Celebrating Our Rich History and a Bright Tomorrow

Pleasure Guild's first play, Hansel and Gretel, was produced in 1958 at the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts.  From this humble beginning, our annual play has grown into a full-scale theatre production - known and respected throughout Columbus and beyond - which raises upwards of $150,000 each year for Nationwide Children's Hospital.  With over 20 years of performances at The Palace Theatre, Pleasure Guild members do it all - from marketing and public relations to costume creation and set design.  Through state-of-the-art promotional tools and technology made available to us by the hospital, and an experienced creative team, we are able to produce Broadway-quality, family-friendly shows.

With four public performances and one free performance given each year for over 2,700 inner-city school children, these annual productions continue to be our largest fundraising projects.  Still, 200 free tickets are given away for each regular performance in order to ensure that everyone has a chance to experience the theatre.  For some of these children, it is their first exposure to the stage.  For a peek at several reviews of last year's Wizard of Oz production from some of our newest audience members, click here or here!

This year’s production, Annie, is the story of a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents. Abandoned years ago, Annie was left on the steps of New York City orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations, befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and finds a new family and home with billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy. Tickets can be purchased beginning February 1, 2008 through all TicketMaster locations and at www.ticketmaster.com .

Our director this year is Lisa Andres. Having studied theatre arts in college and later with legendary theatre actress Uta Hagan, Lisa has gone on to act and direct in professional and community theatre for the past 25 years. She formed The Guildlings, a children’s theatre group associated with The Player’s Guild of Dearborn (Michigan), and has written 15 original, award-winning, full-scale musical productions. Not only has she performed in local and national television commercials, but you may also have heard her voice on Sunny 95!

Since moving to Columbus six years ago, Lisa has directed “The Music Man” at Grandview High School, “Annie” at Little Theatre Off Broadway and “Alexander Who’s Not, Not, Not, Not, Not, Not Going to Move” at the Columbus Children’s Theatre, and “Little Women” with her own Children’s Theatre company, Acting Up Productions. She will be directing “Little Red” at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin this fall. Clearly, next to her family, theatre is the love of her life!

Musical direction for Annie will be provided by Tony McDonald. Mr. McDonald has had a distinguished career as a conductor, composer/arranger and arts administrator. He holds his Masters and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in orchestral conducting from Stanford University, has been music director and conductor of the Hillsdale College Community Orchestra, the Centre College Community Orchestra, the New Arts Ensemble, and is founder/director of Dr. Tony’s Original Ragtime Band. In addition to all of these accomplishments, he has served as guest conductor of the Westerville Symphony, has been assistant conductor of Scioto Valley Brass and Percussion Company, and has conducted musical theatre productions for over 35 years – most recently with the Davis Youth Performing Arts Program.

In other areas, McDonald has been Performing Arts Director for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing and Cultural Arts Complex, is currently the Music Director for the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus, and has written and published compositions and arrangements for brass band, flute and flute choir, chorus, ragtime band and orchestra.

If you are interested in learning more about how to become a corporate or an individual sponsor of our annual theatre production, please click on one of the links listed below. Or if you simply want to make a donation to Nationwide Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Program, click here.

Annie at the Palace Theatre
March 7, 8 and 9, 2008

Corporate Sponsorship Benefits and Commitment Form
Individual Sponsorship Benefits and Commitment Form

With over 10,000 tickets sold for our Wizard of Oz production, and a SOLD OUT Sunday matinee performance, Annie is sure to be a must see!  We hope that by sponsoring the play or by attending a performance, or BOTH, you become a contributor to Pleasure Guild's rich history - and a part of a brighter tomorrow for Nationwide Children's Hospital.

50 Years of Shows