The Klein Memorial Auditorium - 2021 HOLIDAY LETTER

Happy Holidays from us at The Klein!!

Dear Friends,

Mentioning how hard 2021 has been on the arts and particularly on nonprofit organizations may be redundant as I am aware that you all know this. What you may not know is that in spite of the uncommon circumstances of the past year and a half we, The Klein, have managed to not only keep our doors open, but also, have continued to serve the Bridgeport community through events on our stage and through our Klein Theatre Arts programs.

This quote: “Whenever an invention is great a crisis will bring it to the fore,” by Richard Buckminster Fuller, illustrates our incorporation of livestreaming for our events, performances, and lessons. This is something we had not done before, possibly would not have without the challenges experienced, and which has become a powerful connection to our audiences, supporters, and the greater community in an extraordinary way.

See this shot of Elizardi Castro on our stage a few weeks ago; he had the audience laughing out loud for hours! Elizardi will return to The Klein on February 24th with his new show, "All Grown Up!". Tickets are on sale now.

Let me share with you the four legs of our ability to function and continue to produce and share our performances, and educational programs.

The first is the building, our beautiful home which turned 81 years of age recently on November 11 and requires continued upkeep and capital improvements, such as replacing our refrigeration system for beverages during performances which is beginning to fail, and purchasing a printer for the Box Office to name a few; the second is our treasured staff who keep it all running; the third is future programming and marketingand the fourth leg is funding for our Klein Theatre Arts dance, song, video production and editing educational programs which are at the very core of our mission.

Take Tyler, for example: Tyler started at The Klein as a young child performing joyfully in our musical productions and attending classes regularly, fast forward six years and you can see Tyler working our events judiciously, responsibly and professionally as one of our paid interns. Tyler has told us that The Klein feels like home to him and that he never imagined learning all that he has. He is planning to continue on to college and we will be cheering him on every step of the way!

Tyler is not the only youth who has blossomed through our Klein Theatre Arts programs, we have so many of these success stories that we simply HAVE TO keep doing what you have allowed us to do! Yes, YOU-our donors, you are the ones who are making this happen and it is because of you and through your support that any of it can take place.

We now come to the end of the year and to the Holiday season and realize that you can help us continue to provide events for the community and educational opportunities going forward. THANK YOU! As we contribute to the growth and success of our Bridgeport, Connecticut arts community and thriving youth, thank you!

Please think about the options I shared at the start of this letter which are summarized below as you decide what will inspire you to support The Klein.

Give to the building for upkeep and capital improvements
Give to support future programs and marketing
Give for staffing and general operations
Give to the Klein Theatre Arts program (teacher salaries, supplies, internships)

Whatever you choose to support will make us, our octogenarian home, our enthusiastic audiences and performers--and many more students like Tyler continue to sing, dance, share and connect with Bridgeport and beyond!

Warmest Regards to you and your family from our team at The Klein

DONATE NOW

You may also send your donation by mail to:

Klein Memorial Auditorium Foundation

910 Fairfield Avenue

Bridgeport, CT 06605

Please make all checks payable to The Klein.

If you have any questions or comments, contact Mercedes Arensberg at mercedes@theklein.org

DONATIONS

The Klein is sustained by the generosity of our community. We offer a wide range of programming and the ONLY tuition- free after school arts program in Bridgeport, Klein Theatre Arts. The Klein is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Your donations are tax-deductible.

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