The 25th Anniversary Benefit for Company One Theatre
Community, Social Change, and a New American Theatre
With co-chairs Linda Nathan and Antonio Ocampo-Guzman
Mark your calendars and join us this spring to honor 25 seasons of adventurous storytelling, impactful education, and community-centered social action!
Celebrate this important milestone with C1 friends from past and present as we gather to honor our community and support for what’s next for the American Theatre. A night of tasty bites, signature cocktails, dynamic performances, and a dance party you won’t forget — show up and show out at the biggest party of the year!
Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 at 6:30pm
Location: Northeastern University, East Village 17th Floor, 291 St. Botolph St, Boston MA 02115
Dress Code: Creative Cocktail — festive, funky, ready to party!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I purchase a sponsorship or individual tickets?
Reserve tickets, become a sponsor, or donate online at https://companyone.org/25th-anniversary.
Ticket & sponsorship reservations can also be made by emailing development@companyone.org.
Guests can register online in advance or in person at the event. There are no physical tickets; all guests will be welcomed at the check-in table upon arrival.
Can I make a donation in support of the event in another amount?
Absolutely! If you can’t attend the event but would still like to donate, or if you want to make an additional donation with your ticket purchase for the event, you can do so via the event registration page. There will also be opportunities for guests to donate in person at the Benefit, or you can make a donation in support of C1’s mission anytime at companyone.org/donate.
What does my ticket purchase include?
Each ticket includes entrance to the event, a drink ticket for each person, dinner, and a tax-deductible donation to Company One to support our mission to build community at the intersection of art and social change.
What does my sponsorship purchase include?
Each sponsorship includes several benefits depending on the level purchased, including recognition at the event, entry tickets for multiple people, a reserved section for your group, ad placement in C1 event programs this season, and more. A full list of benefits for each sponsorship level can be seen on the event registration page.
How do I register the guests joining me as part of my sponsorship group?
Each sponsorship level includes a specific number of entry tickets. If you purchased a sponsorship and will be using multiple tickets for your group, please send guest names and email addresses to Jessie Baxter & Norma Stobbe at development@companyone.org as soon as possible to expedite your check-in process at the event.
How do I get there?
Northeastern is accessible on the MBTA’s Orange Line (Ruggles & Massachusetts Ave stations) and Green Line (Northeastern station), as well as several bus lines. We recommend public transportation or rideshare, as there is limited street parking available in the neighborhood, but you can also park at the Gainsborough Garage ($18 evening rate) or the Renaissance Garage ($36 for four hours). There will be Company One staff available to support with wayfinding to the 17th Floor of Northeastern University’s East Village.
What’s the dress code for the Benefit?
Creative cocktail attire — be festive, funky, and ready to party! There is a complementary coat check on the 17th floor.
Does the Benefit have any age restrictions?
This is an 18+ event.
What’s the program for the evening?
The event begins at 6:30 pm and our honoree presentation will begin around 7:15 pm, followed by a celebratory toast. Our host is Nik Walker and we will have performances from guest artists throughout the night. The event will close with a dance party led by DJ WhySham from 9-10 pm so you can end the night in true C1 style!
What are the food and drink options?
Bar service at the event will include beer, wine and a signature cocktail option, and drink tickets will come with event tickets/sponsorship. We’ll also be serving heavy passed bites and have a few food stations, including vegetarian and vegan options.
Who are the honorees?
Company One is excited to honor playwright Kirsten Greenidge for her Impact in Artistic Excellence, board member Linda Nathan for her Impact in Education, and board member Mike Tow for his Impact in Community. You can find out more on our event page.
Is the space accessible?
Northeastern University East Village is wheelchair accessible. Please email development@companyone.org prior to your arrival if you have any questions or particular access needs.
What does the Anniversary Benefit support?
All proceeds support Company One’s mission to build community at the intersection of art and social change. Your support at the event allows us to continue creating dynamic theatrical events and amplifying urgent issues that impact systemically and historically marginalized communities in Boston. We bring our art and education into community spaces, classrooms, and publicly accessible, city-owned spaces across Boston so that theatre as public art for public good is accessible to all! Since our founding in 1998, we’ve reached over 2000 artists, 15,000+ students, and 100,000+ audience members.
Is my donation tax deductible?
The fair market value of nondeductible goods and services received at the 25th Anniversary Benefit is $90 per ticket. U.S. Government regulations prohibit payment for event sponsorship or tickets from exempt organizations, including donor-advised funds (DAF) and bifurcation of grants (splitting the deductible portion from the non-deductible portion of the grant). Company One recommends that Benefit attendees consult their donor-advised fund manager, tax advisor, and/or legal counsel for definitive tax guidance. Company One is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization; the organization’s tax identification number is 04-3444644.
What are COVID-19 safety measures for the event?
The 25th Anniversary Benefit for Company One is a mask-optional event. Company One will provide masks at the event for anyone who would like one.
We ask that you do not attend the 25th Anniversary Benefit if you have recently tested positive for COVID-19 or if you have other flu-like symptoms. For any additional questions related to Covid-19 policy, please reach out to development@companyone.org.
For more information or for questions not answered here, please contact Jessie Baxter & Norma Stobbe at development@companyone.org or call the Company One Office at 617-292-7110. Thank you for your support!
Join Company One as we celebrate our three honorees and their impact in education, community, and artistic excellence!
Kirsten Greenidge — Impact in Artistic Excellence
Award-winning playwright Kirsten Greenidge has been part of Company One since Season 6 (2004-2005) when C1 commissioned her powerful play 103 within the Veil inspired by the life of Hubert Collins, one of Boston’s first Black photographers. C1 has since gone on to develop and produce 6 of her plays, including Splendor and most recently Greater Good, an epic site-specific drama co-produced with the ART that grappled with the complexities of contemporary education. Her newest work, Morning, Noon, and Night will have its world premiere in April as part of C1’s 25th season. In addition to her work mentoring emerging artists and developing new plays at C1, Kirsten has also been a playwriting fellow and had many works produced at the Huntington Theatre (Common Ground Revisited; Our Daughters, Like Pillars; Milk Like Sugar; Luck of the Irish), and she is currently chair of Theatre Arts and co-Chair of Performance at the School of Theatre at Boston University where she is an Associate Professor. Kirsten earned her BA at Wesleyan University where she wrote her first plays, and her MFA at the Playwrights Workshop at the University of Iowa. She has had residencies across the country from Playwrights Horizons in NYC to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She has received numerous recognitions including a Lilly, an Obie Award, a PEN/America Laura Pels Midcareer Playwright Award, and others. Kirsten lives in central Massachusetts with her children, husband, mother, and sister Kerri Greenidge in the house the family has named Gwendolyn.
“Kirsten is truly Boston’s master playwright,” says LaCount. “Her astonishing creativity and deep social insight give audiences new pathways into having complex discussions about race, gender, class, history, and the world we live in today.”
“Company One has always encouraged me not to put limits on what I imagine,” says Kirsten. “I so appreciate their artistic bravery, alongside the warmth and sense of camaraderie I have experienced over so many years.”
Linda Nathan — Impact in Education
Educator, author, and artist Linda Nathan is a leader whose impact in Boston has been felt by students and educators alike. In addition to serving on the C1 Board, she founded, co-founded, and led three Boston Public Schools (Tobin Bilingual Middle School for the Arts, Fenway High School, Boston Arts Academy) and founded three non-profits (El Pueblo Nuevo, Center for Collaborative Education, and Center for Artistry and Scholarship). She was co-founder and co-director of Perrone Sizer Institute for Creative Leadership, and is now an Adjunct Lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Cambridge College, Puerto Rico. She is the author of two books and consults nationally and internationally on issues of educational reform, leadership, racial justice, equity, and the critical role of arts and creativity in schools. When she’s not writing books or mentoring and coaching educators, she is a caring grandmother and keeps her hands busy producing wheel-thrown pottery that she sells in support of social justice causes.
Linda has been a member of the C1 Board since 2015 and currently serves as C1’s Vice President. Says C1 Artistic Director and past BAA faculty member Shawn LaCount, “Linda has been a champion not only for Company One, but also for the power of Boston arts and arts education throughout her impressive career. Her close alignment and deep belief in C1’s mission has been instrumental in helping our board steward the organization to where it is now.”
“I think Company One is the most exciting theatre company in town,” says Linda. “It gives young adults in the city of Boston a real place to hone and perform their craft.” Many of Linda’s former students have gone on to perform in C1 shows and to teach theatre through C1s education programs. “It means so much to me to be recognized by a company I watched grow up over 25 years.”
Michael Tow — Impact in Community
Michael Tow is a versatile TV, Film and theater actor, as well as a Certified Financial Planner and President at New Boston Financial. A starring role in Company One’s After the Quake reignited his passion for acting and launched his professional acting career. Michael went on to create memorable characters at numerous Boston theaters and on many TV series and films, from a series regular role on Apple TV’s City on Fire, to recurring roles on Taylor Sheridan’s Special Ops Lioness and STARZ’s Raising Kanan. Michael is also a co-creator at Tow Arboleda Films which has made numerous Asian American social justice shorts and videos seen by millions of people around the world, including That’s Not the Nanny and Coughing While Asian. When not acting, he spends time with his wife and daughters, and is also a Senior Pro Pickleball player.
“Seeing yourself represented on stage and in film has a huge impact on your confidence and sense of belonging” says Michael. “When I started acting again as an adult, I didn’t see anyone like me in most Boston theaters. After years of work, C1 has changed that.” Michael has spoken across the country about AAPI representation in Hollywood, and, in addition to his work with C1, has served on the boards of many non-profit community organizations.
Says C1’s Managing Director Karthik Subramanian, “Michael has been an incredible ambassador for Company One, both as a board member and as a successful television and film actor. We are proud to say that Mike uses his immense talents and his public platform to inform issues of equity in the entertainment field, specifically on behalf of the AAPI community.”
Become an event sponsor today and join our vision for a Boston defined by justice, equity, and artistic innovation, all while reaching our growing audience of diverse and creative supporters!
Who is Company One Theatre?
For 25 years, C1 has been home to Boston’s most vital storytellers, artists, educators, and community organizers who are fighting for social justice and cultivating the next generation of changemakers. We create dynamic theatrical events that amplify opportunities and urgent issues impacting systemically and historically marginalized people, reaching over 2000 artists, 15,000+ students, and 100,000+ audience members since our founding in 1998. Our distinct approach has earned local and national recognition, and we’ve seen rapid growth in our audiences and internal infrastructure as we approach this crucial milestone year.
What makes C1 distinct?
We bring our art and education into community spaces, classrooms, and publicly accessible, city-owned spaces across Boston so that theatre as public art for public good is accessible to all! Our programs are designed to reach multiple generations, in multiple geographies, through multiple modes of engagement — 58% of C1’s audience identifies as BIPOC, and 52% of our audience is under age 35, and we have artists, partners, and audience members in every Boston neighborhood (and beyond!).
Your sponsorship supports C1’s mission to build community at the intersection of art and social change. Make your commitment today!
For more information, contact Jessie Baxter, Director of Development and Connectivity, at development@companyone.org or 617.292.7110. We’re happy to answer questions or discuss ways your sponsorship can meet your specific goals and connect with our audience.
Event Sponsorship Levels
Transform Sponsorship: $25,000
All the benefits of the sponsorship levels below, plus:
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Placement in Company One’s Season 25 production programs with 1/2 page ad, and a full-size digital ad displayed on the May 6 event slide show throughout the night
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Dedicated social media posts before and after the event
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Entrance for up to 30 people with a reserved area for your group
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A special gift for each of your attendees
Inspire Sponsorship: $10,000
All the benefits of the sponsorship levels below, plus:
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Prominent recognition as a Season 25 Sponsor, with special acknowledgement at all productions, in playbills, on the company website, and in digital communications — reach over 25,000 people in the C1 community!
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Placement in Company One’s next production program with 1/4 page ad
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Entrance for up to 25 people with a reserved area for your group
Impact Sponsorship: $5,000
All the benefits of the sponsorship levels below, plus:
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Prominent recognition as a single show sponsor in Season 25, with special acknowledgement at all productions, in playbills, on the company website, and in digital communications — reach over 25,000 people in the C1 community!
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A digital ad displayed on the May 6 event slide show throughout the night
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A private pre-event toast for your group with C1 honorees, artists, and company leadership
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Entrance for up to 20 people with drink tickets and a reserved area for your group
Activate Sponsorship: $2,500
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Your name displayed and publicly acknowledged during the May 6 event, plus social media acknowledgement
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Entrance for up to 12 people and drink tickets for each person in your group
Amplify Sponsorship: $1,000
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Your name displayed and publicly acknowledged during the May 6 event, plus social media acknowledgement
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Entrance for up to 6 people and drink tickets for each person in your group