Spotlighter's Theater is producing The Last Five Years and has no budget for musicians. Please contribute so we can hire musicians.
As most of you know, I have been hired as Music Director and Pianist for the Off-Broadway Hit "The Last Five Years" by Jason Robert Brown for the Spotlighter's Theater in Baltimore, MD. Anyone who knows me knows I have never asked for money or solicited for anything (expect back in HS when I had to sell magazine subscriptions for a band fundraiser, and boy was that a nightmare). That changes today as I am asking for your help and your pledge to help us hire musicians for this show.
If you do not know this show, it is an amazing journey of 2 people, once in love, who couldn't make it work. This is not your typical musical with the happy ending and the big dance number and kick line at the end. It is raw, it is emotional, and very real. One of the things that makes it raw, emotional, and real, is the musical score. The piano part is almost impossible to play and the other instrumentation is for guitar, bass, violin, and 2 cellos. When these parts are put together, it is some of the most beautiful musical theater songs I have ever heard.
Herein lies the problem. Because the theater is so small and has such limited funds (it is extremely expensive to put on a show, even a small one), there is no budget for musicians. This is why I started this Kickstarter Fund. I believe strongly that this music comes alive with the original orchestration, not just the pianist covering all the parts. There are some lush harmonies in the strings that can almost make you forget what is going on on the stage. I want people to hear this, I want them to experience this. I also am a strong believer in giving good musicians work, even if its not a huge symphony or Broadway job.
I will be appreciative of ANY support you could give, whether it is $10 or $500. I want to do this production right and with the composer, Jason Robert Brown, likely to be in attendance at some point, I want him to hear it the way he envisioned it, not just a pianist because that's all the theater could afford.
Please forward this email and link to people who believe in supporting the arts and supporting live music and who have a passion for Musical Theater. My company, DCPiano & Music, and I gave over $500 to various projects on Kickstarter in 2012 and I am sure we will continue that into the New Year. I ask that you consider this project to be one that you would support and ultimately come see in person. Thank you in advance for ANY amount you can contribute.
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If our goal of $2000 is met and funded, we will be able to hire 4 of the 6 musicians required for this show. If we can raise over $3000, we should be able to perform this with the original orchestration. Any monies raised beyond that will be donated to The Spotlighter's Theater to hire musicians for future shows.
If we do not reach our goal of $2000, then zero dollars are collected since Kickstarter campaigns are all or nothing. If we meet our goal, it is funded. If we are even $1 short at the end of the campaign, we receive none of the money that was pledged.
This show will go on regardless even if it is just a single pianist, but the music that can be made with the full orchestra is something not a lot of actors get to experience. In our economy, theaters are foregoing live music a lot of times, they ask the music director to rearrange the parts for a handful of musicians, or hire incompetent musicians. Because the orchestration is so small for this show, it's an opportunity to do a show as it was intended.
If our goal is met, I intend to hire local musicians who are members of the local Baltimore musicians union (AFM 40-543). Will you please contribute and help The Spotlighter's Theater to put on a full scale production of this show? We would be honored to have you come and see the final product as well.
FAQ
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25
Backers
$3,000
pledged of $2,000 goal
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Funding period
Jan 15, 2013 -
Feb 28, 2013
- First created · 1 backed
- Kevin Roland 639 friends
- Website: dcpiano.com
Pledge $50 or more
4 backers
Personalized & signed program by the Director, Music Director, the musicians you helped hire, and the cast of "The Last Five Years"
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $100 or more
2 backers
1 Half Price Ticket to the show and a personalized & signed program by the Director, Music Director, the musicians you helped hire, and the cast of "The Last Five Years"
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $150 or more
0 backers
1 Free Ticket to the show and a personalized & signed program by the Director, Music Director, the musicians you helped hire, and the cast of "The Last Five Years"
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $200 or more
1 backer
1 Free Ticket to the show and a CD of the original Broadway Cast signed by the Director, Music Director, the musicians you helped hire, and the cast of "The Last Five Years"
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Ships within the US onlyPledge $250 or more
4 backers
2 free tickets to the show and a personalized and autographed CD recording of any 5 songs of your choice by Musical Director and Pianist, Kevin Roland
Estimated delivery: May 2013Pledge $300 or more
1 backer
1 hour of Kevin Roland playing piano at your home or private party/event (Washington DC/Baltimore MD) only please. If you are not in the DC Metro area, I will substitute this with a autographed and personalized CD recording of any 8 songs of your choice
Estimated delivery: May 2013Pledge $500 or more
0 backers
2 free tickets to the show with an after show meet & greet, an autographed copy of the program by the Director, Music Director, the musicians you helped hire, and the cast of "The Last Five Years", a CD of the Original Broadway Cast, an autographed CD recording of any 10 songs of your choice performed by Kevin Roland, and 2 hours of Kevin Roland playing piano at your home or private party/event (Washington DC/Baltimore MD,) only please. 1 hr if in the NYC area.
Estimated delivery: May 2013
