What is "Snowball?"

"Snowball" is a wild fantasy comedy I developed over several years, beginning at the Sewanee Writer's Conference in 2023 under the tutelage of Dan O'Brien, esteemed playwright and author. It's about LIV and JON, a middle-aged couple who have just said good-bye to their beloved cat of nineteen years, SNOWBALL. But that night, a strange woman appears at their home, claiming she is the human reincarnation of Snowball. Liv and Jon allow her to move in. They try to teach her how to behave like a human being, but with limited success. Then, at a family gathering for Thanksgiving, Snowball, now renamed Kitty, unwittingly lets her former feline instincts take over, causing total chaos. Jon tells Liv he can’t live with Kitty anymore. and moves out. Finally, it’s Christmas day. Jon show up unexpectedly, and tells Kitty that he wants to adopt her as his daughter, and asks Liv to join him and forgive him. She does.

What is a Staged Reading?

A staged reading is an essential stepping stone in play or musical's development by bringing it to the attention of theater industry professionals. It's a necessary networking and promotional too used to generate word of mouth and excitement of a project, hopefully leading to a Broadway or Off-Broadway production. Many well-known plays and musicals got their start in a staged reading - critically acclaimed plays like "August: Osage County" and "Doubt," along with beloved musicals such as "Rent" and "Sunday in the Park with George."

The Breakdown

I'm asking for a total amount of $2500, which will be used for the upfront costs for the first part of this journey. This includes...

Table read

Staged reading (non-equity for now)

Industry reading

Branding & Marketing (Website + Social Media)

Casting costs

Production costs

Rehearsal rental space costs

Rental for Reading Presentation Space

Director's fee

Pitching the show to artistic directors

Transportation for me

Photography

Video

There is a possibility of coproducing this staged treating with an existing and supportive theater company. But I will need all the materials ahead of time before we show it to them.

I know that some of you may not be in the position to contribute to my fundraiser, but would still like to support me in my endeavor. You can do this by getting the word out to friends and family who might be excited by playing a part in my campaign by sharing this Indiegogo page with them.

On a Personal Note

I fell in love with the theater after seeing my first musical ("Fiddler on the Roof") on Broadway. Since then, I've been very fortunate to have seen many musicals and plays throughout my lifetime, and it became a dream of mine to seeing a play I had written to be performed on the stage. Now, at the tender age of 70, I finally have the chance to make that a reality.  

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I deeply appreciate your consideration.