On October 27th Ithaca College’s Macabre Theatre Ensemble held a benefit concert to raise money for the Andrew Goodman Foundation. The Andrew Goodman Foundation encourages young citizens to vote and be heard. They also help with voter accessibility. Being both the artistic director for Macabre Theater Ensemble and a campus ambassador for the Andrew Goodman Foundation, Alexandria Paul decided to combine the two in one event.

“Vote for Dracula is part of our benefit concert series in which we pick a charity and throw a concert with all students bands”, said Paul. She said that Macabre Theatre Ensemble have been throwing benefit concerts for two years. “We’ve done seven or eight concerts, all for different charities.” Paul explained that since the Andrew Goodman Foundation stresses that young people get out and vote and the midterm elections are coming up soon, Macabre Theatre Ensemble should have a benefit concert for the foundation.

The concert took place at the IC square and featured three bands. Tungsten Lungs performed first and was followed by Leonardo Decapitated and Nick Wayne and the Bat Seeds. The music leaned more towards the sound of punk and at one point the bands were asked to turn the music down but that didn’t stop the event or discourage the bands from performing. Students could donate money, buy Macabre themed stickers, and ask Alexandria Paul voting related questions.

“I don’t think voting is the end all be all of your civic duty,” Jake Sullivan explained. As concert chair for Macabre Theatre Ensemble, Sullivan has been a part of their benefit concerts both behind the scenes and on the stage. For this concert, Sullivan was the guitarist in Nick Wayne and the Bat Seeds and although their lead singer jokingly shouted, “Don’t bloody vote,” during their set, Sullivan said that voting is important but continuing to fight for the causes you believe in no matter the outcome of the election is what’s most important.