By now, we鈥檝e all seen the photos and videos: migrant children of all ages, violently and needlessly separated from their parents, herded into cages in hastily constructed internment camps south of the border.
Such images have rightly shocked and horrified the civilized world, and compelled many good humans into action, including some right here in the 604.聽
On July 4, more than two dozen 麻豆传媒映画stage and screen performers will take to the stage at the BMO Theatre Centre for an evening of song and spoken word to raise funds for two organizations that support kids in desperate need on both sides of the border.
鈥淭his is a way of collecting people in a room to foster love and hope for children who need help, and families who need help,鈥� says Jenny Mitchell of Laughing Matters Theatre Company, whose monthly play readings have raised tens of thousands of dollars for local and international charities since 2005.
The July 4 event is called Songs and Stories of Love and Hope: A Benefit for Healing Families, and it鈥檚 a truly star-studded affair; participating performers include Eric McCormack (Will & Grace,聽Travelers),听听(Stargate SG-1,聽Sanctuary),听 (Supernatural), Jenn Griffin, Odessa Shuquaya, Elaine Avila, Colin Thomas, MacKenzie Porter, Yoshie Bancroft, Dave Deveau, Kat Reynolds, Chelsea Rose Tucker, Dawn Pemberton, Paul Kinman, Janet Gigliotti, Meghan Gardiner, Jennifer Copping, Jonathan Winsby, Miranda MacDougall, Matt Montgomery, Mark Dozlaw, Max Kim, Katherine Matlashewski, Mitchell, and Kevin Michael Cripps.
YVR Screen Scene聽聽will perform an original spoken word piece; the cast of Laughing Matters鈥� recent聽Dear Evan Hansen聽concert will reunite to sing a song.
鈥淲e wanted to bring in different voices, and all around the theme of parenting, children, family, separation, and hope, and we鈥檝e left it open for people to do a monologue or sing or whatever it is that they鈥檙e moved to do,鈥� says Mitchell. 鈥淭his group of people will never be together again. It鈥檚 going to be an incredible mix of performances.鈥�
All proceeds from Songs and Stories of Love and Hope will go to two organizations: the Washington, DC-based KIND (Kids In Need of Defense), which provides legal services to migrant children who enter the US immigration system alone, and 麻豆传媒映画Aboriginal Child and Family Services, which works to ensure the rights, safety, well-being, and spirit of Aboriginal children, and strives to eliminate oppression, discrimination, and marginalization within their community.
鈥淲e recognize that it鈥檚 not just kids in Texas,鈥� says Mitchell. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our despicable history here in Canada, too, and we can鈥檛 ignore that.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a great night,鈥� she adds. 鈥淲e鈥檇 love for people to come and be in the room and lend their energy and their support, because it will reach.鈥�
Songs and Stories of Love and Hope takes place July 4 on the Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre. Tickets are $50 (plus a service fee) and are available at聽
Sabrina Furminger writes regularly for the Courier about Vancouver's film and television industry. This story originally appeared in her digital magazine,
