Big Gay StorySlam 2019
Donation protected
For four years, Scranton Fringe has produced The Big Gay StorySlam (aka BGSS) along with hundreds of other creative works in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
WHAT IS THE BIG GAY STORYSLAM?
This one of a kind celebration of LGBTQ+ voices, welcomes all to share their stories of triumph, disappointment, humor, and heartbreak with our supportive audience. The joy of a story slam is that ANY kind of yarn can be spun! BGSS storytellers have shared tales of coming out, hooking up, breaking up, getting married, getting divorced, transitioning, having children, and everything in between. Stories can range from pants-peeing hilarity to soul-wrenching heartbreak. StorySlams are an irresistible fusion of theater, memoir and documentary art. In 2019, this annual celebration of the performing arts, community, and creative ideas is ready to expand to the global stage!
THE BIG GAY STORYSLAM IS HEADING TO THE WORLD'S LARGEST ARTS FESTIVAL, THE EDINBURGH FRINGE!
Scranton Fringe is THRILLED to bring The Big Gay StorySlam overseas to the Edinburgh International Fringe. We will be producing our celebration of LGBTQ+ voices for the entire run of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (July 31st - August 26th, 2019) at the historic Gilded Balloon venue. But don't worry, BGSS will also return to its' home venue of the Scranton Cultural Center on September 27th, 2019!
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS A REALITY!
This international expansion provides us such an amazing opportunity to connect with and support the worldwide "fringe family." Team Scranton Fringe believes in the transformative power of community which is at the core of the BGSS, and we know that this program will provide a new and supportive space for personal storytelling for the international artists and audiences at Edinburgh Fringe. But mounting this production in the U.K. comes with a large price tag.
The total cost for our core team to produce this event (which includes travel, housing, insurance, marketing, printing, tech, Festival Fees + more) will come to well over $15,000. EVERY dollar you donate will be used towards our Edinburgh Fringe 2019 budget.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
This project will give our signature event (and Festival) international exposure so we are better empowered to bring amazing talent back to Scranton Fringe Festival. It will also give our network of NEPA artists a direct line of support at the world's largest arts Festival. We're not just putting on a show - we're striving to create a support system for the LGBTQ+ community and allies where every voice matters and has a place to share every story.
We are also committed to representing the widest range of LGBTQ+ voices possibly - ensuring every member of our proud community is given a platform to speak their truth and document their very beautiful, very queer, and very authentic narratives. Our goal is that by the conclusion of the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, we will have presented over 150 true stories from our lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, and non-binary + community! Your donation will go a long way to help make this possible.
(John Piv, 1st place winner of the first ever BGSS in 2015)
Here is what one member of our LGBTQ+ network has to say:
"For me, one of my favorite parts of the Scranton Fringe is The Big Gay Story Slam... The Big Gay Story Slam serves as a perfect way of bringing the LGBTQ+ community of Scranton and NEPA together, even if just for one night, and helps us maintain a sense of togetherness and see our true impact on the community...
As a one-time storyteller and a judge, I've laughed, cried, felt empowered and been uplifted by the stories told in past Slams. It's such a wonderful way of giving us a chance to tell our stories, our way. In a time when so many of us in the LGBTQ+ community feel unheard and ignored, this event is the spotlight in which we get to shine."
- Dee Culp (painter, writer, and musician)
WHAT WILL I RECEIVE FOR MY SUPPORT?
Every donation will be emailed regular updates during our time in Edinburgh so you can see the impact of your generous support. We'll share testimonials, pictures, and even a video or two of the community that you're helping to create with your donation.
We also have some fantastic perks to offer:
FRIEND - Every donor of $50 will receive the email updates + your name in the StorySlam 2019 program.
SUPPORTER - Every donor of $150 will receive 2 tickets to the Scranton Big Gay StorySlam on September 27th, 2019 at the Scranton Cultural Center + email updates and name in StorySlam 2019 program.
PRODUCER - Every donor of $250 will receive 2 tickets to the New York City debut of The Big Gay StorySlam on July 15th, 2019 at the Soho Playhouse PLUS 2 tickets to Scranton Big Gay StorySlam on September 27th, 2019 at the Scranton Cultural Center + email updates and name in the StorySlam 2019 program.
VIP - Every donor of $500+ will receive the VIP Package, which includes 2 VIP Passes to the entire 2019 Scranton Fringe Festival, 2 tickets to the New York City debut of The Big Gay StorySlam on July 15th, 2019 at the Soho Playhouse PLUS 2 tickets to Scranton Big Gay StorySlam on September 27th, 2019 at the Scranton Cultural Center + email updates and name in the StorySlam 2019 program.
If you represent a corporation or would like to make a larger tax-deductible donation to Scranton Fringe, please contact us directly - [email redacted]
MORE ON SCRANTON FRINGE:
The 2019 Scranton Fringe Festival will take place in venues across downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania this fall for its fifth anniversary (September 27th - October 6th).
The Scranton Fringe Festival, founded in 2015, is a celebration of the performing arts. We are dedicated to creating an accessible platform for the performing arts for artists and audiences - all while promoting the greater Scranton area as a viable creative marketplace. A true incubator of the arts, Scranton Fringe has grown in size and scope each year, and now produces year-round programming which includes workshops, children's theatre, concerts, and other special events in Northeast Pennsylvania and beyond as it begins to develop work to tour. Visit www.scrantonfringe.org for more info
MORE ON THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL:
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (often referred to as simply The Fringe) is the world's largest arts festival, which in 2018 spanned 25 days and featured more than 55,000 performances of 3,548 different shows in 317 venues. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the month of August. It has been called the "most famous celebration of the arts and entertainment in the world" and an event that "has done more to place Edinburgh in the forefront of world cities than anything else." It has inspired a global movement with 200+ other Festivals loosely inspired by its format now operating across the world (including Scranton PA)!
To learn more about our NYC venue, the SoHo Playhouse - click here!
To learn more about our Edinburgh venue, the Gilded Balloon - click here!
WHAT IS THE BIG GAY STORYSLAM?
This one of a kind celebration of LGBTQ+ voices, welcomes all to share their stories of triumph, disappointment, humor, and heartbreak with our supportive audience. The joy of a story slam is that ANY kind of yarn can be spun! BGSS storytellers have shared tales of coming out, hooking up, breaking up, getting married, getting divorced, transitioning, having children, and everything in between. Stories can range from pants-peeing hilarity to soul-wrenching heartbreak. StorySlams are an irresistible fusion of theater, memoir and documentary art. In 2019, this annual celebration of the performing arts, community, and creative ideas is ready to expand to the global stage!
THE BIG GAY STORYSLAM IS HEADING TO THE WORLD'S LARGEST ARTS FESTIVAL, THE EDINBURGH FRINGE!
Scranton Fringe is THRILLED to bring The Big Gay StorySlam overseas to the Edinburgh International Fringe. We will be producing our celebration of LGBTQ+ voices for the entire run of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (July 31st - August 26th, 2019) at the historic Gilded Balloon venue. But don't worry, BGSS will also return to its' home venue of the Scranton Cultural Center on September 27th, 2019!
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS A REALITY!
This international expansion provides us such an amazing opportunity to connect with and support the worldwide "fringe family." Team Scranton Fringe believes in the transformative power of community which is at the core of the BGSS, and we know that this program will provide a new and supportive space for personal storytelling for the international artists and audiences at Edinburgh Fringe. But mounting this production in the U.K. comes with a large price tag.
The total cost for our core team to produce this event (which includes travel, housing, insurance, marketing, printing, tech, Festival Fees + more) will come to well over $15,000. EVERY dollar you donate will be used towards our Edinburgh Fringe 2019 budget.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
This project will give our signature event (and Festival) international exposure so we are better empowered to bring amazing talent back to Scranton Fringe Festival. It will also give our network of NEPA artists a direct line of support at the world's largest arts Festival. We're not just putting on a show - we're striving to create a support system for the LGBTQ+ community and allies where every voice matters and has a place to share every story.
We are also committed to representing the widest range of LGBTQ+ voices possibly - ensuring every member of our proud community is given a platform to speak their truth and document their very beautiful, very queer, and very authentic narratives. Our goal is that by the conclusion of the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, we will have presented over 150 true stories from our lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, and non-binary + community! Your donation will go a long way to help make this possible.
(John Piv, 1st place winner of the first ever BGSS in 2015)Here is what one member of our LGBTQ+ network has to say:
"For me, one of my favorite parts of the Scranton Fringe is The Big Gay Story Slam... The Big Gay Story Slam serves as a perfect way of bringing the LGBTQ+ community of Scranton and NEPA together, even if just for one night, and helps us maintain a sense of togetherness and see our true impact on the community...
As a one-time storyteller and a judge, I've laughed, cried, felt empowered and been uplifted by the stories told in past Slams. It's such a wonderful way of giving us a chance to tell our stories, our way. In a time when so many of us in the LGBTQ+ community feel unheard and ignored, this event is the spotlight in which we get to shine."
- Dee Culp (painter, writer, and musician)
WHAT WILL I RECEIVE FOR MY SUPPORT?
Every donation will be emailed regular updates during our time in Edinburgh so you can see the impact of your generous support. We'll share testimonials, pictures, and even a video or two of the community that you're helping to create with your donation.
We also have some fantastic perks to offer:
FRIEND - Every donor of $50 will receive the email updates + your name in the StorySlam 2019 program.
SUPPORTER - Every donor of $150 will receive 2 tickets to the Scranton Big Gay StorySlam on September 27th, 2019 at the Scranton Cultural Center + email updates and name in StorySlam 2019 program.
PRODUCER - Every donor of $250 will receive 2 tickets to the New York City debut of The Big Gay StorySlam on July 15th, 2019 at the Soho Playhouse PLUS 2 tickets to Scranton Big Gay StorySlam on September 27th, 2019 at the Scranton Cultural Center + email updates and name in the StorySlam 2019 program.
VIP - Every donor of $500+ will receive the VIP Package, which includes 2 VIP Passes to the entire 2019 Scranton Fringe Festival, 2 tickets to the New York City debut of The Big Gay StorySlam on July 15th, 2019 at the Soho Playhouse PLUS 2 tickets to Scranton Big Gay StorySlam on September 27th, 2019 at the Scranton Cultural Center + email updates and name in the StorySlam 2019 program.
If you represent a corporation or would like to make a larger tax-deductible donation to Scranton Fringe, please contact us directly - [email redacted]
MORE ON SCRANTON FRINGE:
The 2019 Scranton Fringe Festival will take place in venues across downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania this fall for its fifth anniversary (September 27th - October 6th).
The Scranton Fringe Festival, founded in 2015, is a celebration of the performing arts. We are dedicated to creating an accessible platform for the performing arts for artists and audiences - all while promoting the greater Scranton area as a viable creative marketplace. A true incubator of the arts, Scranton Fringe has grown in size and scope each year, and now produces year-round programming which includes workshops, children's theatre, concerts, and other special events in Northeast Pennsylvania and beyond as it begins to develop work to tour. Visit www.scrantonfringe.org for more info
MORE ON THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL:
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (often referred to as simply The Fringe) is the world's largest arts festival, which in 2018 spanned 25 days and featured more than 55,000 performances of 3,548 different shows in 317 venues. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the month of August. It has been called the "most famous celebration of the arts and entertainment in the world" and an event that "has done more to place Edinburgh in the forefront of world cities than anything else." It has inspired a global movement with 200+ other Festivals loosely inspired by its format now operating across the world (including Scranton PA)!
To learn more about our NYC venue, the SoHo Playhouse - click here!
To learn more about our Edinburgh venue, the Gilded Balloon - click here!
Fundraising team: Team Scranton Fringe (6)
Conor Kelly O'Brien
Organizer
Scranton, PA
Elizabeth Bohan
Team member
Tom Borthwick
Team member
Dee Culp
Team member
Kaylee Scruggs
Team member
