Short Summary
Hi, I'm Nicola McEldowney: puppeteer, actress, playwright and onetime denizen of the Customer Service Desk at the supermarket. That last one was so far the best career move I ever made.
Why, you ask? Because AISLE SIX, my musical based on the experience, has now made it into a fabulous pair of theatre festivals this summer! To wit:
SUPER DUPER STORE WORLD TOUR, 2013
San Diego Fringe Festival, San Diego, CA - July 5-7, 2013
FringeNYC - August 9-23, 2013
I'm beyond excited to work with two dynamite casts, and one evil puppet. But, to do so, I need funding! Currently, Aisle Six's entire capital comes from my personal pocket, which is all well and good (I love this musical more than I can possibly say) but also pretty ineffective (I have less money than I can possibly say).
Aisle Six, at this juncture, is the most important thing I have ever done. It is imperative that I be able to make it grow with new productions - new actors, sets, props and lights - and above all, new AUDIENCES. You will be helping me to bring my proudest accomplishment to life.
What We Need & What You Get
I am looking for a minimum of $3,600 (three thousand six hundred) USD to defray Aisle Six's combined production costs at the San Diego Fringe and FringeNYC festivals. Here is where the money will go:
- Insurance fees for FringeNYC (a few hundred dollars)
- Materials fees: these will go toward sets and props for all 3 productions, many of which are being built by actors
- If at all possible, defraying actors' gas costs
- Paying cast and crew a small stipend each for the immense trouble they've gone to for this show
- An advertisement in the NYC fringe program - the smallest of which (1/18 of a page) costs $180.
Where do the funds go if I don't meet my entire goal? Believe me, to the exact same places. Just in smaller amounts. I am really, really hoping for larger ones. ;)
And now, the perks!
Oooh, this is my favorite part. OK. Here's just a small sampling of the goodies you can get if you contribute:
**Please note: if at ALL possible, I will get you TICKETS TO THE SHOW (1 ticket with a donation under $100, 2 tickets from $100-500, and 4 tickets with $500 or above) in addition to all of the perks below. But at this time, I do not know exactly how my securing tickets will work with regard to each festival. So I can't promise it. But know that I will do my best to try!**
- A show poster, signed by the author, director and cast (full disclosure: those first two people are both me)
- A personal thank-you postcard or letter from the fun folks at the Super Duper Store
- A copy of the Super Duper Store newsletter, "Gehenna, But With Sprite"
- Various Super Duper Store merchandise featuring Hondo the Evil Puppet
- Video greeting from Hondo, Melody and/or the Supermarket Fairy
- Official charter membership in the Supreme Order of the Super Duper Store (complete with certificate and other goodies), at the level of Trainee, Assistant Manager, Evil Puppet Manager, High Priest(ess) of Customer Service, District Manager, Non-Perishable Manager, Lord High Manager or Duane the Supermarket God.
- Super Duper Store paper dolls. OH YES.
- An amazing GIFT BASKET from the Super Duper Store featuring all kinds of goodies from Aisle Six
- Your very own evil puppet (or a nice one, if you're not into that kind of thing)
- Free puppet craft workshop or children's puppet performance
- And much more. Many surprises. Oh, so many surprises! (Promise. Not just gassing here.)
Other Ways You Can Help
Even if you can't contribute financially (and WHAT KIND OF UNFEELING MONSTER ARE YOU??!!! I SUPPOSE YOU'D HAVE ME BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO PAY "BILLS" OR SOMETHING?!?!), I humbly ask that you...
- Spread the word about Aisle Six and this campaign via social media
- Make some noise* in any other way possible!
* ...about this, I mean.
That's all, folks. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And remember: we're all in this together at the Super Duper Store.
