Help needed to get play to Manhattan

Message

franktangredi · #1 Post by **franktangredi** » Tue May 13, 2008 9:01 am

This is a difficult thing for me to do. But the fact is, I need the help of my friends to get my first play produced in Manhattan.

The good news is that the Los Angeles company of my play Galatea applied to bring the production to this summer’s New York International Fringe Festival. (See http://www.fringenyc.org/.)

The bad news is that, in the interim, their theatre company closed. So they lost their producer and support system. They calculate they will need $11,000 to bring the production to New York (that includes entry fee, travel, lodging, incidentals, etc.) The actors can’t foot the bill by themselves, although they are chipping in to cover the $550 non-refundable entry fee -- money they will lose if the production fails to happen. Nor can I do it for them.

The alternatives are to lose this opportunity or to seek donations. And I mean just that, donations. It’s not an investment that is going to net a possible return. (That, I hope, will come later.) It can’t be deducted as a charitable contribution. You won’t even get a free ticket out of it (though I hope that won't stop you from coming to see the play). It’s merely a gift to help me get a few performances of one of my plays into an important New York festival. (And, of course, an acknowledgment in the program.)

Can you help? Obviously, donations with more than one zero at the end would be wonderful. But enough smaller ones might turn the trick. I’ve already got a head start, since two people have pledged a total of $1500.
I’m not asking for any money right now. I’m just asking for a pledge to see if this thing is doable. So, if you would be willing to help me out, please telephone me at 631-412-3724 or e-mail me at franktangredi@hotmail.com. I should know within a few weeks whether this can actually happen or not.

If you can’t help, I fully understand. But if you can, I’d be very grateful. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Frank

5LD · #2 Post by **5LD** » Tue May 13, 2008 11:09 am

Do you have a space to perform it, Frank? Or is that all set?

franktangredi · #3 Post by **franktangredi** » Tue May 13, 2008 11:35 am

5LD wrote:Do you have a space to perform it, Frank? Or is that all set?

The festival will provide the space and many of the needs, including tech and publicity. They use several facilities around Manhattan. They also guarantee five performances, but there could be more depending on demand. We get a percentage of the take, which I would use first off to compensate the actors and myself for anything we have laid out.

5LD · #4 Post by **5LD** » Tue May 13, 2008 11:47 am

Friends of mine run a theatre company in NYC that focuses on new plays......hence my question.

Best of luck!

franktangredi · #5 Post by **franktangredi** » Tue May 13, 2008 11:50 am

5LD wrote:Friends of mine run a theatre company in NYC that focuses on new plays......hence my question.

Best of luck!

This is important information! Please tell me more! I have lots of other plays.

nitrah55 · #6 Post by **nitrah55** » Wed May 14, 2008 1:08 pm

Frank, is it possible you could mount a production for the festival using NY talent?

This occurs to me because it's possible you and I know (or know of) some of the same people in the LI theatre world.

Also, I'd like to hear about 5LD's pal's theatre company. I have this two-act historical mystery....

franktangredi · #7 Post by **franktangredi** » Wed May 14, 2008 6:07 pm

nitrah55 wrote:Frank, is it possible you could mount a production for the festival using NY talent?

This occurs to me because it's possible you and I know (or know of) some of the same people in the LI theatre world.

Also, I'd like to hear about 5LD's pal's theatre company. I have this two-act historical mystery....

In this case, it wouldn't work because it was this particular company that made the application, not me. In fact, I would have a crew that could get in there, since the play was produced in Connecticut last month. But the Los Angeles bunch are the drivers on this.