Putting up a play is hard work, but more than that, it costs a little bit to fully realize the work.  Below, you’ll find a general breakdown of what we estimate it will cost to make theMumblings happen in Denver in fall of 2016 with a little breakdown of where that money actually goes.

With these estimated costs, our show will require approximately $18,220 to realize full production.  It is a large number, but it is not impossible to reach - not with the help of our community and supporters. Thank you for taking the time to look this over!

  -theMumblings Team

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Renting our theatre for a 4-week run - $7367

We will be performing our play at The Bakery Arts Warehouse in the heart of downtown Denver. This is a small venue without many fancy frills but, artistically, it is perfect for what we are doing.  The cost of rent is based entirely upon our use of the space, and gives us exclusive rights to the venue.

(In comparison, a venue like this in New York would cost about $16,000 to rent for a 4-week run.)

Rehearsal space - $100

Something that Denver has plenty of is space and, with our small cast, we are able to make use of private residences and donated free space from different locations around the city.  We did put aside a bit of money just in case we are in desperate need of a legitimate rehearsal space. Most companies in Colorado have their own theatre in which they may rehearse.  This independent production company does not yet have their “home” in Denver, so we may have to invest a little in this area.

Marketing Fees - $1500

Since we are a new company to the Denver theatrical scene, it is important that we get the word out as best we can!  That means marketing. In addition to printing posters and postcards and putting them up all over town, we must purchase ad space in publications like The Westword, The Denver Post, and more.  We have even budgeted for a Press Representative to help us with this process so we can receive reviews from our colleagues in the industry.  We want this production to be well-attended and well-received, and that means we must get the word out in every way we can.

Concessions costs - $200

Not only do we want our audience to have a great night at the theatre, we want to bring in a little extra money to pay for all of this fun stuff.  We satisfy both objectives by providing beer, wine and snacks available for a suggested donation.  The way we begin this process is by buying candy, chips and soda in bulk at Costco or Sam's Club so we can get the lowest cost per unit.  If we are really lucky, we will be able get a beer sponsor - and that is definitely on our search list as we move into our next phase of production. (Would you like to be our beer sponsor? Do you know someone who would? Please let us know!)

Set design materials - $1000

theMumbings takes place in an apartment, and so we must transform The Bakery into said apartment.  Set Designer, Anshuman Bhatia, a graduate of DU and now resident of New York City, is thrilled to be able to make use of a beg, borrow and steal sensibility to make our set design as clean and impressive as possible.  We will be spending money on furniture, paint, lumber and more.

Costume design materials - $400

While there are only two  actors in our production, they play a great many characters.  When this convention is used in a play, it can sometimes come off as being silly or campy.  That sort of sensibility does not work for theMumblings.  Instead, we will use a basic outfit for each actor on which to build clear, clean, character-motivated pieces for each new persona.  Although this is not a period piece set in, say, the French Revolution or Renaissance England, sometimes contemporary pieces can be equally costly.

Sound and Lighting design materials - $200

Since The Bakery offers limited lighting instruments, much of our play will be lit with “practicals” or lights that are a part of the set, like lamps.  The items must mesh well with our set design concept and do their job at the same time.  We also have a top notch sound designer who may have to purchase rights to copyrighted sound files in order to create the world of the play with audible sound.

Transportation costs - $1400

Since this play brings our Director in from New York, transportation costs may seem a bit higher than most production budgets.  Getting to and from the east coast for auditions and rehearsals can cost a pretty penny.  We are lucky enough to have a playwright who is allowing us to do his play for only the cost of a plane ticket so that he may come see the show. In addition to airfare, the cost of gas and transportation for moving the set in and out of the theatre before and after our run adds up. Where we will save on rehearsal space, we will likely spend on transportation.

Designer Fees - $1550

Designers can make or break a production.  Luckily for us, we have an amazing team of talent to make our show visually and aurally effective before the actors even open their mouths.  The figure listed above is well under what professional designers usually get, but each of these artists are investing their time and talents into theMumblings because they believe in the work.  If it turns out we can pay them more, we certainly will. While designers are not required to be at every rehearsal, they do spend quite a bit of time drafting up design ideas and gathering pieces to make their vision a reality.  The investment of time is why their fees are smaller than that of the actors or directors who are required to be at every rehearsal and performance. 

Actor/Director/Producer/Stage Management/ Board Operator Fees - $5500

Our actors, Lauren Bahlman and Lanny Boyer, are taking on a HUGE task.  This is an 85-page script which will be investigated, picked apart, memorized and performed by two humans.  These two humans will be required to attend every rehearsal together and be at each and every performance.  Offering them each a mere $1000 for the task is more a gesture than anything else, but it will help them to pay for gas, meals, and a little extra. We’d give them each a million if we could. 

There cannot be a great production without a great Stage Manager.  The Stage Manager makes sure all props and costumes are safe and sound before and after each performance, keeps bandages and hair ties handy in case something happens, and “calls” our show - meaning they operate our light and sound board from a booth so that all the technical elements that the designers have so meticulously put into place are employed with perfect flow.  Again, this stipend is low compared to what many professional Stage Managers get,  but we are a low budget production with a lot of heart, and that tends to draw the best people out.

Our director/producer, Kristin Skye Hoffmann, has been the driving force behind this project from the beginning.  She has worked hard in pre-production, securing rights to the play, guiding a graphic design for the play, arranging a venue, interviewing designers, arranging auditions and casting the play,  setting up a fundraising campaign as well as doing her best to drum up interest in the project by promoting it on social media sites and beyond.  This job will continue well through the rehearsal process and into production.  In fact, she will away from her home in NYC for two solid months to be in Denver for each rehearsal and performance, as well as for the breakdown of the set once the show closes.  This role is by far the most time-consuming. 

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If You Help Us...

Not only will you receive a giant dose of great karma in the grand scheme of things, your donation also gets you some perks! Claim your VIP seats when you get your ticket here in advance, snag a sweet, signed poster from our team, or enjoy a complimentary drink when you arrive at the show. It all adds up, friends, so give, give, give! As an added incentive, you can get a tax write off, because Wide Eyed Productions is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. The more you give to the arts, the less you give the government! Nice work, you!