Guest Blog #5- Going out on a Limb

Going Out on a Limb

by Caroline Hendrix, Business Development Manager, when last we flew at the Fringe

This summer, playwright Harrison Rivers' when last we flew will soar (get it?) into the Lucille Lortel Theater as part of The New York International Fringe Festival -- its first fully staged production after having been workshopped at Lincoln Center, New York Theatre Workshop and the Sundance Theater Lab.

As many of you know, it's neither easy nor cheap to mount a fully staged production, so the WLWF team has dipped its toes into the crowdsourcing pool by using RocketHub to raise $6,000 of the total production budget. We have 13 days until our deadline of Thursday, July 29, and we're hoping to join the legions of creatives who have helped fund their projects via the help of friends, family and outside supporters.

To find out more about the play and our project, visit our RocketHub page through the link below. Every bit of "fuel" counts, and there are some good deals in there, including a $40 package that gets you a party with free wine AND a ticket to the show, plus the opportunity to jump on board as a producer for as little as $750.

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/129-when-last-we-flew-make-it-fly

Throughout the process, the entire creative and production team has been writing their thoughts, fears and excitement about getting this production off the ground over at the WLWF blog.

Here, a taste from Eric Louie, one of our lead producers...

I like order. I like facts. I like being in control and making things happen. I always make sure that all my t’s are crossed and i’s dotted. I worry that things could go wrong and always find a way to stop them from doing so.

A bit neurotic? Probably…OK, Definitely!

It’s the producer in me.

I’m not a man of faith. For all of the above reasons, I have a hard time getting to that point where I can’t do any more and just have to believe that the conclusion will be the one I want.

By choosing to help raise a chunk of when last we flew's production budget through RocketHub, I’m being forced to take that leap of faith. After all, this isn't a "if we raise the money, then we can do our project!" type of situation. This is a "this project is definitely happening whether this money comes through or not" situation. I’m being forced to believe that people believe in me. I’m being forced to believe that people will be excited by when last we flew, an incredible beautiful, witty, and moving piece written by one of my favorite playwrights.

And I’m being asked to believe that people believe in: Theater/Young Artists/A group of people coming together to work tirelessly to bring a piece that (yes) they believe in to life/Putting the power of producing back in the hands of the people…you get the idea.

Now, none of us (especially me) have been sitting back forcing ourselves to believe in all of this, of course. We’ve put together an amazing team of artists and actors (we’ve worked across the country, on Broadway, and on TV!), we’ve locked down an amazing theater: The Lucille Lortel (Umm… did you know that Buried Child, Cloud 9, Falsettoland, and yes, Steel Magnolias all premiered at the Lortel and such artists as Bernadette Peters, Elaine Stritch, Marian Seldes, and Richard Burton have graced that stage?), we’ve done developmental work on the play (Hello!– Lincoln Center, New York Theatre Workshop, and Sundance Theater Lab), and we’ve shamelessly sent you many an e-mail to get you to love us. We’re now about to head into rehearsal to bring all of the pieces together.

Our ducks are in a row… well, except for that thing that we still believe in: that you (and many other people like you) will help fuel our project. We’ve got till Monday, July 29^th to raise the rest of the 33% of our $6,000 part of our capitalization. If we don’t raise that $6,000, we lose ALL of the money.

Now, one side of my brain is FREAKING OUT and tells me to obsessively check the RocketHub website until my finger hurts from pressing the refresh button while I ponder get-rich-quick pyramid schemes. The other side of my brain, though, continues to tell me to relax and have faith in people and the amazing team behind this project. And lately, that other side has been winning.

As I said, I’m not a man of faith. I don’t know if I will necessarily ever be. BUT, I believe that you care. You’re reading this after all. So, thank you for caring about me, the arts, and this team.

Now, I guess I have to say: It’s up to you. I’m putting my faith in you to Help us fly.

Well said, Eric!

Thanks Caroline for the post!

This is a new innovative idea and this sounds like a really cool play. Also, for those of you readers who want to get more involved in producing, this is a great team to know. Take it from me, they are smart, talented, and incredibly hard working. As I've posted many a time, having a mentor can be an awesome thing, and it looks like they are offering that here in addition to all of the other perks.

So Fuel up. We'll see you amongst the stars!

Excelsior!