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It is said that good art is thought provoking – a point the production team and cast of “The Altruists” at SUNY Fredonia is trying hard to prove.
The Department of Theatre and Dance production, which opens Friday, Nov. 5 in Bartlett Theatre at Rockefeller Arts Center, is about a group of young political activists who are ineffective in their efforts to accomplish anything.
According to director Tom Loughlin, the failings of the characters in the play served to inspire those involved in the production to launch an effort to raise money for a charity that brings clean water to people in underdeveloped countries.
“‘The Altruists’ is a play about people who believe in everything but do nothing effective, and in fact the one thing they actually manage to do is frame one of the very people they claim to be fighting for,” Loughlin said. “We decided to take the opportunity to do something constructive and get something done for someone else.”
As a result, the cast and production team at SUNY Fredonia are sponsoring a “Dig A Well” site through Charity:Water, an organization which directs 100 percent of the donations it receives to projects designed to make clean drinking water a reality for people in Third World countries.
“We’re sponsoring the campaign to donate to Charity:Water as a way to make our production a call to action as opposed to just a satirical comedy,” Loughlin said.
The goal is to raise $5,000 in the next three months and the campaign is being promoted through a Facebook page. Information is available at http://mycharitywater.org/altruists or by searching Facebook for “The Altruists Dig A Well.”
“All you have to do is something simple ─ give up some beer money or other vice money, and donate it to this good cause,” Loughlin said. “I think it should be easy to raise $5,000 for this cause, and I hope you will think so as well.”
Those interested in seeing the characters of “The Altruists” in action will have six opportunities to do so. Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. on Nov. 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13 and 2 p.m. on Nov. 7. Tickets are available through the SUNY Fredonia Ticket Office in the Williams Center, by phone (673-3501 or 1-866-441-4928) and online at www.fredonia.edu/tickets.
The Department of Theatre and Dance is forewarning patrons that the play contains adult language and situations. It is not recommended for anyone under 17.
“The Altruists” is a Walter Gloor Mainstage event sponsored by M&T Bank as part of the Lake Shore Savings Season.
