Give the Gift of Theater: Sponsor a Child Performer This Christmas

Support Local Performers Through the Cathy Warren Scholarship Fund

The end of the year is rapidly approaching! We want to share how you can use your tax-deductible donations to support The Stage Oconee’s performers through scholarships provided by the Cathy Warren Scholarship Fund.

This fund allows us to offer financial assistance to families for whom production class tuition or performance fees might otherwise be unattainable. Thanks to community support, we’ve awarded over 11 scholarships to students who would not have been able to participate without this critical aid.

This month, we’re excited to feature the Hancock family, a cherished part of our theater community who has benefitted from the Cathy Warren Scholarship Fund.

The Hancock Family

(Front:Ethan Hancock, Stephanie Hancock, Jessie Hancock. Back: Andy Hancock, Logan Hancock.)

The Hancock Family’s Journey with The Stage Oconee

The Hancock family has been performing with The Stage Oconee since 2017. In these seven years, members of their family have been grateful recipients of scholarships. We spoke with Stephanie Hancock, a performer herself plus mother of three regular Stage performers and one occasional backstage/tech/pit player.

Tell us a bit about you and your performers.
"I am an active performer at The Stage, and I have two teenagers at home who love to act and sing there as well. I also have an adult son, Ethan, who is the facilities manager there and a regular performer. We’ve all gotten to be on stage together several times, and it’s one of my favorite things! My adult son Andy has pulled flies for shows and played French horn in the pit for several performances, as well. Before The Stage, we had no experience in theater."

Logan Hancock in a Christmas Show at The Stage Oconee.

How did you go about pursuing scholarships?
"We’ve been very thankful to receive scholarships through the years. I remember speaking with the owner before a particular production class began. Both of my younger children wanted to take the class, and I expressed to her that there was no way we could afford tuition for two. She told me that they might be able to work out a scholarship for at least one of them. It allowed both of my kids to have fun in a production class where I might otherwise have had to choose between them to determine who could participate. Had I not spoken up about the need, she never would’ve known we needed the help!"

How else have scholarship opportunities helped you through the years?
"Scholarships have also helped me in the last 7 years. Budgeting extra things can be difficult for single moms, and scholarships have taken some of that burden and stress off me. And I’ve been a recipient before, too."

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
"Only that the community we’ve found at The Stage Oconee has been incredibly welcoming and supportive, especially when life threw its curveballs at us. The directors and staff there genuinely care about every person that walks through the door. Our family is 8+ hours away in Kentucky, so having our theater family has changed our lives and made a huge impact on our family over the last seven years!"

The Hancock’s in The Stage’s Production of Mary Poppins.

Your Contribution Makes a Difference

As Ms. Hancock shared, theater changes lives. Through the Cathy Warren Scholarship Fund, your tax-deductible donations enable students in Watkinsville, Athens, and surrounding areas to participate in transformative theater experiences.

Performers not only discover themselves as they embody fantastical characters, but they also inspire audiences and bring joy to the community. Your generosity helps ensure that financial obstacles don’t stand in the way of these powerful experiences.

Join Us Next Time

Stay tuned for our next blog post, where we’ll spotlight another inspiring family from The Stage Oconee. We can’t wait to share more stories from our vibrant theater community.

Ready to make a difference? Visit The Stage Oconee’s donation page to support the Cathy Warren Scholarship Fund and give the gift of theater to a deserving child this Christmas.