Sharing this in case anyone is interested (and able) in supporting a Harlem institution.
I think you can buy tickets to the event, but I just simply made a small donation.
They always have an amazing lineup of performances throughout the year (this year they have a production of Othello coming up) and always have programs to support education for kids in the community, among other programs.
From the organization:
>Dear Friend,
Hold 'Em in Harlem is our annual fundraising gala, and it is, without exaggeration, one of the most important nights of our year. The funds we raise on May 21st directly support our Uptown Shakespeare in the Park programming, our arts education work in New York City schools, our Literary Series new play development initiative, and the artist fees that ensure our company members are compensated fairly for the extraordinary work they do.
I won't pretend this is an easy moment for nonprofit theatres. Public arts funding is under pressure. Costs are up. Audiences are still rebuilding habits disrupted years ago. Across our field, beloved institutions are scaling back, going dark, or closing their doors entirely.
CTH is not going to be one of them. But we cannot do this without you.
That's why this year's Hold 'Em matters more than any we've held before. Every ticket purchased, every chip stacked, every silent auction bid placed on May 21st is a vote for a Harlem where the arts remain free, accessible, and excellent. It's a vote for the young person who will see their first Shakespeare play this summer in Marcus Garvey Park and walk away believing that those words were written for them, too.
We've put together a night worth showing up for. Special guests including Roy Wood Jr., John Andrew Morrison, Frankie Faison, Laila Robins, Jamila Ponton Bragg, and Grantham Coleman. An open bar. Great food. A silent auction full of one-of-a-kind experiences. And of course, a poker tournament with real prizes and real bragging rights.
But more than any of that, it's a room full of people who believe what you believe. That theatre belongs to everyone. That Harlem deserves a world-class artistic home. That the work we do together matters.