About this project
We're taking our play about small-town homophobia Off Broadway and to one of the most anti-gay places in America: Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas.
Our fundraising goal will allow The Bus to play Off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters for four weeks beginning the week of October 3rd and perform in Topeka, Kansas in early November, immediately following our Off Broadway run. If we meet or exceed our goal, these monies will go toward producing both, the Off Broadway and Topeka shows of The Bus.
ABOUT THE PLAY:
The Bus tells the story of two boys who, late at night, regularly rendezvous in a parked church bus just to be close. When their secret meeting place is in danger of being discovered, the boys find themselves in the middle of a family conflict between a large church and a small-town gas station—and the clash proves explosive. Touching, sometimes haunting, often humorous, and swirling with suspense, The Bus was called "a bona-fide surprise hit, drawing big crowds and positive reviews," by the Burlington Free Press.
CRITICAL PRAISE FOR THE BUS:
- "An extraordinary play…a powerful striking piece that's all the more remarkable because it's the first stage work by the playwright who effectively toes the line between drama and melodrama in a script that tackles such volatile subjects as Christianity, teen homosexuality and the flammable bonds of family…a taut, often darkly amusing script." The Burlington Free Press
- "It was a joy to see this script come to life. The main characters, two teenage boys coming to terms with their sexuality, community and impending adulthood, are absolutely convincing." Out in the Mountains
- "An enormous success … a complex and timely drama about small town tensions caused by the fierce interplay of sexuality, mega-church religiosity, homophobia and pride." Vermont Times
COOL REWARDS:
A one-of-a-kind smiley pendant that we've created out of reclaimed bus metal. Each pendant is designed by Dostie (from the video) then cut and created from salvaged metal from an old school bus.
New Reward! -- Katharine Montstream Print:
This summer view of Burlington is from the lake looking back at the city. According to artist Katharine Montstream, "This area is ideal for landscape painting. Between the weather and change of season, there's no lack of material." See more of Katharine's work at kmmstudio.com or at her studio at Union Station. Hurry, only 12 prints available!
59E59 THEATERS IN NEW YORK CITY:
59E59 Theaters is a
critically acclaimed Off Broadway theater complex with three stages.
Owned and operated by the not-for-profit Elysabeth Kleinhans Theatrical
Foundation, 59E59 Theaters brings new, innovative, and challenging work
to East Side audiences from across the United States and around the
world. 59E59 Theaters were honored with a Drama Desk Award in 2008. www.59E59.org
59E59 Theaters in New York City
FIND OUT MORE:
Please visit our website at www.TheBusThePlay.com
2006 Cast and Crew of The Bus
FAQ
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Nothing. Your credit card is not charged and no money changes hands. If this happens, we may not be able to produce our play as planned. We're going to work super hard and do everything we can to make sure this doesn't happen.
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Yes! Wow, that would be extraordinary. Our fundraising goal reflects the minimum that it would take to produce a professional show Off Broadway and another that will tour to Kansas. Any amount that we raise in excess of our goal will allow us to more fully realize the production AND / OR to continue to travel the show to other locales around the country. We want as many people as possible to see our show; exceeding our fundraising goal would allow us to expand our audience.
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No. You and the project's creator are the only people who will be able to view your pledge amount -- only the name you choose (first name, initials, alias) will be displayed as a supporter of the project.
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No. You can use a pseudonym, your first name only, or initials. Your privacy will be protected. No one (including the project's creator) will see your complete name unless you decide to reveal it.
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Depending on the type of reward, once we complete our fundraising effort you'll be contacted as to how and when to redeem your gift. Some rewards may not be available until fall (such as the poster). If the reward you earned is a seat at the Off Broadway show, we'll contact you prior to tickets going on sale to the general public to be sure you get your choice of show.
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That's okay, too. There's a button you can select if you don't want a reward.
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You bet! All you have to do is log in and click the 'Manage Your Donation' button. Enter a new amount and choose and new incentive.
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We'd love to hear from you! At the bottom of this page there is a profile section. Look for the 'send a message' icon and use this link to contact us.
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
396
Backers
$50,492
pledged of $50,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on July 31, 2011.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
ORIGINAL TISSUE ART -- Receive an original 'smiley face' or 'frowny face' tissue art created and signed by the artist Dostie (just like in the video). Hey, that's nothing to sneeze at!
Pledge $17 or more Pledge $17 or more
SMILEY PENDANT FROM RECYCLED BUS METAL (see picture) -- We found a bus graveyard, reclaimed an old bus, and are making you a one-of-a-kind pendant out of reclaimed bus metal. Each pendant is designed by Dostie, cut and created from salvaged bus metal, and available in rust, bare metal or bus yellow. Comes with chain or black cord. There's no other pendant like this anywhere in the world!
Pledge $24 or more Pledge $24 or more
PRODUCER'S PACKET + PENDANT -- Get the smiley pendant from a recycled bus from above + a gold sealed certificate that says you're an Honorary Producer of The Bus (your friends will 'ooh' and 'ahh') + you'll be listed on our website as an 'Honorary Producer' along with everybody else who donates at this level and above.
Pledge $47 or more Pledge $47 or more
THE OFFICIAL TEE-SHIRT -- The official 'The Bus' tee-shirt will be designed by a very cool artist with just your taste in mind. Only a limited number available, so pledge here now!
Pledge $76 or more Pledge $76 or more
KATHARINE MONTSTREAM PRINT (see picture) -- This lake view 11 X 17 print of Burlington in summer is signed by our friend and artist, Katharine Montstream. Only 12 available so pledge here now!
Pledge $98 or more Pledge $98 or more
OFF BROADWAY POSTER -- The official Off Broadway poster will be a work of art, exclusively designed by an artist who will create a design to promote our play in New York City. Our cast and creatives will even sign it and personalize it, if you like!
Pledge $129 or more Pledge $129 or more
TICKET TO THE SHOW -- When 'The Bus' plays at 59E59 Theaters in New York City for four weeks beginning the week of October 3rd, you'll receive one ticket to whichever performance of the show you choose. See you at the show!
Pledge $245 or more Pledge $245 or more
TWO TICKETS TO THE SHOW -- When 'The Bus' plays at 59E59 Theaters in New York City for four weeks beginning the week of October 3rd, you'll receive two tickets to whichever performance of the show you choose. Hey, bring a friend!
Pledge $480 or more Pledge $480 or more
FOUR TICKETS TO THE SHOW -- When 'The Bus' plays at 59E59 Theaters in New York City for four weeks beginning the week of October 3rd, you'll receive four tickets to whichever performance of the show you choose + any two of the aforementioned non-ticket rewards. Bring a couple of friends!
Pledge $750 or more Pledge $750 or more
FOUR TICKETS + ORIGINAL ARTWORK BY ALISON BECHDEL -- Pledge at this level and you'll get four tickets to the Off Broadway show at 59E59 Theaters in October PLUS you'll earn an original artwork by Alison Bechdel, author of the comic 'Dykes to Watch Out For' and the award-winning book, 'Fun Home.' There's only one of these rewards, so hurry!
Pledge $980 or more Pledge $980 or more
UP TO EIGHT TICKETS TO THE SHOW + GIFTS -- When 'The Bus' plays at 59E59 Theaters in New York City for four weeks beginning the week of October 3rd, you'll receive up to eight tickets to whichever performance of the show you choose + any two of the aforementioned non-ticket rewards. Wow, bring the whole family!
Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER TITLE + TICKETS -- You'll receive a handful of tickets to the Off Broadway show + you'll be classified as an Associate Producer of 'The Bus' with your name listed in the playbill and on the official poster.
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
PRODUCER TITLE + TICKETS -- You'll receive a handful of tickets to the Off Broadway show + you'll be classified as a Producer of 'The Bus' with your name listed in the playbill and on the official poster.
Pledge $10,000 or more Pledge $10,000 or more
PERFORMANCE -- We'll perform the play ANYWHERE in the state of Kansas (or of equal distance) during our 'Topeka' run in early November. Double this pledge and we'll perform 'The Bus' ANYWHERE in the continental U.S. during our fall production run. Think of the possibilities! Heck, we'll even perform in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, home of Rick Santorum, or Lake Elmo, home of Marcus Bachman's counseling service!
Project By
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James Lantz (Playwright) — James is the writer of four plays including American Machine, which was a co-commissioned project of The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts. As an award-winning filmmaker, he has produced, written and directed over 200 commercial films, videos and live events for clients such as American Express, American Airlines, Amtrak, Alamo Rental Cars, Mobil Oil and The Brooklyn Museum of Art. Last year, his screenplay 'Hide Fox' won awards at eight national film festivals. www.JamesLantz.com
