Neighbors helping neighbors -- we’ve all heard the phrase before and many have taken it to heart. In the wake of Hurricane Ike the Wimberley Players, Inc. have chosen to extend their hand to our Gulf Coast neighbors in their hour of need by sponsoring a “Hurricane Ike Victim Relief” benefit concert on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Old Glory Ranch, outside of Wimberley from 6-10 p.m.

The Players are holding the Hurricane Ike benefit concert instead of its Dia de los Muertos Fiesta fundraiser that was originally scheduled on the same date. Old Glory Ranch is underwriting the venue with Suzann McCord and an anonymous ‘Angel’ underwriting the entertainment. Performers will be Doc and the Cruisers — a versatile dance band that covers the musical spectrum, and singer-songwriter Jill Jones and trio.

“The last several weeks have rocked all of us with events like Hurricane Ike more recently, the global financial challenges that lie ahead,” said Players fundraising co-chair Barbara Alexander. “We just didn’t feel right asking our regular underwriters and patrons to give to our organization when so many more need immediate assistance. We were thrilled that Suzanne McCord at Old Glory Ranch so graciously offered her beautiful facility as a backdrop to help raise funds for our Gulf Coast friends.”

Patrons of the Players benefit concert will give support to three non-profit organizations impacted or assisting Hurricane Ike victims – Galveston’s ‘The Grand’ Opera House, built in 1894, The Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund and the Houston Food Bank. Each organization will uniquely assist the rebuilding of lives in the devastated Gulf Coast area. The Players ask that area residents, groups, and organizations donate non-perishable food and toiletry items, which will be donated to the Houston Food Bank. Concert proceeds will go to the other two non-profit organizations.

“The fall portion of The Grand’s 2008-09 season has been suspended for the time being until we can get a more accurate estimate of when the theatre will be ready to re-open,” said The Grand Executive Director Maureen Patton. “My hope is that we will be ready to re-open by January and celebrate our 114th birthday with an open house and sing-a-long with our good friend Rob Landes at the piano.”

Patton was moved when told the Player’s consideration to include The Grand as one of the recipients of funds through the benefit concert. She said any help that could be provided would be deeply appreciated.

“As I have said over and over these past few weeks, I am and always have been ‘hard-wired’ with a strong sense of optimism,” Patton said. “My glass and those of all of us at The Grand is still half full, albeit with salt water.”

Patton noted that the grand stairway had been six feet underwater and that silt filled the stage area as a result of Ike.

“Wimberley is full of theatre and art lovers, many that have migrated here from the Houston and Galveston area and now support our own performing arts scene,” said Lynn Adelson, Wimberley Players Board President. “One of the jewels of Galveston's historic district, the Grand is one of the nation’ few theaters built before 1900 that still functions as a venue for live performances, so to include them as one of the recipients of our benefit concert seemed the right thing to do and supports the Players’ mission and vision statement.”

The current drop off areas for non-perishable food and toiletry items are the Wimberley View, located at the corner of Ranch Road 12 and FM 3237, Monday through Friday 8:20 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the Wimberley Community Center on Ranch Road 12. Patrons attending the current Players production of Dracula can also get into the action by bringing items to the Wimberley Playhouse during the run of the show.

Ticket prices for the benefit concert are $25 each with a limit of 400 being sold. They may be purchased at the Wimberley Community Center, Wimberley Visitors Center, the Wimberley View and from any Wimberley Players Board member. The evening will include dancing, door prizes, raffles and more. Checks can be made out to the Wimberley Players, Inc. listing “Ike Relief Fund” in the ‘for’ box.

For tickets, more information, to volunteer at the event, donate items for raffle or door prizes, call 847-1592, or email at info@wimberleyplayers.org