Our Friends at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
The Internet is an amazing thing.
On February 6, we were monitoring Twitter as usual, nodding at the observations of friends and family, checking out the occasional funny photo or interesting article, when a particular tweet catches our eye:
The link? Was to this very Kickstarter. We'd been noticed, not just internationally, but by folks who are the authority on the playwright we've been taking on since the beginning. So, we had to respond, didn't we? Of course we did.
As it just happens, Nikki and myself (Thomas) had been planning a massive UK vacation for over a year. And we were going to be touring through Stratford-upon-Avon in just two weeks.
Matt Owen heads up the social media activities for The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. And within a couple of hours, he'd DM'd us. Not only were they interested in our project, but they wanted to talk to us! Emails were exchanged and schedules were aligned and things went into motion ...
And so, on February 13, 2012, Nikki and I stepped away from our tour group to meet with Matt and his crew to film an interview.
Under a characteristically English sky, all gray and almost-raining, we talked about North Fulton Drama Club, about why we do what we do, and what we had planned for The Tempest. We talked about the steampunk aesthetic and our commitment to the text and that we were just so excited to get going.
It looked like this:
And like this (Thank you, Daniel Ashbrook, for the photos):
After the interview, we were introduced to Dr Diana Owen, the Director of the Trust. And just when the day couldn't get much cooler, we were escorted to the vaults beneath the Trust, where were were shown the Royal Shakespeare Company's edition of the First Folio, as well as a couple of costume designs from their 1978 production of The Tempest.
It was an astounding and unforgettable day. And for that experience, and those memories, we will be forever grateful.
Unfortunately, the footage of the video has been lost.
So over the next week or so, we'll be recreating the interview we conducted with the Trust, filming here in Roswell during rehearsals. We'll also be sharing with Matt some of the challenges and triumphs we encounter as we move ever closer to opening night.
Thank to the Internet, Twitter and Kickstarter, North Fulton Drama Club has established an wonderful connection with the birthplace of our favorite playwright. We're humbled and so grateful for all of the Trust's support and kindness throughout this campaign.
Thank you.
128
Backers
$4,535
pledged of $2,500 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Jan 18, 2012 -
Mar 3, 2012
- First created · 1 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: northfultondramaclub.org
Pledge $5 or more
9 backers
LEVEL 1: An emotional reading of your name in our weekly update video / Your name will appear in the program for The Tempest / You will have access to behind-the-scenes updates and videos / Automatic Membership in Friends of NFDC – "David Tennant" Level
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $10 or more
29 backers
LEVEL 2: All Items from the Previous Level plus: An official NFDC The Tempest “Put a Gear On It” Button
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $14 or more
4 backers Limited (16 of 20 left)
LEVEL 2.5: All Items from the Previous 2 Levels plus: An official NFDC Henry IV, Part 1 "Hal" or "Hotspur" button (our choice based on availability).
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $25 or more
14 backers
LEVEL 3: All Items from the Previous Levels plus: Reserved Ground Seating at The Tempest (you choose the date)
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $35 or more
20 backers All gone!
LEVEL 4: All Items from Levels 1 and 2 plus: Reserved Table Seating at The Tempest (you choose the date)
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $50 or more
16 backers Limited (4 of 20 left)
LEVEL 5: All Items from Levels 1 and 2 plus: VIP (Level 1) Reserved Table Seating at The Tempest (you choose the date) (includes Dessert Pack for 2, VIP Photo Op with Miranda, Prospero, Ariel, or Caliban, plus 2 Passes to Tour Barrington Hall) / Automatic Membership in Friends of NFDC – "Dame Maggie Smith" Level
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $100 or more
9 backers Limited (9 of 18 left)
LEVEL 6: All Items from Levels 1 and 2 plus: VIP (Level 2) Reserved Table Seating at The Tempest (you choose the date) (includes Beverage, Cheese and Dessert Pack for 2, VIP Photo Op with Miranda, Prospero, Ariel, or Caliban, plus 4 Passes to Tour Barrington Hall) / Automatic Membership in Friends of NFDC – "Sir Patrick Stewart" Level
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $125 or more
3 backers Limited (2 of 5 left)
LEVEL 6.5: All Items from Levels 1 and 2 plus: A portrait session with our very own Miranda, photographer Jo Arellanes. A 90-minute photo shoot, then a DVD of all finalized/edited photos, 30 images (hi-res and web ready), and an unlimited personal-use license so that you can order reprints at your convenience. / Automatic Membership in Friends of NFDC – "Sir Patrick Stewart" Level
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $250 or more
1 backer Limited (6 of 7 left)
LEVEL 7: The "Show Sponsor" Level, includes all Items from Levels 1 and 2, plus: Your name in our curtain speech as sponsoring the show and VIP (Level 3) Reserved Table Seating at The Tempest (you pick the date!) (includes Beverage, Cheese and Dessert Pack for 2, VIP Photo Op with Miranda, Prospero, Ariel, or Caliban, plus 2 Trilogy Passes to Tour Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall and Smith Plantation) / Automatic Membership in Friends of NFDC – "Dame Helen Mirren" Level
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $500 or more
0 backers Limited (3 of 3 left)
LEVEL 8. The "Behind The Seams" Level, includes all Items from Levels 1 and 2, three evenings of project-based costume seminar taught by Nikki and Alyssa, plus: Your name in our curtain speech as sponsoring the show and VIP (Level 3) Reserved Table Seating at The Tempest (you pick the date!) (includes Beverage, Cheese and Dessert Pack for 2, VIP Photo Op with Miranda, Prospero, Ariel, or Caliban, plus 2 Trilogy Passes to Tour Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall and Smith Plantation) / Automatic Membership in Friends of NFDC – "Dame Helen Mirren" Level
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $750 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
LEVEL 9: The "Magical Item" Level, includes all Items from Levels 1 and 2, plus: Prospero's staff of engineering wizardry as used in the performances / Your name in our curtain speech as sponsoring the show and VIP (Level 4) Reserved Table Seating at The Tempest (you pick the date!) (includes Beverage, Cheese and Dessert Pack for 4, VIP Photo Op with Miranda, Prospero, Ariel, or Caliban, plus 4 Trilogy Passes to Tour Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall and Smith Plantation) / Automatic Membership in Friends of NFDC – "Dame Helen Mirren" Level
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
LEVEL 10: The "Brave New Dress" Level, includes all Items from Levels 1 and 2, plus: Miranda's hand-made dress as worn in the performances / Your name in our curtain speech as sponsoring the show and VIP (Level 4) Reserved Table Seating at The Tempest (you pick the date!) (includes Beverage, Cheese and Dessert Pack for 4, VIP Photo Op with Miranda, Prospero, Ariel, or Caliban, plus 4 Trilogy Passes to Tour Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall and Smith Plantation) / Automatic Membership in Friends of NFDC – "Sir Ian McKellen" Level
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $2,500 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
LEVEL 11: The "Real Shakespeare" Level, all Items from Levels 1 and 2 plus: In the curtain speech for each show, NFDC will announce we’ve discovered the real identity of William Shakespeare – YOU! / Reserved Table Seating at The Tempest (you choose the date) (includes Beverage, Cheese and Dessert Pack for 6, VIP Photo Op with the Entire Cast, plus 6 Trilogy Passes to Tour Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall and Smith Plantationl) / Reserved Table Seating for our Fall 2012, Spring 2013, and Fall 2013 shows, one date each / Automatic Membership in Friends of NFDC – "Sir Ian McKellen" Level
Estimated delivery: May 2012
Comments
Creator Lou Raimondi on March 1, 2012
That's incredible. For all the work and dedication you and your team put into your productions, you deserve to have this opportunity. Glad you were "discovered" by the Trust.
Creator Larry Ficek on March 1, 2012
That. Is. Awesome.