Take Note Troupe | GivingEdge
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TNT is a bunch of committed enthusiasts striving to change the world through uplifting productions, improv, PLAY THEORY workshops, and award-winning adaptations of Shakespeare. Over the years TNT has mentored hundreds of youth and served thousands more in the community. TNT strengthens society by providing young people a safe environment to develop valuable life skills and an opportunity to serve through theatrical performance.
In 2003, two teens asked their mothers to teach them about Shakespeare. They gathered a small group of their peers and committed to staging a scaled down production of The Tempest for friends in the backyard, which led to what has become an annual community tradition of Shakespeare in the Park. In 2026, TNT will celebrate its 23rd anniversary of Shakespeare in the Park, by giving ten free-to-the-public performances of Taming of the Shrew in  Roseville, Folsom, Fair Oaks, and Rocklin. Our reach expands each year, both with participants as well as audiences.
TNT's founder, LaRee Florence, developed PLAY THEORY as set of principles and skills to help both on and off the stage. Truly, PLAY THEORY principles teach the skills needed to choose happiness - Be Present, Let Go and Play, Accept and Build, Look Outward. These PLAY THEORY principles help give those who practice them greater resilience, the ability to collaborate, and tools to combat the overwhelming plague of anxiety and depression in society today.
TNT's participants, by nature of their exposure to the community, become examples. TNT strives to provide "ambassador training" that emphasizes gratitude and humility, and a "look what I have prepared to share with you as a service" not a "look at me" attitude in performance. This is achieved through coaching, inspirational teachings, and training. Self-aggrandizement is not encouraged.
Through the years, TNT has expanded its offerings to include improv classes, an annual Mainstage musical (high school), workshops, musicals for elementary and middle-school aged participants, summer camps, and a "varsity" Improv team, On The Spot, which performs monthly for the public. Additionally, TNT offers PLAY THEORY workshops in the community at businesses, schools, and in youth groups. For many years, TNT members have given a free, weekly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy workshop using PLAY THEORY for at-risk youth in Koinonia foster programs. These workshops, although supervised by an adult, are youth-led, which benefits both the youth giving the workshop and those learning in the workshop.
TNT seeks to change the world, one participant and performance at a time.
You can learn more about PLAY THEORY on our website, or by listening to the PLAY THEORY podcast by our founder, called The Happiness Playbook, found on YouTube and Spotify.
Giving Activity
Mission
Take Note Troupe (TNT) teaches positive paradigms that cultivate generosity and joy through validation of self and others on stage and off. TNT's family-friendly, principle-based productions, workshops, and classes provide positive peer interaction where participants gain confidence, discover talents and develop leadership skills while serving in the community.
Needs
Scholarships for kids in financial need. $250 funds one youth in a PLAY THEORY class, $400 funds their participation in a production.
Workshops available for the community. Donations can make these accessible to schools and non-profits at a reduced price or free of charge. Cost is $250-$750, depending on the size and scope.
Shakespeare in the Park is an expensive endeavor. Because it is free to the public, we rely on donations to fund the production, from costuming and makeup, technical needs, marketing, and facility rentals, and that doesn't even touch our general operating expenses when SO many of our resources go towards this community service.
We always need new mics and improvements to our sound system and lighting. Cost of one lavalier mic pack and wire: $500
Royalties for a show cost anywhere from $2,500-$6,000!
General Operating costs have soared as we have needed to add some employees to our mostly volunteer organization. We still do all we can to leverage volunteer hours and talents, but having a few folks at the helm is needed. We currently have 1 full time and 4 part time employees.
Equity Statement
Take Note Troupe is by its nature inclusive. The core principles that we teach encourage validation of others and collaborative teamwork. We have never turned anyone away from our program and seek to make our environment one that is inclusive and kind.
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$15K Match
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2026 Matching Grant for Big Day Donations!
Supporting:
Take Note Troupe
Sponsored by:
Anonymous
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Organization Data
Summary
Organization name
Take Note Troupe
other names
TNT
Year Established
2003
Tax id (EIN)
20-1651216
Guidestar
Mission Category
Youth Development
Operating Budget
$100,001-$250,000
Organization Need
Funding: Unrestricted, Funding: Program, Volunteers, Technology
Local Counties Served
Placer, Sacramento
Address
5176 Covenant Court
Loomis, CA 95650
Service areas
Placer County, CA, US
Sacramento County, CA, US
El Dorado County, CA, US
Phone
916-220-0402
Email
tntshows@gmail.com
Website
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