This play’s conception
This play began as some funny monologues I wrote in grad school for Amie while she was pregnant about how weird people get about hiring a pregnant actress. Fast forward a year, we’ve both graduated and moved to New York and I can’t get those monologues out of my mind. I start to seriously write Essie’s story— and ironically, that was nine months ago.
Synopsis: Essie is a mid-career New York theatre actor with a shot to finally star on Broadway. She and her husband Walter have been trying to conceive for five years. Amazingly, they do! The pregnancy and the Broadway role go head to head for Essie’s future— until a fetal disability diagnosis threatens to sway the balance.
This is a play for and by women artists (with some ally men pitching in). We're pro-life and pro-choice, we have kids and we don't, we're beginning career and mid career. We're not here to tell every woman's story about family/ career/ pregnancy/ abortion: we're here to tell one woman's story. Essie's story.
We’re pregnant, and we’re nesting
Creating a new play is a lot like having a baby. You do all the right things, make all the right plans and still have some unexpected surprises. I know this first-hand, as I was the 2012 Best Short Solo winner at United Solo, and I’m so happy to be back to do it again with this great team. Here are our expenses, in order of need:
- ADMINISTRATIVE: $1110. Most of this is the United Solo festival fee, then rehearsal space and performance space for our June reading (ah, New York City prices).
- MARKETING: $700. We believe this show sparks a crucial conversation about women, arts careers, and families, and how hard it gets when those three butt heads. We want the audience packed on September 20 to talk with Essie about it.
- ARTISTS: $525 total ($125 each for actor, director, playwright, plus $75 for sound designer and $75 for stage manager). We believe in Essie and this story. We’re also professional women with families. And we believe that every artist should get respected for their work with some form of thank-you payment.
- FILMING: $300. We are pursuing avenues to broadcast this show with community television networks. Our amazing colleague Lee Ann Hoover has graciously cut us a family-and-friends-only deal to film and edit the show. Help us put Lee Ann’s generosity in action and get this show into local household TVs!
The minimum we need to make this show happen is our administrative and marketing costs ($1810). We'd love to pay ourselves, and we'd love to pay Lee Ann to film it (the whole shebang, $2635). Please help us go all the way!
We’re planning for this baby’s future
I know it can feel like a lot to support a show you maybe can’t come see. We may only be at United Solo one night, but then we’re taking the show to YOU. Essie’s going on a road trip.
- Women need to talk about infertility, pregnancy, abortion— not with politicians or protestors, but with each other in a safe, open space. Theatre is that space.
- Amie’s already toured a show about a similarly hard topic to great success. She’s experienced leading difficult talk-backs with a variety of audiences (we’re working with a pro, people).
I know that many of you reading this can't come to the show in September but wish you could. That's why raising funds for filming and marketing is so important. You're investing in the future of women listening to women through the power of art.
Nobody said it was easy
We’ve all had experience producing theatre in a festival, and we’re so excited for United Solo. We’re ready to tear it up. But we’ve never produced a tour before (scheduled venues, organized transportation, squared away with Equity… and all the things we can’t yet see). We’re not old hands at these TV discussions (but we know this story is important and we’re going to keep fighting for it). We’re going big and praying we don’t have to go home. That’s where you come in. We’re going to rely on your support, insight and advice long after this campaign is over and it’s curtains on United Solo. We’re in it for the long haul and hope we can count on you.
This baby needs Love, not just Money
We know not all of our friends will be able to contribute, but that doesn't mean you can’t show Essie that you’re standing with her.
- We share, you share! Publish this campaign and other Essie news to your peoples.
- If you know of a place we can take Pregnant Pause on tour, reach out. Sending an email on our behalf, to connect us with new friends and a new audience, is free for you and great for us :)
- Most importantly, support the women around you. Listen to them and let them know you’re in this together.
And that's all she wrote.