WE ARE ALL BURNING -- an original play by Travers Tobis is coming to the Hollywood Fringe Festival this June! Help support local artists to make original, relevant theater and to bring history to the stage.

OUR STORY (note from the playwright)

I heard a podcast nearly three years ago about the unfortunate events of a small town in rural England at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. It concerned mostly young men, no older than myself, who find their lives completely upended when an incredible new invention comes to their town and threatens their way of life. It was a story of resilience and heartbreak, bravery and naivete, and I was hooked.

At the same time this podcast came out, something remarkably analogous was happening in my little world. Both of my roommates, dedicated data-science majors with promising careers, were losing more than just sleep over the release of an incredible new invention: chatgpt. Their futures, their dreams, their lives disappeared in a matter of weeks. They looked for a place to protest or put up a fight. But it was too late.

But what if it wasn’t too late? That question became the genesis of this play. To use the power of theater to explore a different world, a different time.

A time before “progress” was just a necessary evil.

A time when a factory was just a nightmare and skilled labor was invaluable.

What if we could go back to a small town in rural England in 1812 called Huddersfield, and a group of young men who returned from war to find their world inexplicably changed… and to the outrage, betrayal, love, tragedy, and cold-blooded murder that follows when people are pushed past their limits...

OUR BUDGET

Our budget for this project is $6000. This will go towards securing the theatre, compensating the cast and incredible crew, covering all necessary fees from the Hollywood Fringe Festival, along with costumes, design, and rehearsal spaces.

The more we raise, the less we have to charge for tickets! We firmly believe good theater is affordable theater and your help would make that all the more possible.

All performances will take place during the Hollywood Fringe Festival (June 11–28).

OUR TIMELINE

We’re moving quickly—finalizing casting, bringing on our team, sharpening the script, and preparing for a tight rehearsal process.

May and early June will be spent in intensive rehearsals, followed by a brief tech period in the space.

From there, we launch into a five-show run as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival (tentative dates between June 11–28).

HOW YOU CAN HELP

If you would like to support this story and make local theater happen, please consider donating! We are working tirelessly to bring this play to life and your help is the most important part.

If you're unable to donate, no worries! Share our page with friends, family, and other theater-lovers.

OR if you live in the Los Angeles area, consider attending one of our shows! Dates and times TBA!

So long as we keep telling stories, asking questions, and building communities like this in the arts -- nothing can replace us.

Thank you for your support!