HOME / SUPPORT / DECEMBER FUNDRAISER 2025 / “Why Mu?” CHallenge

2023 New Eyes Festival reading of House of Joy by Madhuri Shekar

The #WhyMu Fundraising Challenge is a community effort for Mu’s supporters, artists, and partners to record a short video answering one question—“Why Mu?”—and then challenge someone to share their Mu story.

With so many worthy organizations, your voice is vital to show why Theater Mu stands out and remains the largest AAPI theater in the Midwest. And why we’re still relevant almost 35 years after we began. 

We’re hoping to repost and share these videos between now and the end of December!

Video Structure

Start by saying “Why Mu?” Then share one or two sentences about why Mu matters to you or your community. Examples:

• “Why Mu? Because Asian American artists need real opportunities both on and off the stage.”

• “Why Mu? Because this is where our voices are developed, supported, and heard.”

• “Why Mu? Because this was the first time I saw an all Asian American cast onstage.”

• “Why Mu? Because there aren’t enough stories about Southeast Asian Americans, about being mixed race, about being adopted—about the dozens of intersectional identities in the Asian American diaspora.”

If you would like to add more depth, feel free to include a short example or moment that illustrates your “why.” This could be a personal memory, something you witnessed, or a way you have seen Mu create opportunity or impact.

Ask people to join you in supporting Theater Mu, and add a link to our December fundraising page in the caption or in the comments! You may say something like:

• “I hope you will share your own ‘Why Mu’ story and support Asian American theater this month!”

• “I invite [name], [name], and [name] to share their ‘Why Mu’ and join me in donating.”

• short link: https://bit.ly/eocy-2025

• regular link: https://theatermu.org/eocy-2025

Don’t want to do a video? Post a photo of yourself holding a simple sign that says “Why Mu?” along with a one- to two-sentence caption answering the question. Here’s a PDF of a few sign options we made, but feel free to make your own!

Share It with Mu

You have two options:

A. Post it on your own social media (preferred). Use #WhyMu and tag @theatermu on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, or BlueSky. If you don’t tag us, we don’t always have permissions to repost it!

B. Send it directly to Theater Mu. If you prefer not to post on your personal accounts or stories, you can send your video to lianna@theatermu.org, and the staff will share it from Mu’s account.

Video Guidelines

• Film vertically on your phone.

• Aim for about 15-30 seconds.

• Natural, unscripted, and genuine is best. Authentic is better than perfect.

• Try to look at the camera lens, not the screen, for a stronger connection with the audience.

• Use natural light or face a window.

If you want help with what to say, how to record, or whom to invite to join in the challenge, the Mu team is here to support you. Please send questions to marketing & communications director Lianna McLernon at lianna@theatermu.org, or call (651) 789-1012.