Missed Connections
This is the very first piece of theatre to be produced by BAE Theatre, run and produced by two passionate and well-rounded theatre professionals, Emily Keaney and Isabella Petrini (they just realized a week ago that their names kind of rhyme--PSYCH!).
- Both met while studying theatre in Los Angeles and New York and after years of performing, performance watching and just being dramatic together, they decided to produce a piece of theatre that would both entertain and invoke change in the Los Angeles community (AND BEYOND, they have to say that).
-
Missed Connections is a compilation of entries to the "missed connections" category of the website Craigslist gathered from October of 2014 to the present. Through the stage voices of eight actors and the real voices of over 40 real-life characters, BAE Theatre examines why Los Angeles actively participates in expressing why they couldn't make themselves say hi, or send a complement or ask for a number or simply...connect. Why do we repetitively fail to achieve these simple social interactions and why are we so expressive about them behind closed doors, and behind the walls of cyberspace?
- To make four performances of this play possible at The Hollywood Fringe Festival this summer (June 11-28, 2015), we are asking for donations to help us pay for the performance space, our entry fee into The Hollywood Fringe Festival...and a lot of other things that you can read more about below.
![]()
If you thought that was dramatic, thank God this is a dark comedy.
What We Need & What You Get
So, here's what's going on:
- We need to raise approximately $1,000. Our entry into The Hollywood Fringe Festival costs us $250. Then our venue at the tiny but gorgeous Theatre of Note costs $415. We have to provide liability insurance for the venue which costs approximately $150. We also need to pay for renting an overhead projector, stools for the performance and providing for other additional needs that may arise. We really need your help to make it all possible!
- Though the numbers are daunting as a low-budget non for profit theatre company, we know we can do it with your help. We want to do our part to make it up to you, so we have pooled some of our resources to help make your day a little brighter too. From designer greeting cards to styling sessions to tickets to big ole' Center Theatre Group shows and even a swanky dinner with the producers, we want to make it up to you!
- When we reach our halfway to our goal...we may create a dance video to one of our current favorite musical numbers...
- Ticket sales alone will not be close to enough to cover the costs of this show. Every dollar raised, whether we reach our goal or not, will go towards making the performance as real as possible.
The Impact
There are a number of reasons why you should feel good, and like a hero for donating to this production:
-
Missed Connections takes a very basic idea, and brings it to the masses of The Hollywood Fringe Festival, a place where festival goers are looking for new work that is not only "cool" or entertaining, but brings something new to the theatre community. Missed Connections takes an hour out of the audience's busy day/evening to bring them into a world of other people's concerns and perplexities. Will Missed Connections inspire audiences to take notice of the missed connections all around them or reach out more often than not or something else entirely?
- Have you ever donated to a theatre company or arts organization before? Maybe you have, maybe you haven't. For those of you that have, you probably understand how difficult it is to fund the arts and that organizations both big and small are almost constantly asking for money. That's because it is true that ticket sales are just not enough to cover the costs of most productions, even one as basic in concept as ours. You probably also understand the good feeling that comes from donating to the arts, whether you like a company and want to see them continue to expand their work or live vicariously though the struggling artists, from the safety of your plush seat. If you have not donated to an artistic project before, maybe it's about time. Talk to one of those people that have and I'm sure you'll hear stories about how the arts have impacted their lives. (You're gonna like the way you feel, I guarantee it.)
![]()
The creative team, circa two-thousand-...whatever.
Other Ways You Can Help
If now just isn't a good time for you to contribute financially (there's still time and donations of all sizes will be greatly appreciated and utilized), don't let that stop you from contributing in other ways:
- Most importantly, share this campaign with your friends. The more we get the word out, the more theatre enthusiasts we can reach. And in the long term, more people will know about the show itself and hopefully buy tickets to come watch it.
- We are looking for volunteers of all kinds. Are you an expert usher? Do you live in the Hollywood area and want to chauffeur an actor from Second City to the Theatre of Note to make it to the show on time? Want to donate water bottles for rehearsals or maybe you make a mean fruit salad? We can use you!
- Know American Sign Language or someone that does? We still need help translating one line of dialogue for a certain moment in the performance. Let us know!
- Have a technical theatre skill set? Pass on the knowledge or let us know how you can help out! As trained performers and producers...we can always use a little help in the technical realm (sound, lights, set, you name it!).
- Tickets to the show go on sale May 1st at hollywoodfringe.org for our four performances on Friday June 12 at 9:30 PM, Sunday June 14 at 7PM, Wednesday June 17 at 7PM and Saturday June 20 at 4PM.
- Please utalize the Indiegogo share tools!
If you read this far, God bless you just for that.
