Cultural Park Theater

The cast at Cultural Park Theater is getting innovative in their fundraising efforts and will mix fashion and prizes Wednesday night.

“A Not So Fashioned Fashion Show” invites the public to the theater for a night of entertainment and a chance to win raffle prizes from local businesses.

Cast members of “On Stage Places Please” (currently running at the theater) will hit the runway with themed-outfits that best describe the raffle prize being presented.

Director and fundraiser organizer Tyler Young said with everything going on surrounding COVID-19, it seemed impractical to raffle off items that have been worn. Instead, cast members will get to be creative with their costume choices that best describe their prize. The show will be hosted by Jerri-Lynne Clayton and Stephanie Sabelhaus.

“The cast will be ‘modeling’ different items,” Young said. “They will be modeling the item per se versus a traditional fashion show, which is where we got the name.”

For instance, a cast member with a bucket and suds may be the model for the Downtowner Car Wash raffle prize.

The audience will see each of the 14 items presented and during intermission will submit their purchased raffle tickets into the bucket that represents the prize they desire. Raffle tickets will be sold in bulk and each prize will need a range of 5-10 tickets to enter.

Programs will be distributed with a line list of items to help attendees keep track of what they would like to pursue following the show. There are two extra prizes up for grabs if the theater hits its fundraising goals that all tickets entered for all prizes will be eligible for.

Admission for the event is $10 and includes drinks (wine included) and hors d’oeuvres. Raffle tickets can be purchased upon arrival. The show begins at 7 p.m. with the door opening at 6 for mingling and raffle ticket purchase.

Young said the cast — the majority of which are kids –had lots of fun preparing for the show and finding creative ways to display their items.

“We’re so excited for this. Everyone is having a great time and we’re letting them do their thing,” Young said. “It’s not a scripted show or a character they’re playing. It’s fun for them to get out of their shell and out of the box and make it their own.”

Young said he is also very grateful to the local businesses and individuals who have helped out with donations during an economically stressful time.

Cultural Park Theater is currently under a capacity restriction so tickets are on a first-come-first-serve basis. Young hopes those who choose to attend truly adopt the fundraising spirit of the event. Tickets can be found online at notsofashion.com or purchased at the door (while available). Young said if patrons purchase a ticket to both the fashion show and the on-stage show this weekend, you would receive a $5 discount.

The theater will be hosting fundraisers in conjunction with each show this season.

Cultural Park Theater is at 528 Cultural Park Blvd. Visit culturalparktheater.com for more information.

–Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj