Summary

The Edinburgh Fringe is the Biggest Arts Festival in the World. It runs the full month of August (27 performances in a row) and attracts over 24,100 performers and hundreds of top promoters, managers & agents from around the world. It's been a platform for comics like Eddie Izzard, Tim Minchin, Sean Cullen, John Cleese, Flight of the Conchords, Bo Burnham, Rowan Atkinson and Tig Notaro.

MAY 14TH UPDATE - This campaign was featured in the TIMES COLONIST (Victoria BC). CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE!

After 10 years of playing theatres, clubs and fringe festivals across Canada, and winning a Canadian Comedy Award (Best One Person Show), Edinburgh is a career-building showcase for Chelsea to perform her naughty & witty music comedy to an international audience. Venues are competitive, and she's been selected to perform at one of the Fringe's top venues: the Assembly George Square. She's working with one of the top UK-based comedy publicists. In order to ensure her act is in top form, she'll be touring before to the Ottawa (June) & Toronto (July) Fringe Festivals. Her goal from Edinburgh is to tour festivals and clubs around the world. She is also thrilled to be joined by the funny and quick-witted Hayley Gilgan as director and comedy collaborator for this solo show! Hayley and Chelsea performed as the successful comedic duo The Black Roses from 2005-2008.

Yes, your contribution will help make a dream come true!

Here are some words from DIRECTOR HAYLEY GILGAN from an update video on May 14!

"Manders has a fantastic voice, not to mention a wicked sense of humour. But between songs, she also shows herself to be a performer with a natural rapport with an audience, and great comic timing..." - CBC

"Savagely Funny Comedy" - NOW Magazine

How You Are Helping

• CAREER EXPOSURE: This is an opportunity to launch a career. Wouldn't it be cool to have helped someone who knows 72 synonyms for tatas, twatties and tinkers make an honest living? 
• THE WORLD: Chelsea’s only ever performed comedy in Canada, and after touring the Canadian Fringe circuit since 2006 (Toronto, Montreal, London, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Calgary), recording two CDs, playing gigs for 3 to 800 people, opening for US headliners like Jimmy Pardo and Jackie Kashian - it’s time to share her views on polygamy and cannibalism with the WORLD!
• MAD SKILLS: Performing for 27 nights in a row - a unique opportunity for a comic. Plus, prior to the Festival, she will be doing the Ottawa Fringe (June) and Toronto Fringe (July) so she'll be in top shape and ready to make the most of Edinburgh. 
• DREAM COME TRUE: Despite being a classically trained actor (Ryerson Theatre School, British American Drama Academy, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama) Chelsea is ridiculously dedicated to writing and performing comedy music, and has always dreamed of playing in Scotland and the UK - the home of Monty Python, music hall and the double-entendre. 

About the Show

'Don't Tell My Dad' is about how Chelsea overcame her supportive middle-class upbringing to become the disturbed woman she is today! 

She sings twisted songs about profound human issues like love (Love Cannibal), family (Slutty Cousin Bossa Nova), marriage (Polygamy), babies (Existential Baby Lullaby), literature (Anne of Green Gables who Dances on Tables), politics (Commonwealth Bordello), the environment (Bush Whore), and travel (Talk Dirty En Francais).  

60 minutes.

Director: Hayley Gilgan (half of Chelsea's former duo The Black Roses)

Written / Performed Chelsea Manders, with collaboration by Hayley Gilgan

Ottawa (June 19-29), Toronto (July 2-15), and Edinburgh (July 30 - August 25) Festivals

www.chelseapmanders.com 

The Ask

Besides being a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it's terribly expensive! Those who know Chelsea, know that she works her ass off and will be on the Royal Mile flyering for 2-3 hours/day during the Fringe and promoting her show every chance she gets... but in order to make this dream come true she needs your help! 

We’re asking for $9,000 to help us cover a portion of the fees associated with this tour, and have listed the approximate fees below (in Canadian dollars). IT SEEMS LIKE A CRAZY AMOUNT…. agreed, but it has been planned as economically as possible and fringe tours are a huge investment - especially the Edinburgh Fringe with over 2,870 shows and 24,100 performers. 

The items not listed below, such as costumes, equipment, food, director’s fees, venue rental, 7 weeks accommodation for Chelsea and her team, Toronto & Ottawa Fringe fees, a Toronto and UK-based publicist, and any funds not reached during this campaign, will be covered by anticipated ticket sales and other fundraising initiatives... 

This campaign's funding will DIRECTLY support:

• Flights for the Creative Team - $2,400
• ¼ page EdFringe Program Ad - $2,850
• 2 Large Poster Boards - $200 (50GBP/board)
• Mandatory Festival Registration Fee - $450
• Required Joint Brochure Fee - $1,000 (500GBP)
• Poster & Flyer Design & Printing - $1000
• Photographer & make-up - $700
• Edinburgh Technician - $1,026 (20GBP/show; 27 shows)
• Wireless Microphone Rental - $500 

There are some amazing perks... including postcards, custom songs, a Black Roses Reunion Show and super exclusive private concerts. 

You can also choose to remain mysterious and donate any amount anonymously.

Share with friends for one of the bigger perks like a PERSONAL CONCERT BY CHELSEA (10 perks) or BLACK ROSES REUNION GIG (only 1!). If a group goes together for any of the concerts, then all the donators will receive postcards from Edinburgh & 1 ticket to the Toronto Fringe! 

Every donation at every level is truly appreciated. Thank you so much for your support! 

Other Ways You Can Help

Just because paying rent is more important this month, it doesn't mean you can't help! 

• Share this campaign on Facebook & Twitter! Here's a little something you could say, "Chelsea is taking her naughty songs to the world's biggest Fringe - the Edinburgh Fringe: YOU CAN HELP" and link to this page 
• In-kind support! If you think you may have something that Chelsea will need for her show, let her know. 
• If you are in Toronto, show your support and come to Chelsea's Fringe Party @ Artscape Youngespace (Shaw/Queen) Sat, May 24, 7-11pm FREE! There will be some amazing performances in between cocktails.