Support "Gilda, with an Olive"
Donation protected
Support the diverse team of theater practitioners staging the world premiere of “Gilda, with an Olive,” a featured performance of The Exponential Festival's 2025 Season.
In the final act of Giuseppe Verdi’s acclaimed opera Rigoletto, Gilda waits inside of a body bag onstage for her cue to die. She has some time to think about her life choices: namely, why she just sacrificed herself for the playboy Duke who stole her heart (and also kidnapped her —it’s casual). While the relentless canonical event of her sacrifice persists each night, she turns to the music, her audience, and extremely dirty martinis for answers, comfort, and perhaps even, liberation.
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By virtue of its ecstatic creativity and fresh voice, “Gilda, with an Olive” was selected among countless submissions to the 2025 Exponential Festival, a 501c3 January performance festival for NYC-based early-career artists working in experimental performance. While festival participants receive shared resources (e.g., access to a venue, photography/film, etc.), material expenses like rehearsal space rentals, props, costumes, set pieces, and marketing materials are unaccounted for.
We are committed to artist pay. As such, we are actively applying for grants and exploring creative funding opportunities to pay our collaborators... and that's where you come in! By supporting us, you are joining a movement to empower local artists and champion a future where artists are valued for their essential contributions. Your donation—however much—not only helps us bring "Gilda, with an Olive" to life, but also makes a resounding declaration that art and the people who create it matter.
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There's more! Just as the olive in a dirty martini provides a surprising and delightful bonus, every donor will receive a special gift as a measure of our gratitude. See below for the benefits each donation tier will receive. Note: Tickets to "Gilda, with an Olive" (January 17-19, 2025) are not included with your donation. Get your ticket here!
Tier 1: The Duke’s Dime ($0-25)
Receive a social media shoutout and listing as a supporter on the digital playbill, viewable online and at the theater.
Tier 2: The Rigoletto ($25-50)
Personalized postcard: Both of the above, and receive a handwritten postcard from "Gilda" herself, sharing her witty and sardonic take on the rehearsal process or life in general!
Tier 3: The Maddalena ($50-100)
Martini & mingling: All of the above, and enjoy a dirty gin martini (or non-alcoholic beverage) upon arrival at the venue, to be sipped before or during the show!
Tier 4: The Sparafucile ($100-250)
Tip for tote: All of the above, and receive an official Gilda tote bag to commemorate the show!
Tier 5: The Gilda ($250-500)
"Caro Nome" serenade: All of the above, and receive a personalized recording of Sophie singing a part of Gilda's famous aria, "Caro Nome," dedicated to you or someone you love!
Tier 6: Verdi’s Visionaries ($500+)
Associate Producer credit: All of the above—social media shoutout, personalized postcard, beverage at the show, official Gilda tote bag, “Caro Nome” serenade—AND receive prominent recognition as an Associate Producer in the show's playbill, viewable online and at the theater.
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Written and Performed by Sophie Zmorrod
Directed by Margaret Lee
Produced by Kunal Kamath
Sound Design and Music Direction by Eamon Goodman
Lighting Design by Zee Hanna
Scenic Design by Goran Popovich
Stage Managed by Cliff Hoitt-Lange
Image Design by Ellen Carpenter
Find them: @gildawithanolive
Fundraising team: "Gilda, with an Olive" C-Team (1)
Kunal Kamath
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY
Sophie Zmorrod
Team member