A Moment (Un)Bound
Ella and Lucy have a knack for preserving paper ephemera. While they are teaching Tom to sort this from that, mysterious booksprites throw a monkey wrench into the World Archive’s Ephemerarium, and expose family secrets. Will they each find what they need to find? Or will they all get stuck in the past?
A collaboratively written play exploring the tension between what you hold onto, what you let go of and how you know which is which. The whimsical masks, text and themes are inspired by the notes and clippings left behind
in the books donated to Friends of the Palo Alto Library.
Short Summary
It's like Harry Potter meets the X-Files. Or Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children meets The Mysterious Benedict Society, with a dash of Jonathan Strange…. It has magical creatures. It gets people talking about books and technology and family secrets.
Archivists Ella and Lucy work for the World Archive’s Unbound Center and Ephemerarium, in an endeavor to capture the essence of everything. Industrialist Mr. Glass sends Tom to keep closer tabs on their work. Meanwhile, mysterious book spirits JuMP and Vertigo pull them this way and that, and Tom is just trying to figure out which tense is present.
What We Need & What You Get
We get: to pay people.
Your donation means
- That each performer is compensated $500 for the run of the show (8 performances), and $200 for the rehearsal period (4 performers= $2800. We have enough for about 2.5 performers to be paid for performances so far)
- Each designer team member makes $500 for the biggest jobs (Sets, Lights, Props, Costumes, Sound, Video, Marketing)
- Each writer receives $100-$200, depending on length of involvement
- 3 guest directors/outside eyes, are offered a $50 honorarium to give critical feedback
- Whatever is left = "thank you!" money for our nonprofit partners that have made this show possible- the Dragon Theatre, foolsFURY, the Friends of the Palo Alto Library, EFF, RAINN, and Paws for Reading, and the B.O.K. Ranch Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program, EFF, and RAINN.
We are committed to an open ensemble process, so if you are interested in seeing our complete budget, we are happy to share that with you.
You Get:
- $1: A hand-signed thank you note from one of the cast members
- $10: An "Arc:Hive Presents A Moment (Un)Bound” pencil set- one regular lead pencil and one blue/red checking pencil, each inscribed with the name of the show
- $20: A piece of ephemera- could be a sheet of nifty stickers, or a picture postcard, something like that- and the pencil set.
- $25: Original die-cut bookmark featuring Nancy Hurxthal’s rendering of one of the characters from the play- and the pencil set
- $30: A pencil sharpener souvenir of the world- eg. A pencil sharpener shaped like Big Ben, or the Space Needle
- $35: An inflatable globe and an “Arc:Hive Presents A Moment (Un)Bound” magnet
- $40: A Moment (Un)Bound stationery set
- $45: A signed copy of Matt Danzig’s illustrated children’s book The Blueberry Curse
- $50: An Arc:Hive Tote Bag
- $75: Made to order hand-stitched recycled paper journal
- $100: A customized mug featuring characters from the show
- $150: A copy of "Palo Alto Remembered" by Matt Bowling
- $200: An Arc:Hive Tote Bag and a cool CD of one of our musician friends’ work.
- $300: A a customized teapot with an aphorism of your choice. We promise to use stencils if you're worried.
- $400: A set of one-of-a-kind hand show-themed wine charms (6 pc) made at the MAKE studio at Cubberley, designed especially for you. AND Brunch at John’s Cafe in Palo Alto with Lessa Bouchard. Her treat. Bob and Mike may be in attendance. Gabby too, if you’re lucky. No guarantees.
- $500: The Encyclopedia of Ephemera and a set of An “Arc:Hive Presents A Moment (Un)Bound” poker chips and cards.
- $1000: EXTRA Special Personalized Thank You Arc:Hive hoodie, and you will be listed as a sponsor of the show on our website and in the program. Fun product placement/an ad for your business or nonprofit of choice featured in the show. Let’s talk!
- Any amount: our (Un)dying gratitude.
The Impact
“Life is a process of becoming. A combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.” ~Anais Nin
This project raises big questions about our books, papers, and the ever-changing tools of technology. How do we decide what information is important to us? Who decides what is "general knowledge" and who has access to it? How is it arranged? Should one thing be more important than another? With so many digital platforms to choose from, is the medium still the message?
“Information is exploding so furiously around us and information technology is changing at such bewildering speed that we face a fundamental problem: how to orient ourselves in the new landscape?” ~Robert Darnton
This show will initiate these conversations in matinee talkbacks and in our community long after the show.
We are a collection of theatre professionals associated with Dragon Productions 2nd Stage Series. Our ensemble has written, directed, performed world class theatre locally and internationally.
Read about the ensemble at our website: www.arc-hive.org
Risks & Challenges
Being artists in this economy. Sigh.
Other Ways You Can Help
Hugs and cookies are always appreciated!
If you’re in the neighborhood, donate your ephemera, nonworking electronic media devices and used books to our props and set crew through Sept 28th at Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Studio E-6, Palo Alto, CA 94303.
Participate in the production- we are always looking for help and there are lots of tasks, from volunteer ushering, folding programs, helping to paint….
Tell the world! Tell your friends. Share on social media and help us distribute postcards. Every bit is super appreciated.
