TELLURIDE – Telluride’s grassroots Squidshow Theatre company will be channeling telethons of yore this week, all in name of raising money for free homegrown theatre.
Squidshow creator Sasha Cucciniello and evening co-host Colin Sullivan are putting the Squidshow spin on what Cucciniello calls an “old school 70s telethon,” complete with outrageous hosts and variety show entertainment. The performance/party/text-a-thon is an offshoot of the Telluride Foundation-sponsored Text-to-Give fundraising contest, pitting SquidShow and three other non-profit arts organizations – Telluride Community Television, Michael D. Palm Theatre and Sheridan Arts Foundation – against each other to see who can earn the most text donations by April 2, when the winner is announced at the KOTO Street Dance. The organization that has raised the most money will receive matching funds up to $2,000 from the Telluride Foundation.
“As a fledgling theatre company, it takes so much money to support what we want to continue doing – which is providing free theatre,” Cucciniello says of the group’s current fundraising drive.
Tonight’s event, which begins at 9:30 p.m. at The Llama, will offer snapshots of the Squidshow personality, which has traditionally blended humor with song, dance, and unconventional characters. The show represents “the best of Squidshow Theatre,” Cucciniello says, with comedy, burlesque, ridiculous characters. There will also be chances to win fabulous door prizes.
While the Text-A-Thon is happening onstage, donors will be encouraged to visit operators standing by (with their cell phones) to help them secure $5 donations; each donation will grant the text donor a chance to win a door prize, which include Mountainfilm Passes, KOTO Doo-Dah tickets, Nugget Theatre tickets, Wagner Custom ski swag, gifts from Cashmere Red, massages, and more.
SquidShow Theatre aims to raise money to fund their summer musical extravaganza, which, by mandate of mission, will be free to the public.
“Our summer program is a completely original show that we cannot wait to share with the community,” says Cucciniello. “Winning this contest would go a go a long way in helping us execute it.”
The evening of SquidShow shenanigans will also include an after party with APOC and SoulAtomic spinning tunes and two-for-one drink specials. There is no cover charge to attend the show and after-party, but text donations will be happily accepted.
If you can’t make the text-a-thon but would still like to support SquidShow, you can text “Squid” to 90999 and commit $5 (up to five times) to SquidShow Theatre.
For more information about the Telluride Foundation’s Text-a-Thon fundraiser, or to donate to the Palm, TCTV or SAF, visit www.telluridefoundation.org.
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