TINDERBOX adaptation in Houston and New Orleans

My name is Brad Dalton and I have been directing theatre for over 35 years.

On March 26, 2023, I will celebrate my 60th birthday and would be grateful if you could join me in celebrating this milestone by donating to this project. Two years ago, I adapted Robert Fielser's book TINDERBOX into a dramatic reading for five actors and a jazz pianist, retelling the story of the Upstairs Lounge Fire in New Orleans in 1973. The Upstairs Lounge served as a welcoming refuge for closeted members of the gay community who feared losing their jobs and homes if their sexual orientation was revealed. On June 24, 1973, the Lounge was deliberately set on fire, resulting in the deaths of 32 people inside. The story of the Upstairs Lounge Fire was kept hidden from the public for many years, but this project aims to give a voice to those who perished and bring awareness to the tragedy.

TINDERBOX will be performed in Houston on June 18, 2023, and again in New Orleans on June 25, 2023, to honor the victims of the fire on its 50th anniversary. TINDERBOX was previously performed in Houston in 2021 (as shown by the cover art on this page), and we are fortunate to be able to present it again in June 2023, exactly 50 years after the tragic event. Your generous donation will help cover the expense of paying the actors and for all of the technical production costs for the performances in both Houston and New Orleans. I personally do not make a dime from the production; I am doing this purely from my passion to share this story with as many people as possible.

I am deeply grateful for your support!

Brad

My website is www.braddalton.com.