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Bikers in Camelot will have its premier in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, chosen by Condé Nast as the “Best Small City in the World.” With a highly sophisticated international population and a large influx of tourists, San Miguel is an ideal testing ground to prove that Bikers in Camelot, with its universal themes and rich musical score, has the potential for a successful future, both in New York and internationally. Ken and Wendy are experienced theater people. After performing her one-woman shows in NYC for over a decade, Wendy received a Masters degree in music theater writing from NYU on full-fellowship. Since then she has written three musicals, two on commission, one by the Public Theater, and an opera. Ken played and conducted many Broadway shows, has a Drama Desk Award and a Virtuoso Award from the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
The show will be staged with all the sparkle of a Broadway production. They have a talented team to realize their vision, including actors Santa Claire Hirsch and Joshua David Cavanaugh, from New York; Magnus Kjeldal from Norway and Clara Dunham from Mexico. The brilliant Canadian director, Ken Albanese, specializes in developing new musicals. But even though production costs are lower than in the US, so are ticket prices. That’s the reason your help is needed to produce the show. It’s scheduled to open at the San Miguel Playhouse on February 20th, and can’t happen without you! Please join the Bikers in Camelot family and donate whatever you can – AND just as importantly, let all your friends, especially musical lovers, know about this Campaign . . . and about Bikers in Camelot.
The Story
Bikers in Camelot is a four character musical romp, a classic fable . . . with a twist. When Michael, who writes biographies of Victorian women, proposes to Holly, who writes chivalrous sci-fi fantasy, but is suffering from writer’s block, all hell breaks loose. In the throes of a nasty fight, they inadvertently materialize the characters they have written – with whom they have unconsciously been in love all along. What ensues is a crazy – and enlightening night, in which they learn the old adage, “be careful what you wish for.” Of course they rediscover each other . . . but their dream lovers aren’t going anywhere.
The Cast
Clara Dunham; Magnus Kjeldal; Santa Claire Hirsch; Joshua David Cavanaugh
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Watch a Rehearsal
What We Need
While many of us have already invested a great deal of love and money in the show, even with a sold out run, it will be impossible to break even. That’s why we need your help. This Indiegogo Campaign has been created to cover the shortfall between the remaining production costs and ticket sales, figured at 70% capacity for the run, based on an average ticket price of $20. Production costs include: sets, props, costumes, airfares and transportation, per diem, housing, marketing campaign, printing costs, sound equipment rentals, rehearsal space, theater rental . . . and the personnel. It is a major goal of the production to provide fair salaries for the people who are providing their artistry, time and enthusiasm to Bikers in Camelot – the director, musical director, choreographer, four actors, six musicians, set designer, stage manager and assistant stage manager, props mistress, sound and lights technician, production assistant and stage hands. It’s quite a team! The period from the beginning of rehearsals until the end of the run is nine weeks, plus preparation prior to showing up. It is not possible to even come close to paying these professionals what their services are worth, but with your help, they will be paid a living wage.
(For those of you who would like a receipt for your taxes, please check the FAQ section.)
Social Impact
Fantasy in relationships is a topic that is much discussed. We live in a world in which everybody wants a beautiful wedding, but most marriages don’t make it; a world in which we create social media and dating profiles with unrealistic versions of ourselves, based on fantasies. If we’re in a relationship, we often hold our partners up to impossible standards because of our fantasies. Bikers in Camelot tackles the subject of fantasy in relationships with wisdom, compassion and lots of laughter. It speaks to all of us, from twenty to ninety, because everybody has been there.
Challenges
Apart from the thrill of seeing the show in full production for the first time, audience responses will help us develop it for future productions. Because of ticket prices, it’s not possible for a musical with high-quality production values, to break even. Our standards are high and we believe the community will be very appreciative of the caliber of the production. But we’re not being extravagant. Ken Bichel, co-producer and musical director, ran a NYC music production company for decades. He keeps a tight rein on a budget.
San Miguel de Allende has a powerful history of support for the arts. There are patrons for opera, classical music and jazz. But we’re the first musical to ask for help. We’re actually the first original musical headed for New York to ever premier here. We believe that the richness of the score in Bikers in Camelot will appeal to classical music and opera lovers, as well as fans of contemporary music. We hope that everyone who loves musical theater will get behind us so that other new shows will consider San Miguel as a location for premiering new works.
Other Ways You Can Help
Some of you can’t send us funds. That doesn’t mean you can’t help. Share! Share! Share! By sending this link to anybody you think might be interested in what we’re doing you’ll grow the campaign. COME TO THE SHOW with large groups of people – teams and committees and tribes. Tell everybody you know – Good friends bring friends to Bikers in Camelot!
