(*) Kickstarter Appeal: Bryan Ortiz Directs Night of the Living Dead at the Overtime Theatre, October 4 - November 2, 2013

Bryan Ortiz tells you why in his dramatic and well-edited video appeal to raise $1500 via Kickstarter for the







 presentation of

 October 4 - November 2, 2013

(Overtime Theatre Center, 1203 Camden Street, San Antonio, 78215 - click for map)

Click on poster to go to Kickstarter page for more info and to donate

(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)

Funding Appeal at Kickstarter: 'The Hands of Its Enemy' and 'Exit, Pursued by Bear,' Broken Alley Theatre Company

(image: LBJ Alley Cat Players)

A new company has raised $1305 of its $2000 Kickstarter goal for August 2013 stagings of The Hands of Its Enemy by Mark Medorff and Exit, Pursued by Bear by Lauren Gunderson. They have until next Wednesday, July 10, to get pledges for the remaining one-third of their goal. You can click on the Kickstarter logo to go to the contributions and information page.

The Broken Alley Theatre Company is a new troupe in Austin, Texas. We are alumni from LBJ High School and its theatre program, the Alley Cat Players. With support from this Kickstarter, we hope to open our inaugural season with two shows: The Hands of Its Enemy, by Mark Medoff; and Exit, Pursued by a Bear, by Lauren Gunderson.

Starting Broken Alley is about keeping a connection with our creative side. As we've entered college, our lives have branched every which way—mostly away from theatre. But the art still calls us. Broken Alley will give us the chance to feed our creative sides, and keep our Alley Cat family alive. For those of us pursuing theatre in college, BATx will also be a skill-builder to help us find our footing in the world of professional theatre. (Summer work with a local theatre company doesn't look half-bad on a résumé, either.)

Many of us performed Hands in 2012 for the UIL One-Act Play competition, advancing to the Area level. The plot revolves around director Howard Bellman—a recovering alcoholic—and Marieta Yerby, a Deaf playwright, as they struggle with their pasts and their art to put on Marieta's original play about domestic violence. The piece, by acclaimed writer Mark Medoff (Children of a Lesser God), explores pain, creativity, & reconciliation.

Exit, Pursued by a Bear is an absurd comedy based on a famous stage direction from Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. It opens on a young woman who has duct-taped her abusive husband to his recliner. She plans on leaving him to be consumed by bears—though not before theatrically working through all of the problems with their relationship, with help from two of her friends. This cathartic work investigates personal identity and growth, but Gunderson carries these heavy themes with a light touch that will have you laughing through the end.

Both shows will be going up during the first few days of August, 2013.

We've got all the talent and time that we need to put on two great productions in the next few months. We still need: royalties payments for both plays; a space to perform in; a set; costumes; publicity and ad spots

We're asking for $2,000. Truth be told, that's a shoestring budget, but we worked for years on public school projects—with that much we're sure we can get two shows up and running. We're also building Broken Alley Theatre as a nonprofit company, so any money we don't use directly on a show will go towards our next summer season.

Funding Appeal: Nursery Crimes by Greg Klein, Last Act Theatre Company

Kickstarter funding appeal for $5000 to help fund






production of
Nursery Crimes
by Greg Klein

via





[click Kickstarter logo to go to info/donations page]

Last Act Theatre Company is a local Austin theatre company that aims to produce works promoting local and independent artists. Nursery Crimes, written by Greg Klein, will mark the final play of our third full season, and will be directed by the talented and handsome Will Hollis Snider. Last Act has continued to grow with each production, and Nursery Crimes will be no different, taking place at the Dougherty Arts Center, November 7–24.

Nursery Crimes is a stylized crime noir parody using nursery rhyme characters. Bo Peep has lost her sheep, and it's up to Private Eye Jack Horner to find them. Quick dialogue moves the story from what seems a humble and straightforward beginning to a series of twists and turns, as these childhood characters are all grown up in this tale of deceit, murder, and mystery.

Funding Appeal from Uprise! Productions for A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberrry

UpRise! Productions is dedicated to bringing the voices of writers of color to the stage in the Austin, Tx area. We are one of a few companies who consistently feature these writers. Zell Miller, III, is the artistic director of UpRise! Productions. Last year, we produced a very successful and award-winning version of “For Colored Girls who considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf”. 

CLICK TO GO TO CAMPAIGN PAGE

This year, we are proud to bring to Austin one of the greatest American plays ever written, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. We are bringing one on the architects of “The Jazz Aesthetic," as well as an Obie and Bessie Award winner, Laurie Carlos, to direct our production. Laurie has been Zell's personal mentor for over 15 years. If you have enjoyed Zell's work in the Austin area, then Laurie is to thank. Zell's first community production in Austin as a child was A Raisin in the Sun, playing the role of Travis. Zell is excited to now perform in the role of Walter, which brings Zell's Austin theatre experience full circle. 

We are in need of your financial support to bring this amazing play to the stage. Funds raised will go to such production costs as Director fees and travel, scenery construction, marketing, actor fees, lighting and sound equipment rental, and costumes. Our goal is $3000 by July 19.

Please consider helping us by donating what you can to this campaign and spreading the word about our production. Click on either logo to go to the campaign page. Thank you for your support.

We also hope to see you at the show, August 1-17, at The Vortex in Austin.

Fundraiser: The Pillowman by Martin McDonaugh, 7 Towers Theatre Company at the Dougherty Arts Center, July 12 - 28, 2013

Christina Gutierrez and Aaron Black ask for contributions through
 





to assist in raising $1500 for the

production of  
The Pillowman  
by Martin McDonaugh

featuring Travis Bedard
July 12 - 28, 2013
at the Dougherty Arts Center
1110 Barton Springs Rd. - click for map

The 7 Towers Theatre Company continues its second season with Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman, the story of a writer who is suspected of a series of murders that seem to be based on his dark fairy tales. As the play unfolds, the writer tells a number of his stories as he is interrogated by two increasingly brutal and violent police officers. The Pillowman, set in an unidentified totalitarian police state, asks difficult questions about freedom of speech and expression, about the use of torture and force in police interrogations, and, perhaps most importantly, about the power of storytelling. 


Despite its violence, the play is darkly beautiful, ultimately arguing for the redemptive nature of the human spirit. We are beyond thrilled to partner with Austin-based visual artist Katie Rose Pipkin to bring the writer’s stories to life on stage. Katie Rose has created stunning characters and landscapes which transform the interrogation room in which the play takes place into a canvas for the writer’s imagination. 7 Towers’ collaboration with Katie Rose marks a new investment in visual storytelling and spectacle for the theatre company, and an opportunity to work within the vibrant visual arts community in Austin. 

Click here to go to the IndieGoGo page for further information and to contribute.


Your donations go directly toward paying for our space and paying our stunningly talented team. The Pillowman marks a shift from 7 Towers' previous focus on found and site-specific spaces, and we need your help to offset the cost of space rental. In addition, we've assembled a team of professional actors and designers whom we'd like to compensate for their commitment, artistry, and passion. 

That team includes Katy Billik (producer, costume design) of Chick and a Dude Productions, Derek Kollouri (set design) of Theatre en Bloc, Amy Lewis (lighting design) of The Loaded Gun Theory, and Amanda Gass (stage management) of Cambiare Productions, as well as well-known Austin actors Aaron Black, Travis Bedard, David J. Boss, and Stephen Price.

Funding Appeal: Zeb L. West Takes Don Quijote and Jonah to Canada with 'Innocent While You Dream,' Appeal Closes June 9

Zeb appeals for help via

 to take his show to seven Canadian festivals this summer. Click on the Kickstarter logo to go to the information page to learn more and check on the progress of the campaign, which closes on June 9.

Innocent When You Dream

by Zeb L. West, directed by Steve Moore

 

Don Quixote spends most of this comedy adventure re-telling the story of Moby Dick! See Sancho Panza (as Ishmael) and Ahab battle the white whale windmill! This solo adventure uses puppets, masks, old-timey stagecraft, physical comedy, and sea shanties to smash two literary epics into an hour of shameless antics!

"I'm taking this work up to 7 fringe festivals in Canada this summer! This play takes place inside the belly of a whale! A castaway has been swallowed and driven mad by only having two books to read. It's an irreverent and silly one-man comedy about getting dragged along rock bottom and figuring out how to get out of the belly of the beast, told through masks, puppets and sea shanties."

Zeb West studied physical theater, clown and mask-making at the Dell'Arte School in California, and is a member of Austin's Trouble Puppet Theater Company and Brooklyn's Alphabet Arts.

Funding Appeal: Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare, City Theatre, June 13 - July 7, 2013

An Indiegogo appeal for contributions to help compensate the cast of 19 for the










production of



by William Shakespeare
directed by Bridget Fairas
June 13 - July 7, 2013
Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 5:30 p.m.
(3823 Airport Rd. at 38 1/2 St., behind the Shell station)

Shakespeare’s Sublime Battle of Wits and Wills. 

Click the IndieGoGo logo for more information and to check progress of the campaign:








Considered one of the most popular and charming comedies, Much Ado About Nothing features the classic couple Benedick, an arrogant and confirmed bachelor, and Beatrice, his favorite sparring partner, who would rather exchange scorching insults than sweet nothings. However, the pugnacious pair is forced to forge a partnership in order to defend house and honor, and salvage the true love of Hero and Claudio after deceptions destroy the lovers’ wedding day. Will the earnest endeavor to restore a young romance elicit an unexpected change of heart for the effort’s unlikely collaborators as well? Witty wordplay, passionate poetry and clever plot twists make this the perfect romantic evening to share love and laughter.

Funding Appeal at Kickstarter: Circus Girl by Hat Tree Theatricals, deadline of May 11

Kickstarter Appeal for The Priceless Slave by J.M. Meyer, Cohen New Works Festival, University of Texas, March 25 - 29, 2013

Kickstarter Appeal from playwright Johnny Meyer and director Gary Jaffe, March 15, aiming to raise $2000 by April 7.

 Click Kickstarter logo to go to donation page.

The Priceless Slave

 

by J.M. Meyer

directed by Gary Jaffe

This is a true story. The events depicted in this play took place in Northern Louisiana from 1842 to 1856. Telling this story cannot atone for the sin of American slavery, for nothing can atone for the sin of slavery in a "free" country: a state has no soul, and therefore can never find forgiveness. Instead, the play seeks to help prevent slavery's reoccurrence.  

THE PRICELESS SLAVE is a chronicle of human obligations. Four human members of antebellum society exist in the shadow of a wider social system: here, in the shadows, they built their lives. Each character has the opportunity to fight against that social system, but in doing so they attack their own way of life, and trivialize their own hard-earned morsels of dignity.

Welcome to the world of The Priceless Slave, where forgotten stories return to life, and challenge the moral values of both our past and present. Written by J. M. Meyer, and directed by Gary Jaffe, THE PRICELESS SLAVE challenges the status quo to uphold the true meaning of “freedom.”

In the world of THE PRICELESS SLAVE, five characters represent the struggles seen in this antebellum society. Their descriptions and the synopsis are given below, beneath the video.

ALEXIS CLÉREL is an older English woman who married young, but her much older American husband died quickly and left her far less money than expected. Paulina is Alexis' friend and sometime benefactor, despite significant differences in age and background. Paulina and Alexis live vicariously through each other, and take this living very seriously, so much so that when one makes a move, the other feels some ownership of the act. Alexis believes it is important for Paulina to uphold her end of the friendship by becoming an established, respectable matron.

GEORGE PAYSINGER is a middle-aged architect and foreman owned by Senator John Hamter. James Gilmer has convinced Paysinger that his destiny is to help pull Northern Louisiana out of the frontier and into civilization. Paysinger's proudest moment thus far was the construction of Orchard Place Plantation. He might be an anti-hero.

PAULINA DEGRAFFENRIED GILMER is the wealthiest landowner in Northern Louisiana. She approaches thirty years of age, and is married to James Blair Gilmer, whom she will divorce in 1856. She is the widow of James Pickett, one of the seven founders of Shreveport, Louisiana; her first marriage is the primary source of her wealth. Pickett dies in 1842, one year prior to her marriage to James Gilmer. Paulina has three children from her first marriage; she will outlive all three. The play takes place in her home, Orchard Place Plantation.

THOMAS JEFFERSON is the third president of the United States of America, the author of the Declaration of Independence, and the play's only centenarian. As president, he oversaw the purchase of the Louisiana territory from France.

SALLY GILMER SPYKER is the young wife of Leonidas Spyker, and younger sister of James Gilmer. At the beginning of the play, she visits her sister-in-law, Paulina, for the first time. Sally just married Leonidas in New Orleans, and does not know that Paulina and Leonidas shared a brief relationship. Sally is not as naïve or simple as anyone would like, including herself; she understands the protective benefits of socialization and group-think.

SYNOPSIS   When Paulina DeGraffenried and George Paysinger receive word of James Gilmer's incriminating social indiscretion, each separately considers fleeing the constraints of their own social positions: Paysinger leaves; Paulina does not. Paulina panics at Paysinger's absence, and forfeits her James' trust to maintain her social status in wider society. James' sister, Sally Gilmer, discovers that Paysinger has been hiding beneath the porch of Orchard Plantation, the antebellum home he built with his own hands. Paulina recognizes that her forfeiture of her husband's trust places her children at risk, and she decides to abandon her marriage altogether.

In the world of The Priceless Slave, everyone is needed. To make this play be the best it can be, we not only need the talent and discipline of our cast and crew, but we also need you. By contributing to this world, you become a part of it.

You make The Priceless Slave come to life.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Although sponsorship from the University of Texas Co-op has provided a generous budget allowance for our project in the Cohen New Works Festival, that budget only covers costs such as prop construction, script printing, and other basic supplies. We think it's essential that go out of our way to provide some form of compensation for the artists devoting hundreds of hours of labor to our show. Our Kickstarter campaign will allow us to reimburse our artists for all the incidental expenses associated with constructing a piece of theater.

About the credentials of the writer and thee director [with links to AustinLiveTheatre.com reviews]:

Johnny Meyer: (Writer) His last play, AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS, drew on his experiences as a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, and explored the conflict between 21st century warfare and American values; the play received the 2010 Mitchell Award, and became the first stage-play to make the long-list for the United Kingdom's Dylan Thomas Prize.

Gary Jaffe: (Director) His professional work includes Spirits to Enforce (winner of the 2011 Critic's Table Award for Outstanding Drama) with Capital T Theatre, The Dudley's: A Family Game by Leegrid Stevens with Tutto Theatre Company (winner of eight 2011 B. Iden Payne Awards, including: Best Production of a Comedy and Best Director), The Alien Baby Play by Nicholas Walker Herbert (Tutto); his own play Love in Pine (LATCo); and The Twelfth Labor by Leegrid Stevens (Tutto).

Risks and challenges Learn about accountability on Kickstarter

The Priceless Slave is on a tight schedule with a limited amount of time until opening day on Monday March 25th. Fortunately, we have a bright and collaborative team of young professionals working hard to make this production a success. Working under pressure causes the entire team to stay on task and fulfill their duties to the utmost diligence.

Successfully crowd-funding our play through Kickstarter remains our most significant challenge, but we can meet that goal with your help! Luckily, the deadline to donate will occur after the final performance ends, so there is ample time to support our work with a small (or large) financial contribution!

As The Priceless Slave team stated in our video, we need YOUR support. This production will be the best it can be if you help us achieve our goals! Please come see our show, and please support our work in any way you can! Thank you!

Video: Pollyanna Theatre Company Funding Appeal

A charming, clever and very low pressure appeal by Pollyanna Theatre Company for support for their ingenious original theatre for children:

Video Funding Appeal: Just Outside Redemption by Dennis Bailey, Theatre en Bloc

Theatre en Bloc is appealing via

to raise $10,000 for Dennis Bailey's play Just Outside Redemption depicting the events in Austin leading up to the James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act in 2001. 

Click logo or click here to go to the IndieGoGo page. Derek Koluri and Jenny Lavery explain the project:

Redemption Pitch from Derek Kolluri on Vimeo.


A precursor to the National Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act was passed in Texas in 2001. It served as a huge win for those fighting for human rights and was firmly planted as a reminder that together our potential to overcome adversity is stronger than a lone voice crying for help. However, it was the voice of one amazing woman that led the charge to include Gay Rights in the legislation. Based on actual events in Austin, Texas (with a little dramatic license) Dennis Bailey's play is more than a history lesson, rather a celebration of the monumental win for Human Rights in Texas and the people who helped make it happen.
Since the bill was passed in Texas, there have been over 1,200 hate crimes reported, but only a dozen have been convicted. There is still work to be done.
Theatre en Bloc is partnering with several LGBT organizations including Equality, TX to continue this necessary fight for justice and equality.

The Impact The fight for justice never ends. Homophobia and racism still exist. Hate Crimes still exist. And while there is much to celebrate in the passing of laws like The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, this play is a reminder that the big wins only come by way of small acts of compassion from dedicated individuals who refused to back down in the face of great adversity.
While this play will resonate wholly as the story of one woman's fight, we hope her story will inspire others to take up the sword and shield to defend justice for all people, no matter who they are. We are partnering with LGBT and human rights service organizations to create a movement of people who will not tolerate violence toward anyone predicated on hatred.
We want to the ground to rumble with the sound of people stomping out the rhythm of equality! Where today people fear they might be harrassed or murdered for who they are - we want would be murderers to fear the multitude of people who stand together, ready to defend civil liberty!
The message of acceptance and inclusion is always necessary. This production lives perfectly in between a gripping night of theatre and a social call to action. We feel the reach of this project will be immense.

What We Need & What You Get We are asking for $10,000 and we want to build confidence with you, our potential funders, by letting you know exactly where we're going to spend every dollar.
First, Theatre en Bloc is an itinerant company and we hve to pay for a space to do the show. Our venue contract is for $3900. That covers a three week run for a toal of nine performances.
Second we like to pay our artists for their time. We are a small, young organization and cannot pay the wages these talented folks deserve, but we we are offering them stipends. The actors, all nine of them, will receive $300 each. Our designers for the lights, costumes, sound and projections are each receiving $300 for their work as well. We also need to pay 3 individuals to help run the scene changes, light board and sound board. Those three folks will get a $100 stipend each.
The total price tag for these modest stipends is $4200.
We need to provide budgets for materials for the designers to use to execute their designs. The set design has an $800 budget. Costumes have a $400 budget. Sound has a $100 budget and lights have a $200 budget. The total budget for the materials for the show is $1500.
Lastly, we are going to need to promote the show. We have budgeted $900 to cover poster and print material printing, photos and a professionally filmed promotional video that will spread across Yputube, Vmeo and Facebook. We also need to print out surveys to track our audience data for grant pruposes and for better marketing strategies as our small organization gets bigger.
The total comes out to around $10,500. So why aren't we asking for the full amount? Some of these expenses will be covered by in-kind donations.
We also have some very simple and unique prizes that we are offering. Among them, Copies of the script, photo books commemorating the show as well as personal video thank yous from the cast and production team including actress Beth Broderick.

Other Ways You Can Help Today, we live in a world where our voices, when used with passion and shared widely, can make a difference. We have the power to make this world a better place one small action at a time. By reaching out to others and sharing your passion for the importance of this story and encouraging them to make any contribution they can, we can raise the funds necessary to produce this important, albeit unfortunately relevant play. Thanks again for listening to our story and thanks in advance for your support.

Theatre Funding Appeal from Austin Theatre Project

Received directly from

We Found A Home. Help Us Move In!

AUSTIN THEATRE PROJECT'S $250,000.00 BUILDING CAMPAIGN WILL CHANGE AUSTIN THEATRE FOREVER!

We have found the ideal space to house our theatre company. We have already made quite an impact with our first show. Our second show looks to be more of the same high quality, thought-provoking theatre. Moving into our own permanent space will guarantee that we can continue to create a new standard of excellent theatre with Austin's finest directors, actors, dancers, and musicians. Read on and learn how we can set a new standard for Austin theatre!

Black Box Theatre • 98 seats in an intimate setting • State-of-the-Art Lighting and Sound Systems • Three different options for stage flooring • Spacious Dressing Rooms & Restrooms • Large, Comfortable Green Room • Full Scene Shop and Storage Space • Available for meetings and private parties Our intimate black box theatre will be one of the premier performance spaces in Austin featuring great sight lines, comfortable seating and state-of-the art lighting and sound systems. In addition to the six shows produced each season by Austin Theatre Project, we will make our space available to other theatre companies in the city so there will be performances throughout the year. You can be a permanent part of our new theatre! One lucky person (or company) will have this theatre named after them. You can also find your name at the entrance to one of our dressing rooms or the green room. Each of our theatre seats will also be available for sponsorship! This can only become a reality with YOUR generosity

Cabaret Lounge • 60 Seats at 15 tables • Grand Piano • State-of-the-Art Lighting & Sound • Live performances after evening shows • Beer and Wine License (to be applied for) • Grand Piano • Local and National performers • Available for meetings and private parties Our Cabaret Lounge will be a unique performance space for Austin theatre-goers! After Friday and Saturday night performances, you will be invited to stick around, enjoy a cold brew or a glass of wine and listen to some wonderful live performances by local, regional and even national artists! You can be a permanent part of our Cabaret Lounge! Would you like to have the Cabaret Lounge named after you or your company? The grand piano can be named for you as well as one of the table and chair sets. This will be Austin's first performance space designed and created for regular, live cabaret performances. This can only happen with the generosity of our friends and supporters. Won't you give today?

(AustinLiveTheatre note: though the ATP promotional material gives no location, the images are labelled 'Anderson Square' -- a commercial development near the conjunction of N. Lamar Boulevard, Anderson Lane and 183 (Research Blvd), also home to Bachus Conservatory)

Click for additional information from the Austin Theatre Project

Funding Appeal for The Sound of Music, free in Zilker Park

We Need Your Help to Raise $19,000

to Open The Sound Of Music on July 6th!

The Sound Of Music represents a grander and therefore more expensive production then what we

have presented recently and many of the mandatory expenses occur before Opening Night.

Please help us raise the curtain on Opening Night!

This summer, we are excited to offer our updated donor benefits, which include:

Invitation to our Preview Night Donor Dinner catered by the fantastic Green Mesquite Restaurant ($100 +) 

Direct access to our new "Cool Zoned" V.I.P. tent donated by Centex Rentals ($250 +) 

VIP Parking Pass + plus Express Autographs with the cast after the show ($500 +) 

Access to our elite air-conditioned portable restroom facilities compliments of Austin Outhouse ($500 +)

And more! Contact us today to learn about the new individual and corporate benefits we have to offer!

Contact our Community Liaison, John Faulk, for more details at jsfrealtor@suddenlink.net or 512-689-4242 or make a donation online!

In just a few short weeks, The Hillside will be alive with The Sound of Music! It's been a year of hard work and planning and we are thrilled to bring this iconic and treasured musical to The Hillside for the 54th Annual Zilker Summer Musical. The cast and crew of The Sound of Music will be moving out to The Hillside in just a few days for their final rehearsals, and the excitement is building as we move closer to Opening Night!

The Zilker Summer Musical is one of Austin's most cherished & long lasting family traditions and approximately 50% of Zilker Theatre Productions' contributed income is raised through contributions from individuals and audience members.

Keeping the Summer Musical free and accessible for everyone in our community is one of our primary goals, but we depend on your support to make this a reality.

Funding Appeal and an Invitation from Norway to Palindrome Theatre

We are very excited to be moving closer toward All My Sons by Arthur Miller (July 13 - August 4), and while this is our flagship production this year (and so our most expensive), we are honored to have already received financial support from the likes of The City of Austin's Cultural Arts Division- and

*SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL TO HELP!!*: 

A collection of Palindrome supporters have come together to give a challenge grant- they will match dollar for dollar every contribution to Palindrome up to $10,000! Basically, that means they're sponsoring half of the production if we and our patrons can come together to fund the other $10,000!

We know this is not a small price tag, but as I said before, they match dollar for dollar- you give $1, Palindrome gets $2; you give $50, Palindrome gets $100- so please, any amount is foundational in helping us bring this world-class work to our Austin Community! You can donate on our Website, Palindrometheatre.com, where you can also reserve tickets for All My Sons!

...speaking of world-class work, Palindrome is also very proud to announce, that after months of consideration, our Artistic Director and resident playwright Nigel O'Hearn as been officially invited by the National Theatre of Norway to be a special guest of the 2012 International Ibsen Festival in Oslo where Palindrome's Hedda Gabler was a finalist for inclusion in the festival!

If you can, please consider helping us produce this work, and if you are moved to, forward this message along to help spread word of the play and the work Palindrome is doing for the Austin community. See you at the Theater,

-Palindrome Theatre staff (Nigel O'Hearn, Austin Sheffield, Kate Eminger, Ashely Moore, Jarrett King, Shannon Bishop, Kel Sanders, George Marsolek)

Video: Austin Shakespeare - What It Means to All of Us

Line Dash's video depicting Austin Shakespeare productions of the last four years, featuring actors, artists and supporters discussing what the organization and its productions mean to them -- and to all of Austin. Music by Perfect Sense, Peter Stopchinski and Graham Reynolds. Photography by Brett Brookshire, Kimberley Mead and Kirk Tuck.

B. Iden Payne Awards - Spin-off and Annual Membership Fee

Published by Julie Wright at the website of the B. Iden Payne Committee, which administers annual awards for theatre artistry in central Austin:

Visit our “Become a Subscriber” page and show your support for The B. Iden Payne Awards Council today!

Your one- time, tax-deductible donation of just $20* allows for a 12 month membership that includes:

• A BIPAC Voting Ballot containing the council’s nomination list of the most outstanding theatrical work of the current season
• A monthly newsletter containing information including current eligible productions, class/workshop opportunities, audition posts, job opportunities, community notes, and monthly artist profiles
• One General Admission Ticket to the 2011-2012 B. Iden Payne Awards Council Award Ceremony

Your financial support to BIPAC also allows for the continued production of the B. Iden Payne Awards Ceremony. Currently in its 38^th year, the awards have become a welcomed tradition that allows the members and patrons of Austin’s Theatrical Community to gather together and recognize the time, energy, effort, and outstanding work of those that continue to grow and strengthen the community.
Become a subscribing member and become part of an Austin tradition. Join today.
Thank you for your support!

*Introductory Price expires September 1, 2012

Funding Appeal from the DA! Theatre Collective for DayBoyNightGirl at the Rollins Theatre

Just Say "DA!" - About DA! Theatre Collective

DA! Theatre Collective is proud to announce that we will soon be debuting our latest original show, DAYBOYNIGHTGIRL, at Central Texas' premiere performing arts facility, THE LONG CENTER! For one exciting week, June 6 - 10 at the Rollins Theatre, we will showcase the talents of our entire team (plus several incredible guest artists) for the full-length premiere of DAYBOYNIGHTGIRL, a multi-disciplinary production freely adapted from a magical 19th Century short story by illustrious Scottish author George MacDonald.

[To see developmental footage of DAYBOYNIGHTGIRL from earlier workshop incarnations, go to the video below at 16:48.]

This Indie-Go-Go campaign will specifically "Go-Go" towards compensating the work of the incredible artists on our team! Paying local artists a decent wage for their work is a core value that we chose to inherit from our beloved parent company, Hyde Park Theatre. The goal is $2012 by June 17. Please click on the IndieGoGo symbol to go to the fundraiser page where you can contribute and view the perks we're offering.

"Da" means “yes” in Russian. Yet DA! is more than a word and more than a company; it is a way of life. Rooted in contemporary Russian acting and movement theory, DA! Theatre Collective believes in the power of intention and the value of hard work --and that Austin, Texas in the 21st century is the very best place and time to be doing this hard work.

Click 'Read more' for additional information -- or go to the fundraiser page

Video and Fundraiser: The Experiment by Generic Ensemble Company

A fundraiser at IndieGoGo for The Experiment, to be presented by the Generic Ensemble Company, May 4 - 13

Goal: $3000 by April 29

(click here or on IndieGoGo logo to go to donations page)

The Experiment by Ana-Maurine Lara & kt shorb

directed by kt shorb, choreography by Tonya Pennie
Featuring Saray de Jesus Rosales as Lucy, Krysta Gonzales as Dolly, and Smalls McCoy as Dora; with dancing by Kimberly Caterino, Kaitlyn Jolly, and Kirsche Dickson.

The Experiment is an evening-length play asking the question, “What does it mean to be human?” THE EXPERIMENT draws its structure from worlds fairs and vaudeville, creating a speculative future reminiscent of the turn of the 20th century. It incorporates theatrical dialogue between a cyborg and an immortal mutant; singing by a perverse scientist/lab attendant; and a silent dancing chorus. THE EXPERIMENT showcases performances by (queer) women of color investigating the relationship between modern human subjects experiments, turn-of-the century freak shows, and anecdotal narratives of masculine/butch women.

The Experiment showcases the work and stories of primarily queer-identified women of color. Austin needs more shows like ours. Our approach is physical and experimental--delving into aesthetics and rehearsal processes that are innovative and new both locally and nationally.

How We Will Use Your Funds Donations from this campaign will go directly toward paying creative collaborators, which include more than 15 creative people. Thanks to the City of Austin Cultural Contracts and a generous grant from the Open Meadows Foundation we have enough to cover some venue costs, materials, travel, and some of the honoraria. It is the Generic Ensemble Company's goal to make this work sustainable for all collaborators. To do so, we hope to compensate all collaborators as well as possible.

Why We Are So Cool The Generic Ensemble Company (GenEnCo) is one of the few troupes in Austin, and nationally, that showcases queer-identified women of color in physcially engaged, experimental, ensemble-based performance. The Experiment is the third collaboration between Lara and shorb, the previous two collaborations both garnering awards. This is the most recent project aimed at asking profound questions toward social change through rigorous, dangerous, and community-conscious theatre.

Other Ways You Can Help If you cannot help out with donating to our cause, we are looking for volunteers to run the house, be backstage, and distribute media material. Do you have a blog, radio show, or column? Talk to us and share our project with your audience!

IndieGoGo Appeal from Brand New Theatre Company: Funds and Equipment for A Radio Serial

The Brand New Theatre Company is already in the process of creating a comedic radio serial style podcast Radio City Austin that is set (and recorded) in Austin, Texas but we need your help with recording and distribution.

The aim of the project is to feature a variety of Austin performers and playwrights in a way that celebrates Austin's creative culture while also providing Austin talent with a platform that has the potential to reach listeners around the world. The eight episode series will feature the work of over a dozen locally recognized Austin actors and four Austin-based writers. Click on the "IndieGoGo" icon to go to the donations page.

What We Need & What You Get

We would like to distribute the podcast at no charge to listeners but in order to do that we need to raise money to pay for production expenses such as:

Studio Prep/Soundproofing - About $600

Recording Equipment - About $500

Marketing and Podcast Distribution - About $500

The amount of support we raise will directly affect the quality of the sound recording we are able to produce. Your contributions will vastly improve the quality of the podcast, making your listening experience more enjoyable.

The Impact

In addition to serving as a platform for local artists to reach a wider audience, the podcast also allows BNTC to put down roots in Austin in a financially sustainable way. BNTC is not an entirely new company but the company has only recently moved to Austin. Our overall goal is to develop and showcase new works and we moved to Austin to do it because the city is a hotbed of new writing and independent filmmaking. This project will create an opportunity to help the company become more deeply embedded in the creative fabric of the city by allowing us to connect with wider audiences than we could reach through traditional theatrical ticket sales. "Lost in Austin" will help the company to develop an audience base that will hopefully support future theatrical productions that will be developed and performed by local theatre artists.

Other Ways You Can Help

Even if you are not able to contribute to this campaign you can do BNTC and the "Lost in Austin" podcast a world of good by listening and sharing it with your social network. Keep an eye on our website for the internet launch in mid-April.

Please go to the IndieGoGo page and use all of the share buttons there to let people know about the project!