My name is Trey Cruz, and I’m a New York-born artist, writer, and performer — shaped by foster care, incarceration, and art that saved my life.

I’m raising funds to produce my original play “You’re Still Watching” — a powerful piece of theatre that calls out complicity, breaks the fourth wall, and confronts what it means to witness pain without acting on it.

It’s about a man trapped in a play he can’t escape — and the doctor who tries to cure him, only to fall into the same cycle. It ends with a direct plea to the audience: “Why are you still watching?”

This is more than entertainment. It’s a wake-up call.

Fundraising Goal Breakdown

Total Goal: $8,500

A solid mid-level budget for a small independent run in the Lower East Side, NYC.

1. Venue & Rehearsal – $2,200

Performance space rental (3–5 nights): $1,800

Rehearsal space (15–20 hrs): $400

“Securing a creative home to bring the story to life.”

2. Cast & Crew – $3,000

Actor stipends (4–5 actors): $1,500

Stage manager & tech support: $700

Director stipend (or creative consultant): $500

Lighting/sound design: $300

“Paying the artists who give this story breath.”

3. Design & Production – $1,200

Set design & props: $500

Costumes: $200

Lighting/sound equipment rental (if needed): $300

Insurance/event fees: $200

“Building the world of the play — with honesty and intention.”

4. Marketing & Media – $500

Posters, flyers: $150

Photographer/videographer (promo or show doc): $200

Social media boosts & ads: $150

“Making sure the right people see it — and show up.”

5. Personal/Creative Labor – $1,000

Creator/producer stipend (you): $800

Transportation & food for tech/show week: $200

“Caring for the artist behind the vision — full-time.”

Stretch Goals (If Overfunded):

If we raise above $8.5K, you could:

Extend the show run by 1–2 more nights

Increase actor stipends

Pay for a professionally recorded version

Invest in future festival submissions or remounts