Wing-It Productions
http://www.wingitproductions.org
How do you come together and share a resource?
At Wing-It Productions, we are a team. “Yes, And” is a core value for our organization, and we support one another and our community by sharing our greatest resource – improvisation. Our actors work together on stage creating instant theater based off suggestions from the audience, performing for over 18,000 audience members a year. We share our resources with the community by providing free performances that bring laughter to children who need it the most, such as summer camps like the NW Burn Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, American Cancer Society, and more. We work in partnership with Seattle Public Schools and the King County Juvenile Detention Facility to bring our improv classes to at-risk youth at no charge. Our classes help these youth develop valuable skills in listening, communication, and teamwork. Ultimately, it is our mission to bring the art of improvisation into the everyday lives of people in our community.
How would your group use the award money?
If we were awarded the $5000, we would use it to support our outreach programs. We provide our education and performance outreach programs at no cost to our partners. We rely heavily on individual donations and small family foundations to carry out this work. Unfortunately, the recent financial crisis has severely cut our funding in these areas. Despite this, we made a decision not to cut any of our outreach programs because we feel they are too important. This has taken a toll on our staff and teaching artists, however. $5000 would be enough to cover all of our direct program costs for our Juvenile Detention program for an entire year! This means we could serve over 420 incarcerated youth with your help.
Jon Horton
I have been a part of the Wing It education program for more than a year now and I can say it has been nothing short of a life changing experience. The art of improv is one that can promote such positive possibilities, and the fact that they take that message out to the public through their outreach programs is incredible.
There are few times that taking a class can change your life… this one does that and more. So please say Yes, And pass the word about Wing It!
Jon Richardson
I have worked with and taking classes at Wing It Productions for over three years now. It is always a pleasure to work with and learn from such professional and funny people. The work they do with their education outreach programs is amazing.
My favorite show they produce would be Twisted Flicks. If you have not seen it, you are missing out!!
Lisa Rife
I learned about Jetcity and Wing It Productions through the work they have done with at risk youth.
Being the parent of an at risk child, I am grateful there is a fun and welcoming place that allows these kids in, instead of excluding them because of the choices they’ve made in the past. Jetcity offers them a positive alternative, and a chance to make better choices while having a blast!!!
Thank you Jetcity and Wing It Productions!!!
Lane Rasberry
It is hard to find good teachers, it is hard to find people in creative fields who are organized, it is hard to find people in the nonprofit community who have business and accounting sense, and it is hard to implement programs of any sort that engage at-risk youth. How wonderful it is that Wing-it Productions staff manage all of these things and how fortunate we are that they are in our community.
It seems natural to me that they deserve to win this award because they are superb financial stewards in a highly-visible community position with a proven record of successful and life-changing outreach to young people at schools, juvenile detention facilities and elsewhere.
The money would undoubtedly be used to strengthen programs enough to draw even more community support to their efforts, effectively making an even larger impact by encouraging fans who visit the regular performances at the theater to contribute along. While the other candidates for this prize are worthy causes also, there is no doubt to me that this money could be used more effectively and make a larger positive impact on more people than by granting it to Wing-it Productions. Past successes resulting in new community demands make Wing-it entirely ripe for expansion right now, and lack of funding – not of management, volunteers, effort or interest – really is the constraining factor at this time. Very few organizations are even capable of having a financial need like this; please consider Wing-it Productions for this prize.
(disclosure – I attend Wing-it performances as a fan and have been a student in their classes.)
Charlie Roscoe
Please mention all manner of positive community involement that wives, husbands, and significant others are already contributing on behalf of youth in Seattle. The disclosure can only enhance the Jet City application and compliment those mentoring youth now.
Diana Knauf
It is easy to be supportive of such a great program. Improv is such a great way to get people laughing and working together. Wing-It is visible in the comminity and sharing its expertise everyday.
Susan Stregack
I became a fan of Wing-It Productions and Jet City over nine years ago when my son, Howard, was a member. You people do wonderful work, and you certainly know the meaning of “paying it forward!” I hope you get the grant.
Katie Cleary
I love Wing-It Productions!!!!!!!!!!!!
Troy Carter
Wing-It Productions is a fantastic organization. They are a crucial part of our art education courses offered to homeless and street involved youth. Each week the teach classes that provide laughter and joy to a group who desperately needs something good in their lives. They deserve your support!
Chuck Richards
Wing-It Productions gets credit for the large number of classes they offer for those wanting to get into improv. And the full calendar of productions thruout the year makes tham a leader in PNW Improv. They are a great asset to the community. Wing-It Improv, keep it up!!!!
Andrew Gratt
After countless hours and many productions, I still find an indescribable joy when I show up for another Wing-It Production. Their infectious spirit of the theatre, dedication to the art and, more importantly, their desire to fill our lives with laughter is what keeps me coming back. Thank you Wing-It Productions for so many memories and chuckles!!
YOU ROCK!!!!
Linda Ahzrauhn
Words sound good and true to me.
All the best and most,
Linda
Petal
I volunteer at Camp Goodtimes West, which provides 2 free, week long camps in Seattle for kids who are being treated for cancer, are survivors and a sibling. Each year, Jet City Improv come along and put on shows free of charge for the kids. The kids and staff love them, and is a highlight of camp. They are an amazing group of people and thoroughly deserve this grant.
Ninja!!
Rooss Morrison
Wing it productions is gre4at