Where Belonging Takes Center Stage
Why Supporting Local Performing Venues is More Personal Than You Think
When Tim Soszko stepped onto the stage for the first time, he wasn’t chasing applause. He was just trying to survive high school.
As a shy, introverted hermit at York High, Tim didn’t know he was creative, let alone that it could be a strength. Then, he auditioned for The Pirates of Penzance and landed a role.
“My world exploded,” he says. “I found on stage, I could be as silly and imaginative as I wanted. All the stuff that made me feel weird in real life—became my superpower.”
And when the audience clapped? It changed him.
But it wasn’t just applause. It was the discovery of a tribe.
“All of a sudden, there were other people like me. I belonged.”
As an adult, Tim mentors the youth through programs like Elmhurst Children’s Theatre and The Laughing Academy. He looks for kids like his younger self – the misfits who haven’t yet found themselves. And he tells them, “If you feel like you don’t belong, come here. You will.”
Arts Heal Us
Tim’s story isn’t unique—and venues like these keep making stories like his possible.
According to Americans for the Arts, 86% of people say they’d feel devastated if their local arts venues disappeared. These aren’t just theaters. They’re lifelines.
Why Venues Matter—Healing, Discovery, Connection
Just as medical centers heal bodies, performances heal in powerful ways.
- 60% of Americans say the arts help them cope with emotional stress.
- 78% say the performing arts bring something positive to a troubled world.
- 71% find “pure pleasure” in arts experiences -rare with today’s anxiety.
And it extends beyond personal well-being.
- Half of U.S. workers say their arts education helps them in their jobs.
- 61% say creativity contributed to their success at work.
A Place to Come Together
In today’s divided world, nonprofit venues help bridge differences. People listen together. Laugh and feel something—together.
- 72% say they create shared experiences across race and belief.
- 73% say they help us understand other cultures.
- Where local venues exist, 89% of residents feel pride in their community.
These spaces more than entertain; They connect. They heal. They inspire.
Funding More Than a Show
When you support a nonprofit performing venue, you’re investing in the kid who doesn’t fit in—yet. In the audience, somebody who hasn’t smiled all week. In the community that feels more like a community because of a shared experience.
Americans are already leaning in. In 2024, giving to arts and culture hit an all-time high—up 9.5%, as Americans donated $592 billion across causes.
The momentum is real. And the impact? Personal.
The Next Act Belongs to Us
Tim found his voice on stage. Thousands more could too—if the stage stays lit.
This season, as you think about where to give, think about the places that give back. Because somewhere, there’s another Tim. Waiting in the wings hoping the lights don’t go out.
Laura Michaud
Melissa G. Wilson
About the authors:
Laura Michaud is a founding member of the Encore Center for Performing Arts and Stage 773. Melissa G. Wilson is a performing arts enthusiast, author, and renowned networker. For more information, visit EncoreCenterforPerformingArts.org