Each season, City Lights partners with one or two local nonprofits per mainstage production. City Lights seeks to pair with groups whose mission may be tied to the theme of a play or musical. For example, for The Waiting Room, a play about cancer and the medical industry, City Lights partnered with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. History San Jose was a perfect partner during Truce: A Christmas Wish from the Great War and LIZZIE, and Cabaret benefited the Addison-Penzak JCC Los Gatos.
Besides donating a portion of box-office proceeds to support the partner’s efforts in the community, City Lights highlights the partner’s work in printed materials and curtain speeches. We also place a donation box in the lobby during the run; invite the nonprofit’s officers to give a brief curtain speech before a designated performance; and provide display space for the partner to create an engaging exhibit. (Did you see History San Jose’s display about San Jose residents’ involvement in World War I? Fascinating.) In return, the partner promotes the City Lights production to its employees, volunteers and other constituents.
A more involved partnership might involve hosting a special event at the theater or the partner’s venue, such as a reception at a gallery after a City Lights matinee. We love bringing our community together with yours!
In addition, City Lights is proud to support Theatre Bay Area’s Mary Mason Lemonade Fund. The second Saturday of every show’s run is Lemonade Fund Night, when 10% of your ticket will be donated to the fund.
Interested in pursuing a partnership? Contact City Lights Marketing Director Rebecca Wallace at rebecca@cltc.org.
2023-24 nonprofit partners
Toxic: Youth Connect, a program of Youth Community Services
Ken Ludwig’s The Game’s Afoot: Theatre Bay Area’s Mary Mason Lemonade Fund
2022-23 nonprofit partners
Every Brilliant Thing: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
The Thanksgiving Play: AlterTheater
Miss You Like Hell: Amigos de Guadalupe
Blithe Spirit: Hunger at Home
The River Bride: The Leigh Weimers Emerging Artists Awards
Kinky Boots: Silicon Valley Pride