About this project

WHAT exactly is "The Beebo Brinker Chronicles: A 1950s Lesbian Pulp Festival"?
This project is a large scale, cabaret-theater performance event spanning six months and is THE gay event of the summer! The project is based on the works of Anne Bannon, who is called, “The Queen of Lesbian Pulp Fiction,” and is best known for her landmark series of five paperback novels called the Beebo Brinker Chronicles. Written from 1957 to 1962, they tell the stories of young lesbians in the gay mecca of pre-Stonewall Greenwich Village. The novels contributed to a consciousness that was evolving into a full-fledged gay rights movement, and paved the way for generations to come.

The community response to this project has been AMAZING, such that ACT Theater approached us for partnership, and we have attracted the talents of over 50 of Seattle’s most skilled and beloved actors, musicians, burlesque performers, fashion designers, and pin-up models including Lily Verlaine, Fuchsia FoXXX, Jasper McCann, Polly Wood, Rhonda J. Soikowski, The Pinup Angels and more!

What are we asking of YOU?
We’re asking for you to invest in community art at its best! This festival will cost approximately $34,000 to produce, most of which will be accomplished through ticket sales.  However, there are up-front expenses that must be paid in order to produce the next 2 phases of the festival.  We have already raised $7,500 on our own, and we need to raise $2200 more. No gift is too large or too small!

***Please note that funding on Kickstarter is always all or nothing. If we don’t reach our $2200 goal, we won't receive any funds. If we exceed the goal, that empowers us to create art that is even more powerful and entertaining.***

You’re financial support will underwrite the upfront costs of:
1. Producing a super sexy special engagement of "The Beebo Brinker Pulp Cabaret" at ACT Theater. ACT Theatre is one of Seattle’s most reputable and elegant theatres. Your support will pay for the professional theatrical support that comes with ACT including lighting experts, stage design, and venue expertise
2. Producing the Seattle Premiere of the award winning play, "The Beebo Brinker Chronicles": This includes covering the costs associated with theatrical lighting, set design, and costume designers for a month long run of the play at ReBar.

But WHY should I contribute?
Your contribution will support production of high quality entertainment for the whole body! The heart, the head, AND the loins! Using the medium of cabaret with a heavily theatrical narrative, we are able to tell a very human, very poignant story that is a reflection on LGBT history, and is simultaneously sexy, funny, and campy.

Also, your financial partnership underwrites the up-front expenses of producing this project, therefore allowing the proceeds from tickets sales to go right into the pockets of our talented cast of actors, burlesque dancers, singers, and musicians. This is important to us, as we value Seattle’s top cabaret and theater talent by paying them for their art

Allow us to tell you about the project you’ll be funding…
The project has 4 main components:
First, we present THE PULP CABARET SERIES @ RE-BAR
April 28 / May 26 / June 30 / July 28
Step into an erotic 1950's Greenwich Village underground gay-bar scene rife with pin-ups, intelligent burlesque, live music and an interactive cast. Starring Fuchsia Foxxx and a new cast of guest stars every month!

Second, we bring you THE BEEBO BRINKER PULP CABARET @ ACT THEATER
Aug. 25-27, 2011
The very best of the Pulp Cabaret series comes to ACT’s Central Heating Lab for one weekend only!

Finally, we’ll delight you with THE BEEBO BRINKER CHRONICLES
Sept. 15 – Oct. 9, 2011
written by Kate Moira Ryan & Linda S. Chapman
directed by Katjana Vadeboncoeur
Don’t miss the Seattle Premiere of this award winning play based on the iconic books that titillated and changed a generation. Starring burlesque star Polly Wood as Laura, and Rhonda J. Soikowski as Beebo Brinker.

Oh yes, did we mention the opportunity to MEET ANN BANNON?!?
Our project has garnered the support of "The Queen of Lesbian Pulp Novels" herself, ANN BANNON! She is making three separate appearances, one in each phase of the project, on June 30, August 27, and September 15.