Who We Are
The Beast With Three Backs is a company of students from Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre in secluded Blue Lake, California. Our company is comprised of Allie Menzimer, Billy Higgins, Spencer Rank, and Lucius Robinson. The four of us together will be developing the show until early July, and then Allie, Billy, and Lucius will hit the road!
What We're Doing
In 2013, as part of a school project, we staged an adaptation of Shel Silverstein's epic six-part poem, "The Devil and Billy Markham," a text that was published serially in Playboy in 1979. In this gritty, raunchy tale, a hard-bitten and consummately unlucky gambler named Billy Markham encounters the devil himself in a Nashville bar, where he strikes a deal that takes him through Heaven, Hell, and every stop in between. We've created a high-energy show full of dice, dames, and demons- and no one knows how to juggle all three like our hero Billy Markham.
So what's next? We're going on the road! Starting with three weeks of development in the San Francisco Bay Area, we're packing up Allie's tiny hatchback (don't worry- the set consists of one wooden box) and striking out for the Winnipeg Fringe Festival in Manitoba, Canada! On the way there, and on the way back, we're bringing Dell'Arte's signature style to theaters in Wyoming, North Dakota, and Idaho. "Hell To Pay" will be an unforgettable night of theater, and we can't wait to share it with you all.
What We Need & What You Get
Here's what we need to raise in order to get this tour off the ground:
- $800 will provide enough gas to get us from San Francisco to Winnipeg, and back again.
- $2160 will feed Allie, Billy, and Lucius for the duration of this project, including development in the Bay Area and our time on the road.
- $5990 will pay the actors for their time spent in development, as well as room and board in the Bay Area.
- $1000 will allow us to make any emergency car repairs that might be needed on the trip.
- $700 will pay for the venue fees charged by the Winnipeg Fringe Festival.
- $500 will pay for airfare to fly the excellent Lucius Robinson from North Carolina to San Francisco.
- $300 will house the actors along the way.
- $100 will pay our production costs- set, costumes, and music. We are travelling without any lighting equipment or a technician.
The Impact
We are fortunate to have been able to tour our student work via Dell'Arte's annual holiday show, and to have seen firsthand the impact that theater has on a community. In this age of communication, there is still nothing that can replace the experience of seeing a live performance, especially in communities that do not have access to a variety of theater.
Physical theater has gained considerable momentum in the past ten years, with the rise in popularity of the American circus scene as well as widespread public interest in companies such as Knee High and Punchdrunk Theater. Devised work is now on the rise, with more and more training programs focusing on the "actor-creator," and on bringing original work to the stage. We believe that the performer's investment in and use of in the moving body in space, as well as the desire to tell new stories and bring new perspectives to the theater will change the face of this art form as we know it. The Beast With Three Backs intends to be a strong voice in this movement, and we are so excited to be making our international debut this summer!
Other Ways You Can Help
Spread the word! Every dollar helps, and we are going to pull this tour off if we have to sell a kidney. (Billy's. He has three.)
