New fundraiser idea for Orlando (please!)

Orlando loves them some cabaret fundraisers. LOVES them. My God how many have we had/do we have in these recent weeks? And I am not saying they aren't wonderful evenings of talent and showmanship. They are. Most of them. And I understand why producers love using them for fundraising: the entertainment value can be absolutely stellar and the cost and effort is minimal.

But here's an idea I hope starts to catch on for variety's sake: Storytelling fundraisers. Now I know we can't get the level of celebrity listed below. But Orlando does have its own roster of well-known talented folks who could pull this off and it would lend to what I see as some much needed variety in fund-raising options for local orgs.
Hope Trumps Fear is a storytelling event that will be presented in the Penthouse at Barney's New York. The intimate evening of comedy and hope will feature Tony winners Matthew Broderick and Elaine Stritch as well as comedian Jim Breuer and FOX TV star Sue Costello. Conceived and hosted by Costello, the evening, according to press notes, is the first in a series that will "re-create the intimacy and feeling of an old fashioned artists salon but with the emphasis on comedy and fun. Actors, writers, and comedians will tell stories from their own lives and recall times when hope helped them to overcome their fears." The evening will begin with mingling and cocktails at 7 PM followed by the 8 PM show. The Penthouse at Barney's is located at 61st Street and Madison Avenue. For more information and to purchase tickets go to www.suecostello.com.
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