This Fundraiser is a Real 'Drag'
Circle Players is opening its 72nd Season with a bang and bringing community theatre back to the stage in a big way with Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (the musical).
We have 1costumers working tirelessly on this show to produce over 200 unique costumes that will bring it to life. But it comes with a huge price tag - and that's where you come in.
Esteemed members of our community have risen to the challenge with a goal to raise a minimum of $500 each to help fund the extraordinary costume budget for our show. Our overall goal is $10,000!
The catch?
Each fundraiser has agreed to receive their own "drag makeover" after one of the shows if their $500 goal is achieved. So, the more money you donate to your favorite "drag queen" the better chance you'll get to see them transform right before your eyes!
And better yet, you're helping support one of the oldest Community Theatres in the country as we end our extended intermission and bring live theatre back to our amazing community.
What's next?
Click on the "Donate Now" of the fundraiser who you think is in most need of a gorgeous makeover. You'll be directed to their fundraising bucket on Circle's ticketing platform to make your tax deductible donation. We'll keep a running tally daily so you can see how they're doing. If (when) they reach their goal, we'll let you know at which post-show performance they'll be making their fabulous reveal!
Thank you for helping support Circle Players and this amazing show. We know you 'love the nightlife' and 'love to boogie' just like us - and with your help, we'll 'shake our groove thing' once again!
Progress towards $10,000 Goal:
$7,845
Note: Totals are updated on a nightly basis. Your donation will not be reflected until the next day!
Jim Schmidt
President, Schmidt Government Solutions
Jim represents various organizations, corporations and professional associations at the TN General Assembly working with lawmakers and policy makers on behalf of his clients. Jim is an avid traveler, comic book geek, obsessive foodie and loves a good drink with some good music. He will make an awesome drag queen because while he loves music, he can almost never remember the right words so "lip synching for his life" is definitely in his future.
Raised:
$770
Keith Merrill
Real Estate Investor and Advisor
Keith is a retired Realtor after 26 year and is a real estate investor and advisor. His hobbies include hiking, swimming, sailing, kayaking and playing with his two yellow labs, Oski and Emmy. When asked why he'd make a great drag queen, he replied, "Well I don’t know about great, but I’d definitely be one of the tallest…without heels!"
Raised:
$375
Schuyler Phoenix
Theatrical Dancer and Choreographer
A native of Birmingham, AL, Schuyler has performed in many shows in Nashville including The Rocky Horror Show and La Cage with Circle Players, along with choreographing Circle's Madagascar, Jr. this past summer. Schuyler has also worked as a professional wardrobe dresser for Broadway touring companies like The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, and Wicked. Outside of theatre, she is a certified stretch therapist, burlesque performer, aerial instructor, and dog mom to her pup who has also played Toto here in Nashville.
Raised:
$315
David Kleinfelter
Attorney and City Planner, Reno & Cavanaugh, PLLC
David is a life-long cyclist who was one of the founders of the bike and pedestrian advocacy group, Walk Bike Nashville. David is a volunteer set builder for the Hume Fogg High School theater program, where his children attended many years ago. He is also a recovering politician. It's hard to imagine how anyone could be a more fabulously beautiful drag queen than a man whose physique led friends in college to sometimes (lovingly) call him "the Lump."
Raised:
$900
Claudia Huskey
Annual Fund Director, University School of Nashville
Claudia's hobbies are going to Nashville Predators Hockey games, taking her kids to shows by the Nashville Children's Theater and Theater Bug, engaging in Nashville politics, and exploring her East Nashville neighborhood. She will make a great drag queen because Adele is her style icon and has referenced that her stage makeup is about as close to a drag queen as she can get! So she will ask to be an "Adele" queen.
Raised:
$640
Jim Manning
Technical Theater and Film Studies Teacher,
University School of Nashville
When Jim is not teaching the next generation of theatre makers or directing shows (like Priscilla), he is active in building sets for community theaters around town, and is currently a dancer in Tennessee Playwrights' production of 'That Woman.' When asked why he's going to make a great drag queen, he exclaimed, "Because, I mean, LOOK at that profile!"
Raised:
$1,425
Eric Patton
Professional Wedding Officiant and Start-Up Professional
Besides the obvious love of drag and theatre, Eric is a huge classic country music fan. Additionally, he loves to hike and take care of his beagle, Maybelle. Eric did drag as a hobby when he first moved to Nashville ages ago. He hasn't brought Mandy Rose Montgomery out in years, but if he raises this money, he'll be happy as can be to revive the old gal and give his Instagram followers what they've been begging for. And yes, he's even still got some sparkly heels.
Raised:
$575
Laura Knotts
President, Madison-Rivergate Area Chamber of Commerce
Laura Knotts is the President of the Madison-Rivergate Area Chamber of Commerce (in addition to being the current President of Circle Players), so she understands how fundraising “is a drag.” In her spare time, she loves Literature, cross-stitching, painting, Kiki-ing, and helping community theatre! Laura is a Drag Race super fan and says she "can read you like a children’s book, okur?"
Raised:
$545
Jaymes Campbell
Marketing Executive
Jaymes Campbell owns a marketing company that specializes in design, branding, electronic advertising, and large-format printing. Theatre has definitely been his creative outlet since childhood and he's enjoyed watching his own kids find their talents. When he's not spending time with them, he reads scripts or finds ways to get involved with local theatre. When asked why he's going to be a great drag queen, he laughed and said, "Haa! I honestly don't believe I'd make a good drag queen, but I think it's a fun way to contribute to a group and production that deserves support."
Raised:
$605