The audience gives the cast a standing ovation at the conclusion of the evening's plays.

Daisy’s Madhouse Theater’s third annual “Will Act 4 Food: A 24-Hour Play Festival” on Saturday at the Boise Little Theater generated $4,160 to benefit The Idaho Foodbank.

This will provide the equivalent of 12,540 meals and is a wonderful 141% increase from the $1,725.50 raised last year.

Will Act 4 Food is a unique fundraiser and has become an anticipated event on Boise’s community theater calendar. Not only are the one-act plays written, rehearsed, and produced in 24 hours, the volunteer playwrights, actors, directors and crew members pay for the privilege to participate. In addition, Boise Little Theater donated the use of its building, and Boise businesses donated raffle items.

Our deep thanks go to everyone involved and especially to Daisy’s Madhouse Theater for the extraordinary work again this year. We’re already looking forward to year four in 2013.

Photos by Keri Anderson:

The cast gathers in the afternoon before the curtain goes up.

The judges: Shauna Stonehocker of the Foodbank, author Clay Morgan of BSU and Jeanne Huff of the Idaho Business Review.

Aimee Nell Smith and Jennifer Dunn of Daisy's Madhouse Theater

DaVita's Dana Camacho with the Foodbank's Jenifer Johnson

We love visits like this. Wednesday morning, Dana Camacho and Gina Safford from DaVita dialysis center in Boise, came by with a $1,000 check, enough to provide 3,000 meals.

Gina, the regional marketing director for the international company, explained that DaVita will donate $1.5 million this year to nonprofits selected by each dialysis center. Employees from the Boise center have both volunteered at the Foodbank and collected food. Now they have voted to make their donation here.

Dana and Gina, you and everyone at DaVita have our sincere thanks. We hope to see you and your colleagues here again soon.