Help Bad Hats Dream REALLY Big in 2019/20

Hey there!
We’re Bad Hats Theatre, a Toronto-based independent theatre company run by Artistic Director Fiona Sauder, Artistic Producers Matt Pilipiak and Victor Pokinko, Literary Manager Nicola Atkinson, and General Manager Lauren Vandervoort. This year, we’re embarking on our most ambitious season yet.  In addition to two productions of our award-winning family musical Peter Pan, we’ve also got two new shows, an elementary school tour, a new theatre for young audiences development stream, and a few exciting community outreach and education initiatives. 

We’re looking to you, our dear friends, collaborators, supporters, and maybe even curious strangers, to help bring these projects from big dreams to exciting realities. 

SO, WHAT ARE WE UP TO THIS YEAR?

Life in a Box 
[Sept 18-29, 2019 at The Grand Canyon]
A new adult episodic musical adventure story of two best friends trying to save the world and themselves, through time and space. Created by Landon Doak and Matthew Finlan, Directed by Fiona Sauder.
Why Are We Doing It?
To push the bounds on how imaginative theatre can be. To bring new audiences to the theatre. To prove friendship can save the world. To launch our new model of episodic theatre.
Psst! You can buy your tickets for Life in a Box here .

Peter Pan 
[Oct 18-27, 2019 at Manitoba Theatre for Young People,
Dec 6, 2019 - Jan 5, 2020 at Soulpepper Theatre’s Family Festival]
Bad Hats’ flagship production of J.M. Barrie’s classic story, returning for a fourth year after playing to over 25,000 audience members in Toronto and parts of Canada. Adapted by Fiona Sauder and Reanne Spitzer, composed by Landon Doak, directed by Severn Thompson.
Why Are We Doing It?
To make the ordinary extraordinary. To spread imaginative joy. To never grow up. To entertain kids and kids-at-heart.

Alice in Wonderland 
[currently in development]
An original musical adaptation of the classic story by Lewis Carroll, adapted by Fiona Sauder, composed by Landon Doak & Victor Pokinko, and directed by Sue Miner.
Why Are We Doing It?
To empower the voices of young women. To endow curiosity with the power to save the world. To entertain kids and kids-at-heart.

Princess Frownsalot 
[touring to schools in the GTA in Spring 2020 in partnership with Roseneath Theatre]
An adaptation of John Bianchi’s classic children’s story. Adapted by Fiona Sauder and directed by Sue Miner.
Why Are We Doing It?
To start a dialogue around mental health and emotional labour with young audiences. To empower the voices of young women. To bring compelling theatre directly to schools.

New Bad Ideas 
[August 2020 with the support of Theatre Direct and the City of Mississauga]
A new development stream championing the voice of a theatre artist interested in developing a new piece for young audiences with the Bad Hats team from concept to workshop production, presented yearly at Mississauga’s Celebration Square.
Why Are We Doing It?
To empower new and different voices. To create a platform for the development of new TYA work. To bring more artists into our fold.

Education & Outreach Initiatives
Throughout the year, we’re developing several new scripts, expanding our education stream in schools and community centres through our Tools For Creation Workshops , and engaging with the artistic community through our TALK Event Series .
Why Are We Doing It?
To engage with the community. To provide training, tools, and resources to the broader theatrical community.

WHAT WE NEED
Tackling a season of this scope for a company of our size is an expensive ordeal! As don't currently receive operational funding based on our small size, we rely on project funding, partnerships, and ticket sales - and these cover only a portion of our budget. We need to raise $15,000 to push us over the finish line and bring our exciting, innovative work to appreciative audiences like you. So if you know our work, please consider any nickel, dime, quarter, loonie, toonie, or bill that you can spare. And if you don’t know our work, your donation will help us to share it with you and bring you into the Bad Hats family!

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
To thank you for your generous support, Bad Hats will be providing our donors with the following perks: 
ALL givers: A thank you on our social media & website.
$25 or more: A personalized Instagram story shout-out from one (or more) of our Core Team Members thanking you for your contribution.
$150 or more: 2 complimentary tickets to a Life in Box performance of your choosing. 
$500 or more: a VIP Peter Pan experience, including complimentary tickets for 2 adults and up to 2 children, a backstage tour, and a drink with some of the cast members. 



YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT WILL HELP PAY FOR: 
- Our creative teams, including artistic fees for over 40 artists including actors, directors, writers, designers, dramaturges, musical directors, stage managers, musicians 
- Technical fees and crewing
- Costumes, sets, props, lighting, and sound equipment 
- Instrument rentals/purchases 
- Travel, freight, and associated costs
- Theatre and rehearsal space rental
- Promotional photography and videography
- Marketing and publicity materials 
- Insurance
- Office supplies, printing, and administrative overhead 

We are so excited about all the work we have on the go right now -  we really hope you’ll consider getting involved by supporting our ongoing projects.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF BAD HATS
Bad Hats Theatre was founded in 2015 by Artistic Director Fiona Sauder and Literary Manager Nicola Atkinson. In 2017, Artistic Producers Matt Pilipiak and Victor Pokinko, and General Manager, Lauren Vandervoort, joined to create our five-person partnership. In 2018, we named our first Associate Artist, Landon Doak, furthering a commitment to championing artists who align with our creative goals. We employ a core group of artists who frequently collaborate in our work, coming from across the country and various training backgrounds, and we celebrate their voices to produce surprising, inventive, and vital work.

Above all, Bad Hats is committed to developing new work. Out projects are multidisciplinary, including dynamic visuals, imaginative gesture, and original music. We allow collaborators’ voices to inform the work, fostering environments that encourage artists to offer stories they feel need telling, maintaining devout curiosity, allowing their work to surprise and shape them. We believe in the power of the next generation and aim to empower our audiences to recognize that voice in themselves and use it for good.

At the end of the day, we’re a small, independent company with big, ambitious dreams. And that’s why we need you. Thank you so much in advance.

Learn more about Bad Hats Theatre: 
www.badhatstheatre.com 
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