life. Through her foundation, Sally continues to support the theatre, educate youth, promote self-reliance and good health, and strengthen the family unit.” (Sally Hughes Church biography)

    We are so grateful to Sally Hughes Church and are honored to continue her legacy as we teach children and bring the community together to enjoy live theatre. Thank you Sally Hughes Church Foundation for supporting the “magic” at ARIEL!

    Stay tuned to our social media channels and our website for special acknowledgements and shout-outs to amazing and generous friends of ARIEL.

    If you would like to join our growing circle of supporters or renew your past support, please consider a gift to ARIEL through the Monterey  County Gives! campaign. With matching funds available for every donation up to $75,000, there isn’t a better time to show you value the “magic” that happens at ARIEL. Visit https://www.montereycountygives.com/nonprofit/ariel-theatrical/ for details and a secure, online donation link. Contributions are accepted until 11:59 pm on December 31, 2023.