Michigan Shakespeare Festival needs your vote

Posted: Sept. 10, 2012 at 3:58 p.m.

JACKSON – The Michigan Shakespeare Festival, the official Shakespeare Festival of the State of Michigan, has made it into the Top 100 on the Chase Community Giving leaderboard. The MSF is the only Michigan non-profit to do so. If this lead is kept, it means that the MSF will get at least $20,000. But more votes are needed.

Chase Bank hosts an annual crowd-sourcing grant appeal every autumn – but this year has been different. People are only allowed two votes, unless they have a Chase card. To vote, people only need to follow the Facebook link and vote. That's it; it's free.

If the Michigan Shakespeare Festival can get up to 10,000 votes, there is the possibility of getting the top $250,000 grant, which would cover 90 percent of this coming season!

All people have to do is click here and vote before Sept. 19.

All voters are automatically entered into a drawing to receive a free pair of flex-subscription tickets to the 2013 season.

In addition to the MSF High School Tour, which reaches over 10,000 Michigan high school students annually, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival is looking forward to producing an inventive and entertaining 2013 Summer Season. The elegant and popular comedy "Twelfth Night" will be the flagship production, followed by the rarely seen and much anticipated "King John." Oliver Goldsmith's hilarious "She Stoops to Conquer" rounds out the season.

As a preview, "Shakespeare Allow'd!" free public participatory readings of Shakespeare works are presented the last Saturday of every month at the Carnegie Branch of the Jackson District Library. This coming Sept. 29 is "The Merchant of Venice."

Like many arts organizations, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival has been hurt by current economic conditions. Generous donations and grants helped MSF complete the critically acclaimed 2012 season. But there is still much more to do.

In order to secure the future of the Festival, it is essential that MSF raises the funds needed to finish this year in the black. You can help.

Vote for the MSF in the Chase Community Giving contest, then please consider making a donation, large or small. If you have already given, consider adding to your gift. All donations are fully tax deductible and will be greatly appreciated by audiences of all ages.

And if you vote on the Chase site, you’ll be entered into a season ticket giveaway as our way of thanking you!

For more information about partnering, the Shakespeare tour, group bookings, season tickets, or community outreach please call 517-998-3673, e-mail to msf@acd.net, or visit www.MichiganShakespeareFestival.com.