Social Justice Uncorked!

Sept. 16, 2009 - PRLog -- Minneapolis, MN – The Brave New Workshop (BNW) is pleased to announce that it will once again donate emcee services to the Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) 2009 Social Justice Uncorked! corporate fundraising event in honor of SMRLS Centennial Year of Quality Client Service.  SMRLS is a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services to low-income clients.  The theater will happily supply BNW artistic director Caleb McEwen as emcee. McEwen is one of the most talented performers in the country and one of only a handful of BNW employees never named in a lawsuit.

McEwen emceed the SMRLS event last year and is looking forward to the festivities once again. As part of the theatre’s support, the company will also donate a private party auction item which includes 50 free performance tickets and drinks for the winner’s 50 closest friends to enjoy the theatre’s current show, “The Brave New Workshop Saves the Planet: or Yes We Can but Do We Have to?”. Last year’s live auction winner, Steve Kirsch of the St. Paul based Murnane Brandt law firm, exuberantly explained, “Fifty lawyers and spouses from the Murnane firm attended a show last year. It was a riot. The best activity the firm had all year. I have been instructed to make the highest bid again, because everyone wants another command performance. Terrific cast and a fun evening for all. We met for drinks and snacks at the theatre one hour before the show for our own ‘warmups’.”

The SMRLS is an amazing organization and the Brave New Workshop is privileged to be included in this stellar event, Social Justice Uncorked!  in honor of SMRLS Centennial year.  The event takes place October 16, 2009, at the Graves Hotel in Minneapolis and will include a reception, silent/live auction, and evening of entertainment. In 2008, the funds raised at the event helped the SMRLS provide free legal services, and close more than 11,000 cases, for low-income people in 33 of Minnesota’s 87counties.  

About Brave New Workshop Emcee Services
Brave New Workshop (BNW) artistic director Caleb McEwen often emcees client events as part of the theater’s corporate services division. Led by theatre owner and keynote speaker John Sweeney, BNW's event services bridge a passion for humor and improvisational theatre to the business world through training, speaking, emcee, custom entertainment and video services. Clients include some of the largest (and smallest) companies in the world. More information about BNW’s corporate services and the book that started it all can be found at www.speedoflaughter.com.

About Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS)
The lawyers and paralegals of the Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) provide free legal representation and advice to low income people with critical legal issues in 33 counties in Southern Minnesota. Priority cases include access to public assistance, obtaining and maintaining shelter, and protection from domestic abuse. SMRLS also has specific projects which focus on education law, fair housing and discrimination, citizenship, and youth victims of domestic violence. In 2008, the organization assisted over 11,000 people from offices located in St. Paul, Albert Lea, Mankato, Rochester, Shakopee, Winona, and Worthington, Minnesota, as well as an office in Fargo, ND. For more information in regards to services in the Twin Cities metro, call 651-222-4731; for additional service information for rural counties in Southern Minnesota, call 1-888-575-2954; or to find out more about SMRLS, visit the organization’s website at http://www.smrls.org.

About the Brave New Workshop (BNW) Comedy Theatre
As the longest running satirical comedy theater in the country, the Brave New Workshop celebrates more than 50 years as a Minnesota comedic institution. Legendary BNW improv and sketch comedy can be enjoyed nearly every night of the week at the historic Hennepin Avenue storefront theatre. Alums of the company include newly confirmed Senator Al Franken, Emmy winner Tom Davis, and comedians Mo Collins ("MADtv"), Melissa Peterman ("The Singing Bee” “Reba"), Cedric Yarbrough ("Reno 911"), and Louie Anderson, as well as screenwriter Pat Proft (“Naked Gun”) and many others. More information about the theatre is available at www.bravenewworkshop.org.

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The Brave New Workshop is the oldest satirical comedy theatre in the US. From writing and performing original sketch comedy to sharing improv experiences and classes, the BNW provokes laughter, thought and transformation for a variety of audiences .