Effigy is a triptych play that looks at three eras of unrest in the United States: the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the Black Lives Matter movement. The play follows the stories of a forgotten revolutionary, a black Union soldier, and the students of a Southern university history class.
When we first sat down to start writing Effigy, it was following years of research. The pandemic gave us the time to work on a project with no specific end goal––though we were pleasantly surprised to be accepted to perform in NY Summerfest. Ultimately, Effigy is about the warping of legacies and the failure of generations upon generations to not just forfeit racism, but embrace antiracism to a meaningful degree.
Together, we make up the crew that's bringing Effigy to the stage in its debut. Not only is it exciting to bring such a timely piece to life, but for the past year both our cast and crew has been off the stage––and we're finally getting the chance to change that.
Joining us are actors Frank Bläuer, Andrea Rose Cardoni, Maxwell Lamb, Cameron Pillitteri, Mark Simmons, Tatiana Skyy, and Isaiah Caleb Stanley.
Effigy is being independently produced for NY Summerfest by creators Laura Anthony and L.A. Mars. We are not taking paychecks for the hours put into developing the piece, but we believe that our cast and crew should be compensated for their time––always, but especially in light of the current pandemic.
We are working off a zero-based budget, so every penny of our goal––and we know, it's not a small number––has its own job. Our primary focus is providing travel and performance stipends for our cast, but there are other places we need to spend as well.
Our biggest concern is, of course, the current pandemic. The staff behind NY Summerfest, however, believe that the festival will be made possible through the increasing availability of vaccines.
Our Stage Manager, Lisa Geerhart, is specifically knowledgable about COVID prevention, and we are taking specific steps to ensure the safety of our cast, crew, and audience:
- All cast and crew will be vaccinated prior to our opening night: August 24th.
- Initial development rehearsals are being held virtually.
- Seating will be limited following current CDC guidelines at the time of performances.
The NYSF debut of Effigy began development in January, 2021 when our first draft was finalized and the festival reached out to offer us a spot in their lineup. Our performances will be August 24th, 25th, and 28th, making the whole process an eight-month endeavor for the creative team.
Key Dates:
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January 13th: NY Summerfest accepts Effigy into its 2021 season.
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March 1st: Open auditions for the NYSF debut of Effigy begin virtually.
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March 31st: Effigy is fully cast.
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April 20th: Virtual development reads begin with the full cast and crew of Effigy.
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May 30th: The NYSF 90-minute script is locked and delivered to talent.
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June 3rd: In-person rehearsals begin.
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August 24th: Effigy opens at NYSF.
Donating to our crowdfunding campaign, of course, is the most direct way to help us meet our goal––but we know some folks aren't in a position to contribute, and we understand entirely. If you find yourself in this boat, but wanting to help nonetheless, here are some ideas:
Whether or not you can donate, the entire Effigy team thanks you for your time.