JBJ'10 was a huge success thanks
to the support from so many wonderful people!
Pending final payments on pledges, we are hopeful that this
year's event's net earnings will exceed $13,700! Final figures will be
posted as soon as all pledge payments are made. This has been our most
successful JBJ ever!
- JBJ'10 is the 14th annual talent
showcase benefitting Transition House, Inc.
All proceeds from this variety show directly benefit the clients working
towards recovery from mental illness and addiction.
Special thanks to our many sponsors, performers, volunteers, and supporters
who work so hard to make this amazing event possible.
Below is a press release that has details on JBJ'10:
June Bug Jam 2010
Saturday ~ June 12, 2010 ~ 7:00
pm
Sooner Theatre, Norman, OK
Talent showcase helps raise
funds for Norman non-profit organization
The Board,
Staff, Clients and Volunteers of Transition House, Inc. (TH), would like to
invite you to join in a wonderful evening of entertainment, auctions, and fun
all while supporting clients working towards recovery from mental illness and
addiction. On Saturday, June 12th Transition House, Inc., a private,
non-profit Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and United
Way of Norman funded agency, will host their 14th annual June Bug
Jam. JBJ’10 is the agency’s primary fundraiser and a major entertainment event
in our community. Proceeds from JBJ contribute to the support of Transition
House, Inc., and is vital to the health of the programs provided by this
agency. Mental health supporters are needed to stand with others to help keep
this exemplary program going strong.
JBJ’10
will be hosted by Norman’s own Paul Austin – local attorney/entertainer. This
is Transition House, Inc.’s gift to our community – a musical anti-depressant
that strives to lift moods and spirits for all. Several talented entertainers
from Norman and surrounding communities have committed to donate their time and
talent to performing songs from the early 20th Century through
today. The intent for this year’s benefit is to provide performances that
appeal to people of all ages. Since last year’s theme – Music of the Eras – was
such a big hit, we’ve brought it back with even more twists and exciting acts.
This year, both the music and the performers will represent a wide age range.
Headliner
for JBJ’10 is the amazing Renee Anderson. Renee Anderson is a highly sought
after entertainer in Oklahoma City and the surrounding areas. She has performed
in shows benefitting The Winds House, Other Options Friends Food Pantry, and
many others including her own ‘one woman show’ raising funds for the Lyric
Theatre Thelma Gaylord Academy. Renee completed her Bachelor and Master studies
in Musical Theater at Oklahoma City University where
she studied with the renowned Florence Birdwell.
She has toured professionally to theaters such as Dallas
Summer Musicals, St. Louis MUNY, Kansas City Starlight
and Atlanta Theater of the Stars in productions
of The Music Man and Oklahoma! She
has performed locally at Lyric Theatre, Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre ,
Carpenter Square and Pollard Theatre. Some of Renee’s favorite roles include
Peter (Peter Pan), Eliza Doolittle (My
Fair Lady), Minnie Faye (Hello, Dolly!), Lucy (You’re A Good Man, Charlie
Brown), Adelaide (Guys & Dolls), Magenta (The Rocky
Horror Show), Dorothy Gale (The Wizard of
Oz), Rona Lisa Peretti (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and Delilah
Strict (Zombie Prom). She is also a member of
the OKC Philharmonic POPS chorale.
When not
performing, Renee is a private vocal instructor at the Lyric Theatre Thelma
Gaylord Academy in OKC and at Dance Unlimited/Spotlight Acting Academy in
Edmond. Her students have been cast in productions on Broadway and locally at
Lyric Theatre, Oklahoma City Philharmonic,
Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre, Poteet Theater, Jewel Box, Spotlight Acting
Academy, Yukon Performing Arts Center, Pollard Theater, Sooner Theater and many
others.
In
addition to Renee, JBJ’10 is packed with talented performers that make this a
must see show at the Sooner Theatre. Opening this year’s show is a special
performance of “Seasons of Love”. This song represents the hope and community
that is an essential part of the work of Transition House, Inc. Returning to
the JBJ stage is the Oklahoma Seniors’ Cabaret – a non-profit organization that
provides opportunities for seniors to replace their TV remotes with fun, new
friendships and pride in showing their talents and developing their performance
skills in a wholesome community endeavor – while entertaining through song,
dance and comedy for an eye-popping, show-stopping, toe-tapping extravaganza.
The Cabaret group was founded by Joan Colee, a renowned vocal instructor and
performer, taking bows in some of the world’s greatest theaters from Ireland to
the famous Friers Club in Los Angeles. Also performing is Renee Russell who is
a very talented performer who has received a variety of awards for her country
and gospel music including Vocalist of the Year and Horizon Award Entertainer of
the Year award at NACMAI in Tennessee. Representing the talented youth from our
community is a group of young performers from the Norman Sooner Theatre. They
will be putting together a special performance under the direction of Brandon
Adams. Suite 4, an instrumental group is comprised of volunteers and people who
are working on their recovery through Transition House, Inc., programs, will be
back this year with a very special performance for JBJ ‘10. This is a chance to
see on stage one of the many positive outcomes of Transition House, Inc.
A unique
performance at this year’s JBJ is Transition House, Inc.’s very own ˝ Monty. TH
Board members John Koons and Josh Edge are joined by volunteers Kevin Percival,
and Kris Glenn. These men are willing to ‘take it off’ in support of people
working towards their recovery. Fear not, this is still a PG show, but this
group will keep the audience entertained and laughing as the men go through the
audience ‘encouraging’ donations to benefit Transition House, Inc. These
generous men will ‘share their talents’ and work to get the attention of the
talented vocalist Charlene Bradley – of Charlene and the Smoking Section.
Charlene is well known in the Norman area as a wonderful jazz vocalist. TH
volunteer and OU Drama Student Kevin Percival will produce and direct his first
production entitled ‘When Pigs Fly.’ Don’t let the name fool you, this talented
group of young performers from OU and Edmond Memorial High School will be
performing music from a wide range of music – from the early 20th
Century to today.
There are
several ways to support Transition House, Inc., through June Bug Jam including
become a sponsor, attend the show and make a donation at the show, buy a
t-shirt, buy raffle tickets for a chance to win some wonderful items, and this
year we brought back the live auction. Extreme Auto Options of Norman has
provided a Roketa 150cc Scooter on consignment – all proceeds beyond the base
price for this item will benefit Transition House, Inc.
Transition
House, Inc., is very grateful to our many wonderful sponsors of JBJ’10 and
people who contributed gifts to our raffle. The agency is also very fortunate
to have such talented performers contribute their time and talent to make JBJ’10
a very special and unique event. The list of supporters, sponsors, and
volunteers is extensive. For details on the supporters who make JBJ’10 so
special, please visit
www.thouse.org and click on June Bug Jam for details.
Transition
House, Inc., is a non-profit agency located in Norman since 1982 that serves
adults in the recovery process as they transition from in-patient treatment to
community living. The proceeds help this non-profit agency support their
clients, provide low cost, high quality housing, and offer counseling services
to those in the process of recovery from mental illness and addiction. Programs
of the agency foster increased independence and self-reliance, while offering
the support and encouragement necessary for positive outcomes. Nothing is more
satisfying than sharing in the accomplishments of the clients participating in
these programs!
This year,
Transition House, Inc., is one of many non-profit agencies strongly impacted by
fiscal challenges at a statewide and local levels. For fiscal year 2010,
Transition House, Inc., has been operating with cuts from two primary funding
sources, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
and United Way of Norman, exceeding $25,300. Thanks to additional grants and
community support, services have not been cut this year. Community support of
June Bug Jam helps to ensure that the important work of Transition House, Inc.,
can continue without interruption for fiscal year 2011. By attending and
donating to June Bug Jam 2010 is an opportunity to Become a Part of the
Solution. The event is free to the public.
