The American Southwest Theatre Company is doing what Tony Award-winner Mark Medoff and Dr. Bruce Streett created the nonprofit to do more than 40 years ago: Raise money to benefit the students of the New Mexico State University Theatre Department.
The company is putting on the “Boots and Bling” fundraiser 6-9 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Rd. Proceeds from the event “support NMSU theatre students and the productions which provide them with practical experience toward their career goals,” said Theatre Department Head Wil Kilroy.
One example of how ASTC has helped NMSU theatre students in the past was through helping to pay for the live orchestra that accompanied performers in last year’s sold-out production of “The Addams Family” at NMSU. ASTC also pay for guest artists who visit NMSU theatre, including professional actors and stage crew and a renowned intimacy coordinator. ASTC supports the Theatre Department’s High Desert New Plan Development Workshop.
“At ASTC, we all have one goal: to support NMSU theatre students,” Welsh said. “ASTC exists to enhance the educational experience of our students!”
The event will include line-dancing lessons, a silent auction with more than 60 items, a buffet dinner, a disc jockey and freestyle dancing.
Denise McElroy, an instructor at Michelle’s Dance Academy, will teach simple line-dancing lessons during the evening, ASTC Board member Julia Brogan said. McElroy has been teaching line dancing for 15 years and has been a dancer since age 7. She now focuses exclusively on line-dancing and is great at coaxing even the inexperienced or dance-shy to limber up.
“I’ve taken line-dance lessons from Denise McElroy since 2022,” Brogan said. “I started as a beginner with no knowledge of line dancing and really enjoyed it! A friend of mine met Denise and said, ‘I have two left feet; I can’t dance.’ Denise told her, ‘Yes, you can.’ That’s how Denise approaches line dancing.”
The DJ for Boots and Bling is digital creator Fred Ramirez, the owner of Sight and Sound Entertainment in Las Cruces.
“We will be playing a variety of music from country, Spanish, swing oldies, ‘80s and ‘90s to current top 40,” Ramirez said.
The catering will be provided by caterer Marci Dickerson and will feature smoked beef tri tip and green chile mashed potatoes.
“We will be embracing our inner cowboy at this great event,” said Dickerson.
The meal will include a vegetarian/vegan option. There will also be a cash bar.
The silent auction has more than 60 items donated by local business owners and artists, said long-time ASTC Board President Denise Welsh. Items include a Nambe bowl, a wooden and silver chip and dip platter and a Turkish glass serving platter; a signed Navajo pot, a signed storyteller vase from Acoma Pueblo and sand paintings; chile sauces from a local producer; wine and gift baskets; hand-knitted Afghans and scarves; a southwestern quilt; pet gift baskets, pet boarding and pet grooming; silver and turquoise jewelry; a leather jacket, a sequin jacket and other items of clothing; a steakhouse gift certificate; hair care; service from a local tire franchise; and a leather love seat. It also includes a four-course Italian meal for up to 20 people prepared by members of the ASTC Board.
Indira Devi, a Theatre Department work-study student and actor, office aide, theatre house manager and back-stage crew member, told the Bulletin that ASTC has helped her.
“One of the absolute biggest ways ASTC has helped me was through their student funds request form,” said Indira Devi,
“I've been fully financially independent for years now and I'm putting myself through college getting two degrees, so when I was worried I wouldn't be able to secure housing because of [a request] form cost, it was so amazing that I was able to contact ASTC for help,” Devi said. “Denise (Welsh) has also personally reached out to me since then, making sure I'm okay and that I have all the support that I need to continue getting through college.”
Tickets to Boots and Bling are $65 each and are available at theatre.nmsu.edu (click on American Southwest Theatre Company), or by calling Denise Welsh at 575-642-2980.
