Beyond the fact that both are vivid shades of red, the Westport Country Playhouse and blood seem to have little in common.
But on August 3-8 the Playhouse will sponsor blood drives in New York and Greenwich. Each donor receives a voucher for a free ticket to a 2009 or 2010 production — including the upcoming “How the Other Half Loves” and “That Championship Season.”
The Playhouse seems an unlikely sponsor for a blood drive. But the connection is natural, says Cherie Quain — a Playhouse board member who helped develop the idea while serving another role, with the Penn Club of New York’s community service club.
“Particularly in these tough economic times, the Playhouse is trying to be more than just a place that puts on shows,” Cherie says. “We want local folks to feel like it’s their home — a meeting place, a living place where they can exchange ideas, thoughts and feelings — and a place that gives back to the community.” A blood drive gets to the heart of that.
The Playhouse is also reaching out to people who don’t live nearby, but might want to travel for a show “because we are warm and welcoming, different and special — a ‘family,’ if you will,” Cherie adds.
Finally, she notes: “Even if you’re broke, you don’t need money to give blood. And we can say ‘thank you’ with a ticket.”
(The New York City blood drive is August 3-7, MetLife Donor Center, 200 Park Ave, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m; appointments only at www.nybloodcenter.org, or call 800-933-2566 and mention “PCNY.” The Greenwich blood drive is August 8 at the Hyatt Regency, 1800 East Putnam Ave., 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; appointments only at www.bloodct.org, or call 203-305-3959.)
Give blood, see a play