FUNDRAISERS
TOMATOES TRIED TO KILL ME BUT BANJOS SAVED MY LIFE isn’t just a show, it’s a cause. A heartfelt passion project that began as a nudge after Keith Alessi’s life took a major turn, and it has been his mission to raise money for causes close to his heart. Through donations, including 100% of all artist fees, the show has raised over $1.2Million Dollars (CAD) as of November2025 for various charities including cancer organizations, music programs, community groups and artist funding and development.
TOMATOES TRIED TO KILL ME BUT BANJOS SAVED MY LIFE has sold out runs across Canada, Off-Broadway in New York City, and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland three years in a row. It has toured internationally, including Canada, the US, England, Scotland and Australia.
Proceeds from the Western Gold performances at PAL Studio theatre will benefit the company’s Creative Accessibilities Program, which keeps older artists on the boards through the creation and production of new theatrical productions.
TOMATOES TRIED TO KILL ME
BUT BANJOS SAVED MY LIFE
JULY 11-14, 2026
LOCATION
PAL Studio Theatre
581 Cardero Street, Vancouver
Western Gold is thrilled to be bringing TOMATOES TRIED TO KILL ME BUT BANJOS SAVED MY LIFE to Vancouver audiences.
Critically acclaimed and toured internationally, Keith Alessi shares his exceptional true story of leaving the world of corporate boardrooms behind to follow his long-delayed passion—playing the banjo! When faced with a deadly cancer, his musical pursuit took him on a journey that became the key to saving his life. Told through authentic storytelling, heartfelt humor, and music, Keith’s story is an uplifting tale of challenge, triumph, and the healing power of the arts and music. Don’t miss it!
LEARN MORE ABOUT KEITH AND THE SHOW HERE
WATCH KEITH’S VIDEO ABOUT HIS JOURNEY HERE
Check back for more info and to buy tickets
OUR 2025 ONLINE AUCTION FUNDRAISER WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!
Thank you to everyone who bid on our 2025 Online Auction Fundraiser!
We raised $11,379.91, reaching 94.8% of our $12,000 goal.
Thank you also to the many generous individuals, businesses and organizations who donated soooo many fabulous items to the auction; we are so grateful!
Funds raised will be used specifically to cover the costs related to our Intergenerational Mentorship Program and Creative Access for Seniors Program along with production and artist costs for our 2026 season of live theatre and online offerings.
BECOME A MEMBER ($10 PER YEAR)
A membership to Western Gold Theatre directly supports our programming and our artists. And, it comes with perks!
- You’ll be invited to the Annual General Meeting (with voting privileges)
- You’ll be the first to know about upcoming events, auditions, etc.
- You’ll be invited to special Member Only events
- You’ll receive exclusive emails and our regular newsletters
- You’ll be a part of this vital and thriving theatre company
Membership and an invitation to our Annual Spring Donor’s Party included with a donation of $50 or more.
VOLUNTEER
We love our volunteers; they are at the heart of what we do! If you have skills to offer and want to help Western Gold, we would love to have you help with fundraising events, promotion and distribution of marketing materials, sitting on our Board and committees, manning our concession, or being our frontline usher / box office attendant.
For more information or to join our volunteer roster, please email us: [email protected]
We’d love to have you!
DONATE
As a small project–based company operating for over 25 years with limited government funding, we depend largely on our donors and our audience to support us. Western Gold would like to thank the organizations, companies, and friends who have supported us throughout the season and the years. You are wonderful and we could not do it without you!
When you donate to the Western Gold, your gift makes a big difference. Every dollar goes directly toward the work on our stages, the artists who create our shows, and the emerging artists we are mentoring.
All gifts of $20 or more will be acknowledged with a tax-deductible receipt. Membership included with a donation of $50 or more.
Three Easy Ways to Donate
We welcome cash, major credit cards, and cheques payable to the Western Gold Theatre Society.
- Online here
- By phone at 604-363-5734
- By Mail
Please print this form and send it along with your gift to:
Western Gold Theatre
Attn: General Manager
101-1516 East 1st Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5N 1A5
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS!
LEGACY DONORS
Johanna Hickey, J. M. Hurst
MARQUEE HEADLINER! ($2,000 +)
Anonymous
STARRING ROLE! ($1,000 – $1,999)
Johanna Hickey, Louise Hutchison, Bonnie MacKenzie, Timothy and Hilary Temple
GO AHEAD – HAVE A SENIOR MOMENT! ($500 – $999)
Harry Cussen, Susan Duncan, Maggie Geiser, Rob Haynes, Deanne Henry, J.M. Hurst, John H. Kennedy, Donnie MacDonald, Tory Ross and Keith Martin Gordey, Anne Mathesin, Salim Rahemtulla, Kathie Schwaia, Adele Vernon, Lily Yuan
ENJOYING BOLD AGE! ($200 – $499)
Kathryn Aberle, Elizabeth Dropko, Martin Gerson (in honour of Jane Heyman), Stephen Heatley, Arlene Howard, Linda Johnston, David C Jones, Terence Kelly, Gerry Kowalenko, Kate Lancaster, Tom McBeath, Margot McKenzie, Bill Millerd, Robin Montcalm, Lindsay Moyle, Nora D. Randall, Anita L. Romaniuk, Charlotte Rozsa, Diana Sandberg, Perry Schneiderman, Kathryn Shaw, Elizabeth Snow, Sally Stubbs, Malcolm Toms, Alan York, Audrey Zaharichuk
YOUNG AT HEART! ($100 – $199)
Julia Blockberger, Neal Boucher, Donna Celle, Valentina Cesaratto, Tony Cox, Kate Dahlstrom, Jane Heyman, Robert Heyman, Arlene Howard, Mary Jansen, Linda Johnston, Linda King, Lisa King, Helen Low, Diana Mitchell, Marjorie Munkley, Georgia Roxborough, Shamin Shivji, Elizabeth Stewart, Jane Srivastava, Christian Theriault, Magda Theriault, Delia Visscher, Jerry Wasserman, Johanna Wright
ON THE BOARDS! ($50 – $99)
Chris Adams, Marilyn Allan, Krishna Berman, Deborah Brown, Elizabeth Carney, Jane Clayton, Deborah Cooper, Leslie Dawson-Burns, Richard Dopson, Elizabeth Dropko, Thomas Ferguson, Nina Ferretti, Wendy Holtan, Susan Hughes, David Jensen, Lynn Katey, Joan Kirkwood, Helen Low, Judith MacPherson, Nicole Naaykens, Peter Nash, Ellie O’Day, Deborah Pound, Karen Vail, Helen Volkow, Maxine Wilson-Young
APPRENTICE! (UP TO $50)
Amney Amery, Stephen Aberle, Sheila Margaret Anderson, Marilyn Patricia Allan, Rhonda Arab, Herbert Auerbach, Irma Beck, Brenda Benham, Keri Bennett, Monika Bergler, Mackenzie Birrell, Isabel Bleim, Irma Bodo, David Booth, Margo Boyer, Jim Brown, Shannon Browne, Janet Bruce, Anne Cowan Buitenhuis, Adele Cohen, Carole Christopher, Sue Culver, William B. Davis, Angela Dawson, Louise Dudar, Verna Faughnan, Monika Forberger, Barbara L. Fulton, Elan Ross Gibson, Leslie Goodbrand, Pamela Goossen, Sarah K Harlow, Margaret Harman, Pamela Hawthorn, John Holland, James Hurlburt, Sandra Hyslop, Mauro Joao, Sandy Keane, Lionel Johnston, Beverley Kanji, Sandy Keane, Heather Kennedy, Gabrielle D. Lacelle, Paddy Laidley, Raynard J. LeBlond, Lisa Lee, Cher Lewis, Maureen Leyland, Michael Louie, Carol MacDonald, Shawn Macdonald, Jordy Matheson, Susinn McFarlan, Chris McGregor, Catherine Miceli, Donna Mihm, Paul Moniz de Sa, Robin Mossley, Anne Murray, Joice Myers, Jayeson Nicols, Sean Nakatani, Linda Navotny, Regina Nebrida, JoAnne Lee Nelson, Georgia Nichols, Lorna Pawluk, Sally Petitpierre, Simone Plusa, Prudence Reid-Gogh, Murray Reinhart, Vanessa Richards, Georgia Roxborough, Gabrielle D. Rose, Paul Ross, Stuart Rush, Jo-Anne Salmon, Debra Sears, Leslie Sherlock, Philip Spedding, Miriam Smith, Ellawyn Stacey, Gordon Stahl, Nadia Stefyn, Catherine Still, Michelle Thorne-Speir, Joanne Thorpe, Vesna Toki, Jeffrey Turner, Greg Unsworth, Rosemary Diane Warriner, Douglas Welch, Marianne Brorup Weston, Rhiannon Williams, Katey Wright
SPONSOR US
Make a difference and support theatre focused on the golden age! If you enjoy and value the benefits of arts and culture in our beautiful city, your company can support our organization in one of two ways.
Sponsorship
Through our sponsorship program, your financial or in-kind contribution to Western Gold Theatre will help us continue our creative work and be an integral part of the entertainment scene in Vancouver. Your financial contribution will allow us to provide opportunities not only to seniors who participate in our productions but also to the audiences who enjoy their work and the young emerging artists who benefit from our mentorship program.
A sponsorship with WGT gives you marketing visibility and association with arts and culture, plus a chance to entertain your clients or employees at shows throughout the year. Contact us to learn more about how we can customize a sponsorship activation plan that aligns with your marketing needs.
Corporate Donations
If your company is interested in supporting Western Gold Theatre, a tax-deductible donation is a great way to continue to support the arts and give seniors a way to enjoy their retirement.
Your tax-deductible donation will allow us to continue to run our programs and productions, keeping our seniors engaged with the arts community.
Contact us and find out how you can contribute to Western Gold Theatre!
- By email at [email protected]
- By phone at 604-363-5734
Contact Us
Phone: 604-363-5734
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address:
PO Box 93513,
Vancouver RPO Nelson Park, BC V6E 4L7
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Supported By
The McGrane-Pearson Endowment Fund,
held at Vancouver Foundation
Stewart Fund,
held at Vancouver Foundation
McLean Foundation
Community Partners
We gratefully acknowledge that we are on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam),Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations. We deeply thank them for so generously allowing us to live, work, and play on their beautiful lands.
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