About this project
The year is 1955.
Daddy has a cross-dressing issue.
Mommy is half a lying whore.
Little Suzie seems to be slipping in school.
And little Bobby just wants to paint all over everything and everybody.
And the BOMB? Who knows when and where.
One thing we do know? Something isn't right at home.
Welcome to American Dollhouse, presented by Manic and Muse Productions, Inc.
This is no ordinary house.
And the family that inhabits it? Well, they're FAR from ordinary.
They wear doll masks.
They cheat.
They spy.
They have secret love affairs with mannequins.
They dream in projected video installations.
And they are very afraid...
At the height of Cold War tensions in the 1950s, civil-defense drills such as DUCK and COVER were developed. OPERATION ALERT, a more sophisticated reaction, was implemented by the Eisenhower administration to help cities organize themselves in the event of nuclear attack. Operation Alert targeted 90 major cities in the continental United States. Of these cities, 13 had no advance notice that they would be included. Our story takes place in one of those excluded cities...
American Dollhouse is a theatrical exhibit that will transform an art gallery into a life-sized dollhouse. Within this mysterious house, we see a family plagued by routine, struggling to maintain a façade of perfection in the face of their darkest secrets. As the performance ensues, their deepest desires begin to take hold, and we see a family, once trapped within the confines of the American Dream, about to break free.
This exhibit will fuse together theatre, fine-art, video installation and live original music and best of all: an amazing dollhouse set that the audience will be able to walk through and explore! It's truly going to be an experience not to be missed!
Even if you don't live in LA, our friends abroad are not going to miss out! Portions of this project will be shot in a series of photo and video installations (such as the one above) and broadcasted directly into your homes via THE WORLD WIDE WEB. This is going to be a completely unique multilayered artistic BONANZA the likes of which have never before been seen! We just need one thing to make it happen....
YOUR SUPPORT...with your help, we will see this project come to life!
We are looking to raise $7,500. We could really use $10,000 to make this show look great, but we figured we'd set our goal at the bare minimum we need to make this project...because if we don’t reach our pledge goal in 30 days then we don’t get ANY of the funding. Most of your funds would help us build and create the actual HOUSE. We're talking everything from simple kitchen appliances to toys for Attention Deficit Disorder-Stricken Bobby to sexy garments for Daddy to discover his true self within. Your money will help us rent 1950s props, pay our set, production and lighting designers, find sound equipment and rent out the entire 4,000 square foot gallery space.
NOT ONLY will you be helping us put on an amazing show, but you'll also be allowing a NUMBER of emerging fine-artists in the Los Angeles community show their work and get publicity, not to mention an incredible cast and a full chamber-pop ensemble performing original live music!! This is truly going to be a great cause.
Donations through this Kickstarter Campaign will be the lifeblood of The American Dollhouse. And fear not. Those who help us fund this project will be handsomely rewarded. Look to your right to see what awesome rewards are in store for you!!
WEBSITE
www.theamericandollhouse.com
FACEBOOK
http://www.facebook.com/leahjohnstonart
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Manic-and-the-Muse/110015489368
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chris-Barnett/164784886889277
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
83
Backers
$7,955
pledged of $7,500 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on December 27, 2010.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
1 free ticket to the show! Plus, an ultra-cool signed postcard that's bound to make your friends jealous. It may even make YOU jealous. Where else can you get this much fun for 10 bucks?
Pledge $20 or more Pledge $20 or more
2 Free tickets to the show + a signed DVD + a postcard from the show addressed to you from the point of view of one of the characters+ a personalized thank-you note with lipstick kisses from us!
Pledge $30 or more Pledge $30 or more
You rock! Along with everything you see above, you'll also get a free soundtrack of the original music from the show, written and recorded by Chris Barnett.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
Will wonders never cease? On top of all of the above you will also get a 8x10 print from the American Dollhouse exhibit to hang on your wall. Now that's sexy!
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
Things are getting crazy up in here! We're gonna give you 'The Complete American Dollhouse Collector's Kit' which includes all of the prizes mentioned above, plus exclusive behind the scenes footage about the making of the project, a character diary written from the perspective of young Suzy, a poster signed by the entire cast and crew, and souvenir doll mask, all put together in a nifty little box! Plus a special thank-you in the program. You'll feel ever so classy!
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
This is no small sum! So to reward your generosity, you'll receive an autographed copy of Leah Johnston's new photo-poetry book taken from the most popular images in her collection. Add to that an original song, written, composed and recorded by mastermind musician Chris Barnett especially for you in the style and genre of your choosing! It will be amazing and unforgettably beautiful- trust me!!
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
Okay, that's pretty darn generous! So we're going to be generous too!! On top of everything mentioned above, you will also get a limited edition fine-art print of YOUR choosing from any of Leah Johnston's photos either on paper or on canvas, signed, proofed and editioned by the artist herself. Sizes may vary depending on the photo you pick, but they will be x20 on the long side and taken from a small edition of only 25 prints in the entire world. Talk about incentives. You have our heartfelt gratitude.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
Have we told you lately that we love you? Take those rewards from above, and increase that limited edition print size to x30 on the long side from a collection of only x20 available in the world. PLUS a a free photoshoot with Leah Johnston, creating a magical image just for you. She will photograph you, assist you on your own photoshoot, or create a photo concept you both decide upon and spend up to 12 hours editing it in photoshop to create a concept of your choosing. Then she will send you a limited edition copy of your shot! Then add to that a big fat kiss on the lips and ecstastic applause from everyone involved!
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
Um, we don't even know what to say! You're amazing! You're wonderful! We fall on our knees and give thanks! We give you all the aforementioned, but add to your print an additional size of x40 on the long side from a limited edition of only x10 images. Then we will crown you 'Associate Producer' and create ecstatic fanfare where ever you go! Come to rehearsals and give us your opinion! Come to our house and live with us! Hell, we'll even marry you and have your babies if you so wish!
Project By
Has not connected their Facebook account.
Manic and Muse is a multimedia production company created by Leah Johnston and Chris Barnett that seeks to entertain, educate and foster art appreciation in the realms of theatre, film, art installation and music.
Manic and Muse Productions creates new and experimental works, fusing together a variety of different artistic mediums.
