SUPPORT WAYS AND MEANS
A NOTE FROM THE FOUNDER
I started this company because I believe that theatre — the real thing, the kind where a room full of strangers agrees to sit together and pay attention to the same story at the same time — is one of the few remaining civic acts that asks us to be fully human in the presence of other people. Now, more than ever, it’s important to keep the conversation moving forward.
Every gift you make, every reading you attend, every friend you bring through the door is a vote for that belief. I don't take it lightly.
Thank you for being here at the beginning.
Douglas Atkins, Founding Artistic Director
WHAT YOUR GIFT MAKES POSSIBLE
$25 - Pays for an hour of space rental for rehearsal and performance.
$50 — Puts a script in an actor's hands and a program on every seat.
$100 — Covers the licensing fee that gives us legal permission to present a play.
$125 — Pays an artist's stipend for an entire staged reading.
$250 — Funds a full evening of theatre: artists, venue, programs, and post-show reception.
$500 — Helps underwrite a complete reading from first rehearsal to final talkback.
$1,000 — Produces an entire reading and contributes to the mainstage production. Your name in every program for the season.
FOUNDING CIRCLE
Gifts of $500 and above receive Founding Circle recognition — a permanent place in the company's founding story. Founding Circle members are recognized by name in all season programs and communications, and receive invitations to private rehearsals, receptions with artists, and insider updates from the Artistic Director throughout the year.
This is a designation that will only exist once. Once we're past the founding, it's gone.
OTHER WAYS TO GIVE
Recurring gifts.
A monthly gift of any size provides the steady, predictable support that allows a young company to plan with confidence. Even $10 a month adds up to $120 a year — enough to pay an artist's stipend.
Matching gifts.
Many employers match charitable contributions. Check with your HR department — your gift could double at no additional cost to you.
In-kind donations.
We welcome donations of goods and services that support our programming: printing, refreshments, photography, design, office supplies, rehearsal space. If you have something to offer, we'd love to hear about it.
Stock transfers and planned giving.
For gifts of appreciated securities or information about including Ways and Means Theatre in your estate plans, please contact artistic@wam-theatre.com directly.
CORPORATE & BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS
We offer tiered sponsorship opportunities for local and national businesses interested in aligning with Chicago's newest ensemble theatre company.
Sponsor benefits include: logo placement in programs and marketing materials, complimentary tickets, recognition from the stage, and access to private events.
To discuss a partnership, contact artistic@wam-theatre.com.
BEYOND DOLLARS
Not every form of support has a dollar sign on it. Here are some of the most valuable things you can do for a company at this stage
Come. Show up to a reading. Bring someone. The single most important thing we need right now is people in the room.
Spread the word. Follow us on Instagram @wamtheatreco. Share a post. Forward this page to someone you think would care. Word of mouth built every great Chicago theatre company, and it will build this one.
Host a gathering. Invite us into your living room, your office, your favorite bar. We'll talk about the company, share our season, and meet the people in your life. These informal gatherings are where the deepest relationships begin.
Volunteer. We need front-of-house support at readings, help with events, and hands-on assistance of all kinds. Contact artistic@wam-theatre.com if you want to be part of the work.
Join our mailing list. Stay connected. We'll share season announcements, reading dates, and behind-the-scenes stories — and we'll never flood your inbox.