HELPING SOUTHERN REP. Remember the smoke billowing around Saks Fifth Avenue in New Orleans? Nearby at the Canal Place shopping complex was the Southern Rep Theater, which hopes to reopen in 2006 after having to cancel the first three shows of its season due to Hurricane Katrina. That's going to make it hard for Southern Rep to pay its staff, some of whom have lost their homes.

Here's a fundraising invitation forwarded by Brian Sands, who was working with the theater as a volunteer. (Brian, who says his home in New Orleans "came through more or less in good shape," is now living temporarily in New York City.)

RUDE MECHANICALS
Invites You to a Cocktail Party to Benefit
SOUTHERN REP
The Premiere Professional Theater of New Orleans

Rude Mechanicals invites you to an open bar cocktail party to benefit Southern Rep Theatre, the leading professional theater of New Orleans. Southern Rep is run by Rude Mechanicals co-founder and former Artistic Director Ryan Rilette. Ryan and his staff were all safely evacuated from the city, but they have been forced to close the doors to the theater indefinitely.

Although Southern Rep survived the storm, last Saturday, looters set on fire The Shops at Canal Place, where the theater was housed. Due to the lack of water and low water pressure, the fire burned for many hours before it was contained. Until they are allowed to return to the city, they won't know the extent of the damage to the theater; they are cautiously optimistic that their theater and offices survived (damage may have been limited to Saks Fifth Avenue) but are not sure.

Ryan says he does not know yet whether the theater will be able to recover from the destruction that Katrina has caused to New Orleans because like all non-profit theaters, they rely on donations to cover approximately 50% of their expenses each year. For the next few years, as the city rebuilds, Ryan said he expects funding for the arts in Louisiana, which were already far below the national average, to lessen significantly.

We aim to help Ryan in his goal to "survive this disaster and to become a major part of the cultural scene that drives the new New Orleans." All proceeds from this party will be used to pay the staff at Southern Rep, some of whom have lost not only their jobs, but their homes as well. We hope you will join us for this worthwhile cause.

When: Monday, Sept. 12 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Where: Opaline - 85 Avenue A (btwn 5th & 6th)

Cost: $20

How: You can pay with a Visa, MasterCard or American Express in advance by going to www.southernrep.com (we're not 100% sure if this is up and running yet) or pay with cash or check (made out to "Southern Rep Theater") at the door.