CSTS Pittsburgh Is on the Horizon
If you’re reading this, that means our 19th annual Can’t Stop the Serenity charity screening at the Grand Theatre in Elizabeth, PA is now more or less one week away! If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, they’ll be available on the Jump Cut Theater website until Friday, August 9. (Just go to our “CSTS” page for all the details, or head directly to jumpcuttheater.org.) If you don’t get them online by then, that doesn’t mean you missed out on all the fun. It just means you’ll have to get them at the door at the Grand Theatre on the day of the event.
As I mentioned in my last cap’n’s blog, this year’s event will feature all the shiny things you’ve come to know and love about Pittsburgh’s CSTS shindigs: carnival-style games, raffles, a shiny door prize, a special raffle for those in attendance who (still) have never seen the movie before, and the main event-- a screening of Serenity on the big screen in a genuine theater. It’s that last thing that always makes CSTS Pittsburgh seem like a second Christmas to me. I will never get tired of seeing Serenity in a real theater on a real movie screen-- even if I’ve done it now more than a dozen times-- and having the chance to see it with other Browncoats makes the experience even shinier.
And it’s not a Can’t Stop the Serenity shindig unless we’re doin’ good works. All the proceeds from this year’s CSTS Pittsburgh shindig will be split evenly between Joni & Friends and the Veterans Leadership Program of Western PA.
The crew chose Joni & Friends in memory of Firefly costume designer Shawna Trpcic, whom we lost unexpectedly last year. Shawna married a Pittsburgher, and she was a diehard Steelers fan who also enjoyed coming back to the Steel City to attend the Three Rivers Regatta. She was much loved by the Browncoats who were lucky enough to have the chance to meet her and interact with her. Joni & Friends was Shawna’s charity of choice, and their mission is to “bring practical help and Gospel hope to people with disabilities around the world,” which sounds like something that both Malcolm Reynolds and Shepherd Book could get behind.
Since war veterans like Mal and Zoe are an important part of the ‘verse, we’re also continuing our support of veterans’ organizations by designating the Veterans Leadership Program of Western PA as our second charity for 2024. Their mission is to serve and assist veterans with housing, wellness, career development and support services so that they can navigate the transitions of life and live the fulfilling lives they deserve.
As in past years, those in attendance will have the chance to win shiny prizes, either through raffles or by trying their luck at one of our games of chance. Here’s a preview of the games you can expect:
Jayne’s Grenade Throw- You know we ain’t lettin’ you handle real grenades. We’re rentin’ the place, not occupyin’ it! Instead, you’ll be tossin’ what are essentially pickle balls into large muffin pans. Land one in the right hole, and you win a prize.
Kaylee’s Sprocket Toss- This one may have gotten a bad reputation in past years as being gorram tough to win, but we’ve introduced new rings that are more player-friendly. The object is the same though. You need to get as many rings as you can to land around the wooden rods on the board to win.
Fanty and Mingo’s Dodgy Dice- You’ll probably remember this game by its former name, which paid tribute to a certain shady character with a very fine hat who sometimes hired Mal and his crew. We may have given it a rebrand (at the insistence of one very powerful and persuasive rodent), but the object of the game remains the same. Roll the oversized dice, add the sum of your rolls, and win the corresponding prize. Easy as lyin’.
River’s Mind-Readin’ Genius Trivia- We’re bringing this one back out of the vaults this year. Roll the dice and answer a trivia question from the category corresponding with the color shown on each die. The more correct answers you give, the better your prize.
Some of you may remember from last year that the time from when the doors open to when the movie starts seems to fly by like its on hard burn, so my advice would be to try to arrive as close to 6pm as you’re able so you can have as much time as possible to get your tickets and maximize your game play. And remember, for those of you who weren’t able to use up your Blue Sun game cards from last year, we will honor cards that still have game plays available on them.
I hope you decide to join us on August 10 at the Grand Theatre for a little fun and misbehavin’ as we do good works for a couple of very fine causes. (Did I mention the place is even haunted? How cool is that?) You can always get your tickets at the door, but why wait? Get them online today. That way you’ll have more cashy money for the games and raffles on Saturday.
See you there.
Keep flyin’,
Chris