Help Bring EXCESS to the Stage

OUR FUNDRAISING GOAL

$20,000 by October 25 to bring the November preview to life

This November 13–15, we're bringing EXCESS: A Cuban American Canadian Comedy about Sex! Shopping! and War!, an exciting new Canadian play by acclaimed playwright E. Kent Stetson, C.M., to the historic Haskell Free Library and Opera House. It's one of the world's most extraordinary theatres, built directly on the Canada–U.S. border.

We're conducting a one-week production lab that culminates in three high-energy, full-tilt preview performances, while the U.S. midterms are still hanging in the air. Each performance is followed by a talk-back with the cast and production team. What we learn together will shape EXCESS for its ten-day World Premiere at The Haskell in March 2027.

Meet the artists, discover the story behind the play, and get preview tickets at:

https://www.theactoratelier.com/pages/excess-preview

Early drafts were inspired by tensions surrounding Canada's decision not to participate in the Iraq War in 2003. The play evolved over many years before finding renewed urgency amid recent changes in the political relationship between Canada and the United States.

The result is a sharp, witty, and deeply Canadian satirical comedy that explores identity, sovereignty, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.

Why We're Asking for Your Help

Professional theatre is created by artists, but it is sustained by community.

Our first goal is $20,000 by October 25 to bring the November preview to the Haskell stage. Beyond that, we're raising toward the full production budget of approximately $100,000 for the March 2027 World Premiere. It covers artist fees, rehearsal space, venue rental, technical production, design, marketing, and the many behind-the-scenes costs required to bring a production of this scale to life.

We're assembling that budget through a combination of box office revenue, private donors, investors, sponsorships, and grants. This campaign is where our community comes in.

Every contribution, large or small, helps us employ professional Canadian artists, present ambitious new Canadian work, and bring audiences together around stories that matter. (See the note below about tax receipts.**)

Our recent public reading in Waterloo offered audiences their first glimpse of EXCESS. We invite you to watch the sizzle reel and see what we're building.

About the Production

Written by E. Kent Stetson, C.M.

Directed by Wade Lynch

Executive Producer: E. Kent Stetson

Produced by Paul Hopkins, Lion's Den Creative Inc.

Cast

Charlotte Moore — Grace MacDonald

Paul Hopkins — Arthur Briknale

The remaining cast will be announced soon. The public reading and sizzle reel feature:

Nehassaiu deGannes — Làzzara Ortega LA Santos

Jacob James — Grant MacDonald

Quinn Dooley — Nell Bradshaw-MacDonald

What Your Donation Supports

Professional Equity artists

The November production lab and preview performances

The March 2027 World Premiere

Rehearsal and performance venue

Scenic, lighting, sound, and projection design

Costumes and production expenses

Marketing and audience development

Thank You

Whether you donate, share this campaign, or simply help spread the word, you're helping bring an important new Canadian work to the stage.

If you're interested in a major gift, a sponsorship opportunity, or participating informally as an investor, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're happy to discuss other options.

Thank you for believing in Canadian artists, Canadian stories, and live theatre.

**To be confirmed: we are in the process of securing a charitable-number partnership. Once that's complete, we'll offer tax receipts for donations over $50.