Labour of love. Invoice of reality.
Here's the honest version.
We're a troupe of tech professionals, and we know what that implies. Stable salaries. Benefits. The ability to do almost everything we do entirely on a volunteer basis because our day jobs cover our rent. We are deeply aware of that privilege, and we don't take it for granted.
But here's what those day jobs don't cover: licensing fees for the plays we produce, venue rental costs even when the venue is a space on a corporate campus, set materials, costumes, props, sound equipment, lighting, and all the other unglamorous line items that turn a rehearsal into an actual show. We operate on a production budget that can charitably be described as "determined," and every dollar of it matters.
We are proud to share that Technically Thespians is now an officially registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Microsoft employees can give directly to us through the Benevity portal, with your contribution eligible for a company match. For non-Microsoft donors, we're in the process of setting up a direct giving link — in the meantime, donations can still be made through our producing partner Second Story Rep, with a note attributing your gift to Technically Thespians. This is an intentional, mutual arrangement: Second Story Rep has invested in us as a company, and funds raised on our behalf support that partnership — including their costs in hosting our work and, over time, helping us build the capacity to keep making theatre season after season. Your contribution helps sustain a real, working theatre in the Pacific Northwest arts ecosystem, and it keeps shows like Kodachrome and That Was Shakespeare possible. We keep the lights on in our own lives. We just need help keeping the stage lights on.
Thank you, genuinely.