Annual Benefit Dinner & Performances
Two Shows, Four Great Nights – Supporting New Beginnings of Santa Barbara County
October 23 – October 26, 2025
Laughter will take center stage this fall as New Beginnings brings acclaimed British comedy duo to Santa Barbara for two show-stopping performances. Known for blending sharp wit, music, and satire to shatter stigmas around mental health, the duo will headline two evening shows designed to raise both awareness and critical funds for New Beginnings’ mental health counseling programs serving low-income residents.
New Beginnings’ annual fundraisers aim to both educate and entertain our community, spotlighting critical social issues and the essential programs we support.
Jonny & The Baptists – U.S. Premiere
Starring Jonny Donahoe and Paddy Gervers
Written by Jonny Donahoe and Paddy Gervers
Produced by Laoise Holohan
Duration: 1 hr 15 minutes
Preview Show: Thursday, October 23 at 7:00 PM
Premiere Show: Saturday, October 25 at 7:30 PM
(Sponsor dinner at Bouchon preceding show)
Complimentary guest reception following each show
Center Stage Theatre
751 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
About the Show
Jonny Donahoe and Paddy Gevers who have been selling out theatres for 10 years will bring their show, Jonny & The Baptists, to Santa Barbara’s Center Stage Theatre on Thursday, October 23 and Saturday, October 25.
Jonny & The Baptists is a show about friendship and the deep interconnections between mental health, friendship and coping. It tells the story of surviving the chaos of the world while finding moments of connection, humor, and humanity in the darkest of times. Donahoe and Gevers, who both wrote and perform in the show recently wrapped up their five-month long U.K. tour in June where they received rave reviews. Blending sharp humor with heartfelt storytelling, this musical comedy delves into the links between personal tragedy, grief, and hope. Praised for its mix of post-modern absurdity, unflinching honesty, and anthemic musical numbers, the production showcases the duo’s signature unbridled mix of laughter and truth. Both Donahoe & Gervers have openly discussed their own struggles with mental health.
Every Brilliant Thing
Starring Jonny Donahoe
Written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe
Duration: 1 hr 15 minutes
Friday, October 24 at 7:00 PM
Sunday, October 26 at 2:00 PM
Complimentary guest reception following each show
Center Stage Theatre
751 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
About the Show
From Drama Desk Award-nominated writer and performer Jonny Donahoe and Olivier Award-nominated writer, Every Brilliant Thing returns to Santa Barbara for the second time with the show’s original co-creator and star, Jonny Donahoe. This unique and critically acclaimed play has become a global stage phenomenon, playing more than six hundred times over four continents, including five months off-Broadway and currently being performed in London’s West End, Every Brilliant Thing will be sure to make you laugh, cry and be inspired. Imagine being seven years old; mom’s in the hospital. Dad says she’s ‘done something stupid.” She finds it hard to be happy. You start a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything is worth living for. You leave it on her pillow. You know she’s read it because she’s corrected your spelling. A child attempts to ease their mother’s depression by creating a list of all the best things in the world. Through adulthood, as the list grows, they learn the deep significance it has in their own life. Every Brilliant Thing is a comedy about the lengths we will go for those we love.
2025 Sponsorship Opportunities
How to Become a Sponsor
Make a payment online, by check, credit card or through your DAF. For questions or to make a payment by phone, contact our Development Department at (805) 963-7777 x122.
Our address is: 530 E. Montecito Street Suite 101 Santa Barbara, CA. 93103.
Thank you for your support in helping us create a more informed, compassionate, and engaged community!
Sponsorship Levels and Benefits
Producer (Title) Sponsor $20,000
- Six tickets to the VIP dinner at Bouchon, the Benefit Performance and reception on October 25th
- Six tickets to a performance of Every Brilliant Thing
- Photo with actor, Jonny Donahoe Recognition and logo or name printed in promotional materials, on agency website, and social media channels; featured in a dedicated article in our newsletter; acknowledgement at the Benefit Performance
- Four seats to each educational luncheon
Ingenue Sponsor $10,000
- Four tickets to the VIP dinner at Bouchon, the Benefit Performance and reception on October 25th
- Four tickets to a performance of Every Brilliant Thing
- Photo with actor, Jonny Donahoe
- Recognition in promotional materials, agency website, and social media channels; newsletter; and acknowledgement the Benefit Performance
- Two seats to each educational luncheon
Understudy Sponsor $5,000
- Four tickets to the dinner at Bouchon, the Benefit Performance and reception on October 25th
- Two tickets to a performance of Every Brilliant Thing
- Recognition in promotional materials, agency website, and social media channels; newsletter; and acknowledgement at the Benefit Performance
- Two seats to each educational luncheon
Dramatist Sponsor $2,500
- Four tickets to the VIP dinner at Bouchon, the Benefit Performance and reception on October 25th
- Two tickets to a performance of Every Brilliant Thing
- Recognition in promotional materials, agency website, and social media channels; newsletter; and acknowledgement at the Benefit Performance
Prompter Contributor $1,000
- Four tickets to the VIP dinner at Bouchon, the Benefit Performance and reception on October 25th
Two tickets to a performance of Every Brilliant Thing - Recognition in promotional materials, agency website, and social media channels; newsletter; and acknowledgement at the Benefit Performance
Usher Contributor $500
- Two tickets to the Benefit Performance and reception on October 25
- Recognition and logo or name printed in promotional materials, agency website, and social media channels; newsletter; and acknowledgement at the Benefit Performance
For questions about Sponsorship contact (805) 682-4444 ext. 122 or development@sbnbcc.org
2025 Sponsors
Producer (Title) Sponsor
Ingenue Sponsor
- Eva & Yoel Haller
Understudy Sponsor
- Mowrer Homes Justice Fund
- Hon. Susan Rose
- Zegar Family
Dramatist Sponsor
- Glenn & Amy Bacheller
- Mary Becker
- Linda Burrows
- Jackie and Paul Kurta
- Charles and Eileen Read
Prompter Contributor
- Community West Bank
- Cottage Health
- Montecito Bank & Trust
- Mary Howe-Grant
- Diane Pannkuk
- Sandy Schoolfield & Jon Kechejian
- Anne Towbes
Usher Contributor
- American Riviera Bank
- Movegreen
- Santa Barbara Venture Partners
- SurfaceFX
- Julie LeVay
- Robin Rickershauser
- Sheila M Stone
In Kind Sponsor
- Cheshire Cat Inn & Cottages
2024 Sponsors
Producer (Title) Sponsor
Ingenue Sponsor
- Tom and Julianna Dain
- Coryat Family
- Eva Haller
- Mindpath Health
- Mitchell Karno, Ph.D.
Understudy Sponsor
- Robin & Roger Himovitz
- Hon. Susan Rose
- The Zegar Family Trust
Dramatist Sponsor
- edhat (In-Kind Media Sponsorship)
- Glenn and Amy Bacheller
- Jackie and Paul Kurta
Prompter Contributor
- Mary Becker
- Linda Stafford Burrows
- Elizabeth & Andrew Butcher
- Claude and Susan Case
- Mike & Michele Fogelsonger
- Cottage Hospital
- Montecito Bank & Trust
- Diane and Terry Pannkuk
- Sybil Rosen
- Scott Sanford
- Sheila Stone
Usher Contributor
- Dan Engel
- Julie LeVay
- Robin Rickershauser
- Cynthia Sanger
- Genuine Restaurant Concepts
- Randall Sunday
In Kind Sponsor
- 7 Bar & Kitchen
- Bills Copy
- Bouchon
- Cos Bar Montecito
- Crushcakes
- Fox Wine Co.
- Hotel Milo
- Jaffurs Wine Cellars
- Loquita Santa Barbara
- Matt Schaefer
- Mahil Senathirajah
- Montecito Journal
- Organic Soup Kitchen
In Kind Sponsor
- Peasants Feast
- Peasants Deli & Market
- ProCovry
- Radius Wine
- Silverhorn Design Studio
- StarCycle Santa Barbara
- Sunstone Winery
- The Independent
- The New Vic Theatre
- The Upham Hotel
- The Voice Magazine
- Patrick & Donna Will
- Villa Encanto
Jonny Donahoe
Jonny Donahoe is an actor, comedian, playwright, screenwriter, broadcaster, musician, orthodox off-spinner, decent slip-catcher, and frustrating lower-order batsman.
His one-man show Every Brilliant Thing (which he co-wrote and originally performed) has played more than six hundred times over four continents, including five months off-Broadway at The Barrow Street Theatre. The show was filmed by World of Wonder and screened as a special on HBO. He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award, Lucille Lortel Award, and an OffBroadway Alliance Award for his performance.
He is the frontman of musical-comedy satirists Jonny and The Baptists, as well as regularly performing stand-up in his own right. His play 30 Christmases (starring himself and Rachel Parris), premiered at The Old Fire Station in Oxford before transferring to the New Diorama Theatre in London. He has also created a twelve-part series on parenthood with real-life partner Josie Long called Josie and Jonny Are Having a Baby (With You) for American Podcast Network, MidRoll.
More recently, he has written the acclaimed new play Forgiveness that he will bring to the fringe this year.
Paddy Gervers
Paddy Gervers is a sound designer, musician, actor, songwriter, composer, scriptwriter, podcaster, and comedian.
Paddy has sound designed and engineered on Every Brilliant Thing (by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe, Paines Plough), sound designed and composed for You Look Tasty (a play by Stewart Pringle, now dramaturg at the National Theatre), and song-written and composed for Working Christmas (by Jonny Donahoe and James Rowland, Old Fire Station, Oxford). As an actor, he has performed in all Jonny & The Baptists shows and 30 Christmases (Old Fire Station, Oxford and New Diorama, London). He forms one half of Jonny & The Baptists, the musical comedy duo who have made seven albums, performed at the Fringe seven times, and completed ten UK tours, some alongside Josie Long & Grace Petrie.
Paddy has also co-produced Jonny & The Baptists’ albums and has produced a number of their viral music videos. Alongside Jonny, Paddy has been nominated for six different awards. Paddy also performs as a solo artist as a singer, guitarist, saxophonist, bassist, and pianist. Alongside this, he has co-created, hosted, written, produced, and composed his two podcasts Idle Fantasy and Podshambles (Acast) and written for a number of shows, including the Edinburgh Newcomer Award-nominated show The Story Beast. His TV credits include Live From Television Centre (BBC4) and The Gadget Show (Channel 5).
On the radio, he has written and starred on The Now Show (BBC Radio 4), Fresh From The Fringe (BBC Radio 4), The Infinite Monkey Cage (BBC Radio 4), Sketchorama (BBC Radio 4), Comedy Club (BBC Radio 4 Extra), and Live From Aberystwyth Pier (BBC Radio Wales).