Four years ago I got an email from Eva, my daughter, in the middle of her school-day:

"we're at assembly and we just saw this play and it was really good. they're doing it again Thursday night and you should come...the actors are really cool and they're doing a talk-back and none of us want to leave even though the bell rang."

That was my introduction to The Williams Project.

I took her advice. I went to their production of Blues for Mister Charlie and was riveted. Here were Equity actors doing one of James Baldwin's classics in the Franklin High School auditorium. Tickets were pay-what-you-can. The lobby was filled with neighbors. And the mission was bold:

"Our mission is to make theatrical excellence accessible to diverse and engaged audiences, while paying artists a living wage."

This group of people, this organization, is the real deal and there's no one else I'd rather spend Sad Mardi Gras with. :-)

Please join me! Make a contribution of any amount--and I mean, ANY--to thank the gods that artists live among us--and then come find me at my table on December 5!