Many Ways to Make a Difference
At a Glance
- Explore the many ways businesses, donors, and patrons can support the Orpheum beyond buying a ticket.
- Tim Rollins, COO at Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Advisors, shares how their custom Orpheum partnership helped fund life-changing programs like Mending Hearts Standing Tall.
- Local craft brewery Soul & Spirits uses its Spotlight Partnership to creatively promote its business and enhance the Orpheum experience.
- Mission Circle gives young professionals a deeper connection to the Orpheum’s arts education and community programs.
When it comes to supporting Memphis’ landmark Orpheum Theatre, one main role usually comes to mind – that of a ticket purchaser.
But for many across the Mid-South, supporting the Orpheum looks as creative and engaging as the shows that take the historic stage – in roles like Corporate Partner, Spotlight Partner, Mission Circle Member, and more.
For Tim Rollins, Chief Operating Officer at Cushman and Wakefield Commercial Advisors, support began as a single conversation in early 2025. The company, which allocates 10% of all profits to support charitable organizations, had recently decided to invest in art therapy initiatives across the city of Memphis, including programs at the Brooks Museum and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.
After connecting with the Orpheum Theatre Group to determine how Cushman and Wakefield Commercial Advisors could meet an organizational need that aligned with their company’s priorities, Tim worked with the Orpheum to create a corporate partnership that ultimately funded the seed money for the Orpheum’s newest program expansion: Mending Hearts Standing Tall. Now, Tim Rollins and his colleagues enjoy curated corporate benefits with the Orpheum Theatre Group while staying up to date on the tangible impact of their philanthropic investment.
For Tim, the partnership was strategic. “Supporting in this way has been very practical,” Tim says. “We don’t have unlimited dollars, so we might as well leverage every dollar to support organizations that share our vision.”
And for a business that cares about being a positive community presence, the benefits don’t stop there.
“Supporting these initiatives is also a great story. It leads to better recruitment – people these days want to feel good about where they work – and it goes with our philosophy of how we do business.”
While a custom partnership like the one with Cushman Wakefield Commercial Advisors is one way to engage the Orpheum through a business partnership, it is not the only avenue for investment. Longstanding programs like the Orpheum’s Spotlight Partner Program provide structured ways to support the mission while receiving marketing and advertising benefits as a local business.
Blair Perry and Ryan Allen, co-owners of Soul & Spirits Brewery in downtown Memphis, have built a years-long partnership with the Orpheum Theatre Group through the Spotlight Partner Program, a trade-based partnership that offers season-long marketing in our Broadway marquee programs in exchange for restaurant trade and catering credit.
For Blair and Ryan, aligning with the Orpheum Theatre Group has been a win-win. “My husband was a musical theatre major and grew up going to Orpheum shows,” Blair says. “It’s been full-circle for our business and is really what we dream about – it’s been a dream partnership.”
Since joining the Spotlight Partner Program in the ’23-’24 Broadway season, Soul & Spirits has created an exclusive beer for the Orpheum Theatre called the “Marquee” IPA. They also created a custom pour last spring for the return of SIX, the “Queen of the Castle” hard seltzer. The fizzy, strawberry-pineapple beverage mirrored the sparkling effervescence of the fan-favorite musical and enhanced the patron experience while getting Soul & Spirits cans into the hands of a new audience.
“It’s been a way to elevate our business while elevating others,” Blair says. “We get to work creatively and think outside the box and have another line of support. Our regulars often have season tickets, so it’s another chance to get into places that our regulars love."
And for Orpheum enthusiasts who don’t have a business? The ways to get involve hardly stop at seeing a show. For Nicole Ellis, the Orpheum Mission Circle – a young professionals group – was a way to engage further in the theatre she knows and loves.
“I’ve been coming to the Orpheum since I was 5 years old, so supporting the arts has always been very important to me,” Nicole says. “The Orpheum is known for bringing incredible Broadway touring productions to Memphis every year, but they also do so much more beyond the stage.”
The Orpheum Mission Circle – a collective giving circle founded in 2024 – is designed to take its members beyond the stage and into the heart of the Orpheum’s mission to entertain, educate, and enlighten. Throughout the year, Mission Circle members attend Orpheum camp talent shares, intimate Halloran Centre performances, the annual Orpheum Soiree, and more. “I’ve really enjoyed learning more about their arts education programs, like Camp SAY, Mending Hearts, the High School Musical Theatre Awards, and so many others,” Nicole says. “Seeing the confidence and pride young people develop through these programs has been incredibly special.”
Supporting the Orpheum has also been a way to connect with the community around her. “It can be intimidating to join groups or become a member of organizations when you’re just getting started in the professional world,” Nicole says. “The Mission Circle has been such a welcoming space filled with like-minded people who love the Orpheum, believe in its mission, and want to give back.”
Like a star-studded performance, success is often the result of many roles – patron, donor, sponsor, partner, and more. And at the Orpheum Theatre Group, the spotlight shines brightly for them all. What will starring support look like for you?