Donation protected
Hello friends and friends-to-be,
My name is Ben Nickols. I am about to go into my second year in the MFA Acting program at Ohio University, and we're putting on a play!
Since moving to Athens Ohio, I have heard again and again about Athens county being the poorest county in the state. I believe that theatre is for everyone, no matter what their financial situation. I thought all year about how I can use my knowledge and talent to give back to this community, but things like this cost money to produce. So, what are doing? We are producing a production of Shakespeare's comedy, Much Ado About Nothing.
But, I know what you're asking yourself, "how are we giving back to the community by putting on a play?" Great question!
- We are touring this play to many cities in and around Athens county. This way, people don't have to drive so far to see the show.
- We are NOT charging admission to the performances. The production is COMPLETELY free for anyone wanting to attend. We want to create an open environment where anyone can come over and see quality theatre, right in their own parks/backyards/city center/libraries!
- We are attempting to build a stronger bridge between the University's School of Theatre and our community. We want to lift up our community and invite them to be a part of something special. Hoping that this project could launch future projects (under our new company name Athens Shakespeare Company, ASC) and get more people interested in the arts/theatre.
- Much Ado About Nothing is a wonderful comedy, and we all need a laugh right now, with everything going on in the world.
We are trying to raise money for the set, props, costumes, and transportation of said items to each location. We would also like to be able to throw a small travel stipend to our creative team and actors for putting in this work. Our goal is to raise at least $900 for all of these technical elements. BUT this $900 ONLY covers the technical elements that we are hoping to get for this production. In an ideal world, we would also be able to pay our actors and creative team a small travel stipend of at least $100 (getting to and from rehearsals as well as traveling to cities around the area costs a lot of gas money, as I'm sure you all know). If we could do that on top of our technical elements, we would need to raise at least $2000 all together.
We have a wonderful group of artists who have agreed to work on this production because they see the worth in creating and giving back to their community. We are now asking you to help make this production the best that it can be by donating to it. It takes a whole village to create theatre and we would be eternally grateful for generous donation.
Here is a list of our creative team and actors for this production:
Director: Sarah Curtis
Cast:
Beatrice: Alyson Enderle
Benedick: Phil Hoelscher
Don Pedro: Ben Nickols
Don John / Dogberry / Messenger 2: Will Fletcher
Claudio / First Watchman: Chris Reinhardt
Leonato / Sexton: Elena Mourad
Borachio / Messenger 1 / Friar: Bella Martin
Hero / Verges: Vanessa Foreman
Margaret / Second Watchman [Seacoal]: Mandy Goodwin
Dates and locations of the production:
- August 15th, 7pm: Bowen House -
Address: 196 N Market St, Logan, OH 43138
- August 16th, 3pm: Nelsonville Library/Parade the Hills -
Address: 95 W Washington St, Nelsonville, OH 45764
- August 22nd, 7pm: Federal Valley Resource Center
Address: 8225 OH-329, Stewart, OH 45778
- August 23rd, 3pm AND 7pm: Rising Park
Address: 203 E Fair Ave Lancaster, OH 43130
- August 29th: Ohio University Campus, Specific location TBA
Address: TBA (we are in negotiations to book a spot on campus)
Link to Eventbrite with full show information:
Organizer
Ben Nickols
Organizer
Athens, OH