Kickstarter

Hello!  We are THE PEARLMAN SISTERS and we want to bring DEVOTEDLY, SINCERELY YOURS: THE STORY OF THE USO to the Philadelphia Fringe Festival Sept 6th-9th at the Off-Broad St. Theatre... with your help!

What is DEVOTEDLY, SINCERELY YOURS?

It's a swingin' big band celebration of the courageous women of the United Service Organization (USO) who risked their lives to entertain American troops overseas during World War II.  Devotedly, Sincerely Yours grew out of an archival discovery by Samantha Joy Pearlman while researching her senior thesis project in the NY Public Library for Performing Arts.  There, she found an eight page letter written by Louise Buckley, a young USO entertainer, describing her experiences while entertaining troops overseas during WWII, as well as boxes upon boxes of source material.  A collection of these archival texts and songs, Devotedly, Sincerely Yours was quite a success in its first incarnation: packed houses, rave reviews and an honors accreditation from Wesleyan University.  And so we want to do it again and share it with the Philadelphia Theater community!

So, what's the plan?

Samantha Joy Pearlman will remain as the writer and star of the performance, but this time Kate Galvin will direct, Jenn Rose will choreograph, Lindsey Hope Pearlman will produce and Jamison Foreman will helm the band.  We are in the process of recruiting Philadelphia actors and musicians to bring that big band sound to life, as well as designers to make the show look great.  We will rent the Off-Broad Street Theater to serve as the home for our project.  We will rent a piano and sound equipment, and studios where we can rehearse.  All this to bring the story of Louise Buckley and the women like her to the Philadelphia Fringe Festival this fall!   

Why do DEVOTEDLY, SINCERELY YOURS at the Fringe?

We believe this show deserves a wider audience.  Featuring classic big band tunes and jazz standards, DSY is a celebration of some of the best American music of the 20th century.  By bringing the unknown stories of USO Women to the stage, audiences learn about and appreciate what young American women did to serve our nation. It is also a nostalgic homage to American patriotism which flourished during the Second World War.  What a great show to present in a historical city like Philadelphia!

What can I do?

We're SO glad that you asked. Just like Uncle Sam, WE WANT YOU! to donate. To give the show the professional treatment it deserves, we need your support. Any amount is greatly appreciated, and please pass this message on to your friends and family who might be interested in our project. And above all, come see the show Sept 6-9th at the Off-Broad Street Theatre!

PS-

We're going to donate a portion of our proceeds from our ticket sales to support the USO, which still works to lift the spirits of American troops and their families.