Continuing a tradition of sharing box-office proceeds from its productions with other area charities, the Creative Place International (CPI) has distributed a total of $4,552 to six nonprofits that worked with CPI to gather an audience for “Saratoga Chips” performances at the Arts Center in Saratoga Aug. 1-11.

Beneficiaries of the CPI proceed-sharing initiative are: Maple Ave. Middle School Musical Club, Saratoga County Children’s Committee, Shelters of Saratoga, St. Clement’s Church, the Brave Will Foundation, and the Yaddo Garden Association.

A Saratoga County Children’s Committee spokesperson said, “Our committee was honored to have been chosen to receive half the proceeds from ticket sales that night and was delighted to work with such a talented group of theatre professionals. Quality and professionalism describes our experience in every way. Volunteers helping other volunteers...it doesn't get any better than that.”

Kathy Mattes of the Yaddo Garden Association said, “We were thrilled to partner with CPI's multitalented theatre professionals. It was great to collaborate with another group of dedicated volunteers to support the community.”

CPI specifically commissioned “Saratoga Chips” as part of the Saratoga 150 Celebration, marking the Saratoga Race Course sesquicentennial as the oldest continuously operating sports venue in the nation. Corporate sponsors of  “Saratoga Chips” included the Adirondack Trust Co., E. Stewart Jones Law Firm, Healthy Living Market and Café, Mohawk Honda, Price Chopper’s Golub Foundation, Stewart’s Shops and Stuyvesant Plaza.

Acclaimed by audiences at the Arts Center, “Saratoga Chips” by Saratoga playwright Mary Jane Hansen revisits the Spa City’s colorful history during the time of the Civil War when the Saratoga Race Course was founded. The play is an entertaining theatrical adventure, combining history, comedy and music from Saratoga’s Victorian era and featuring many of the personalities of the time, including President Ulysses S. Grant, Madame Jumel, Saratoga Track Founder John Morrissey, Mark Twain and Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt.

Working toward its mission to provide cultural resources to the community, the Creative Place International will present workshops for young people and adults wishing to hone their performing and/or writing skills, and is planning another theatrical production in the spring as well as next summer.

In the future, CPI will continue to partner with not-for-profit organizations and will also work toward establishing a modest theatrical facility in Saratoga Springs where CPI and other performing-arts organizations in need of a legitimate theatre space can present their work in a professional setting for both artists and audiences.

Further information is available at www.thecreativeplaceinternational.org or 584-7780.


--Jennie