CITY RATS a new play opening at the Hudson Guild Theater as part of the New York Theater Festival Summerfest, July 2024! Written by Franco Machado-Pesce and directed by Ryan Hartley.
WHY AM I CROWDFUNDING?
Hola a todos, familia, amigos, y conocidos, this is Franco. I am the playwright, producer and one of the actors of this play. Thank you for being here--I want to start there. I wrote CITY RATS because as many of you know, I like to create. Telling stories is always something that I loved doing.
I felt a need to create a play that revolved around Latin characters, just living their ordinary lives and experiencing friendships, relationships, and fears. Oftentimes, I see that Latiné content and stories are narrowed down to being centered around the hardships and traumas of the Latiné experience. As much as those stories are needed, I also want to normalize creating content that focuses on our experiences as human beings too. Our stories can go beyond our ethnic background because where we come from will always be with us. It's texture, it doesn't have to be the basis of every story. CITY RATS is a fictitious exploration of that.
I am so blessed for the cast and crew that have been working on this play since January. Their passion shows in every rehearsal and it's going to shine brightly during the performances. Truly grateful for this community of artists and their support.
Many of you know that I make my own content and I value the work of every single one of my collaborators. In order to make this play the best it can be, I want to do everything I can to make sure that every team member gets paid because I want them to know that I value them, their collaboration, their spirit and their effort. In the past, I've been able to pay my teams from my savings. I always look at these projects as investments in my career and in hopes of working with talented people, but this year... due to unforeseen health issues I find myself in a position where I need help. So that's what this is... asking for help.
I am grateful to perform as part of the NYTF Summerfest and for them to have given us a home for our three shows. We don't see any of the ticket sales because it goes towards the festival as they continue to give a place for artists to show their work.
With each donation, you'll allow us to purchase a recording of our play as well, so that we can share the work with the world. We'd love for each person who donates to receive a link with the show so that no matter, where you are, you can watch.
I appreciate every single one of you and your support, big, small it doesn't matter. Thanks to you, each of these artists will come out with something from our show (in this tough time in our industry).
TEAM
CAST:
Franco Machado-Pesce
Akuarella
Jason Sanchez
Michael Salinas (u/s)
Luisa Sofia (u/s)
Ariel Ortiz (u/s)
CREW
Director: Ryan Hartley
Playwright: Franco
Stage Manager: L Mendelson
Assistant Director: Adam White
Sound: Jove Tripp Thompson
Light Design: Dominick Riches
Projectionist and Light Operator: Victor Vauban Júnior
Costumes: Savannah Deering
Reed Byrd: Photographer
Organizer
