The Trip to Bountiful

By Keagan Fransch

video

PledgeMe.Project

Performance,



NZ $3,500 pledged


40 people pledged


Closed


NZ $3,500 minimum target


100 100% Complete

This campaign was successful and closed on 20/12/2012 at 7:51 PM.

Make a Pledge

About

The Trip To Bountiful

Project 2012-11-20 00:34:21 +1300


About me:

My name is Keagan Fransch, and I am an actor in my second year of training at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. In February 2013 I will be travelling to the United States to intern to director Timothy Douglas in Cincinnati, Ohio. Timothy will be directing the Horton Foote play "The Trip to Bountiful" (1962), a story about longing, desperation, family connection, and the questions one asks when growing old and closer to the end of one’s life. 


About the project:

What is unique about this particular production is that Timothy, one of the leading African-American directors in the US, is interested in exploring the themes of the play through the lens of an African-American family, and so will be directing an all-black cast in this play that has traditionally been performed by white actors. Furthermore, Cincinnati has a rich history in race relations, being the home of many abolitionists and safe houses for black slaves seeking lives as free men in the 19th century. Having grown up in Zimbabwe, a country fully immersed in the complexities of colour, the exploration of race, culture and circumstance has been one of my creative interests since beginning my training at drama school. As such, the opportunity to observe the work of an international industry professional that shares my interests is invaluable and will no doubt contribute to my skills as a storyteller. 

About the dream:

I have lived in New Zealand since 2004, so using the tools acquired from my experience in Cincinnati; I want to be able to tell stories for the New Zealand audience about issues all New Zealanders, regardless of background, face; those same stories about longing, desperation, family connection. Stories about the search for identity and one's place in a country still so troubled by race relations because of the inability to relate. This is a bold statement to make, but I do believe that herein lies a thread that connects the African experience, to the New Zealand experience, to the American experience. It is not that I want to highlight difference, and race; what truly excites me is exploring the difference in order to discover the sameness, and the connecting threads.

Comments

Updates 1

Spread the Word!

16/12/2012 at 12:34 AM

Hello!
Thank you so much to those of you who have pledged so far, your support means the world to me and I am incredibly grateful. You've helped me reach $815! And thank you to those who have generously taken the time to share this project with family and friends!
But my time is almost up and I have a long way to go, so please continue to SPREAD THE WORD! Risk being reported for spam by sending a mass email, post on Facebook, put it in a sweet Tweet, txt yr bff, or shout it out on the street corners! Just get crazy with it! With your support, I can do this!
Thank you all,
Keagan

    Pledgers 40

    Anonymous pledger
    20/12/2012 at 7:51pm
    Michael Gaastra
    20/12/2012 at 12:32pm
    Nathan Mudge
    20/12/2012 at 10:49am
    NigelLurrie
    20/12/2012 at 3:14am
    Louise Blackstock
    19/12/2012 at 11:33am
    Sara-Henri Lynam
    19/12/2012 at 3:31am
    Rosie Remmerswaal
    18/12/2012 at 9:32pm
    Keoni DaHawaiian
    18/12/2012 at 6:43pm
    Helen
    18/12/2012 at 1:23pm
    jane clink
    18/12/2012 at 9:20am
    Alison Roigard
    18/12/2012 at 9:01am
    Michael Switzer
    15/12/2012 at 12:14am
    Gaby
    11/12/2012 at 8:22pm
    philip merry
    11/12/2012 at 11:31am
    Anonymous pledger
    10/12/2012 at 11:32am
    Irene Malone
    09/12/2012 at 3:57pm
    Kieran Rayner
    07/12/2012 at 2:15pm
    Miriam Jenkins
    06/12/2012 at 8:58pm
    Mildred Costas
    02/12/2012 at 1:32pm
    Taylor Hall
    30/11/2012 at 5:04pm
    Nina Petera
    26/11/2012 at 6:49pm
    Jack Buchanan
    26/11/2012 at 2:36pm
    Sam Bunkall
    25/11/2012 at 1:06pm
    K Wehipeihana
    23/11/2012 at 3:35pm
    Antonia
    22/11/2012 at 3:24am
    Gaye Poole
    21/11/2012 at 10:09pm
    June Dams
    21/11/2012 at 9:44pm
    Carrie Green
    21/11/2012 at 9:36pm
    Michelle Ny
    21/11/2012 at 8:30pm
    Katlyn Wong
    21/11/2012 at 5:33pm

    Followers 1

    Followers of The Trip to Bountiful

    The Trip To Bountiful

    Project 2012-11-20 00:34:21 +1300


    About me:

    My name is Keagan Fransch, and I am an actor in my second year of training at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. In February 2013 I will be travelling to the United States to intern to director Timothy Douglas in Cincinnati, Ohio. Timothy will be directing the Horton Foote play "The Trip to Bountiful" (1962), a story about longing, desperation, family connection, and the questions one asks when growing old and closer to the end of one’s life. 


    About the project:

    What is unique about this particular production is that Timothy, one of the leading African-American directors in the US, is interested in exploring the themes of the play through the lens of an African-American family, and so will be directing an all-black cast in this play that has traditionally been performed by white actors. Furthermore, Cincinnati has a rich history in race relations, being the home of many abolitionists and safe houses for black slaves seeking lives as free men in the 19th century. Having grown up in Zimbabwe, a country fully immersed in the complexities of colour, the exploration of race, culture and circumstance has been one of my creative interests since beginning my training at drama school. As such, the opportunity to observe the work of an international industry professional that shares my interests is invaluable and will no doubt contribute to my skills as a storyteller. 

    About the dream:

    I have lived in New Zealand since 2004, so using the tools acquired from my experience in Cincinnati; I want to be able to tell stories for the New Zealand audience about issues all New Zealanders, regardless of background, face; those same stories about longing, desperation, family connection. Stories about the search for identity and one's place in a country still so troubled by race relations because of the inability to relate. This is a bold statement to make, but I do believe that herein lies a thread that connects the African experience, to the New Zealand experience, to the American experience. It is not that I want to highlight difference, and race; what truly excites me is exploring the difference in order to discover the sameness, and the connecting threads.

    Comments

    Spread the Word!

    16/12/2012 at 12:34 AM

    Hello!
    Thank you so much to those of you who have pledged so far, your support means the world to me and I am incredibly grateful. You've helped me reach $815! And thank you to those who have generously taken the time to share this project with family and friends!
    But my time is almost up and I have a long way to go, so please continue to SPREAD THE WORD! Risk being reported for spam by sending a mass email, post on Facebook, put it in a sweet Tweet, txt yr bff, or shout it out on the street corners! Just get crazy with it! With your support, I can do this!
    Thank you all,
    Keagan
      Anonymous pledger
      20/12/2012 at 7:51pm
      Michael Gaastra
      20/12/2012 at 12:32pm
      Nathan Mudge
      20/12/2012 at 10:49am
      NigelLurrie
      20/12/2012 at 3:14am
      Louise Blackstock
      19/12/2012 at 11:33am
      Sara-Henri Lynam
      19/12/2012 at 3:31am
      Rosie Remmerswaal
      18/12/2012 at 9:32pm
      Keoni DaHawaiian
      18/12/2012 at 6:43pm
      Helen
      18/12/2012 at 1:23pm
      jane clink
      18/12/2012 at 9:20am
      Alison Roigard
      18/12/2012 at 9:01am
      Michael Switzer
      15/12/2012 at 12:14am
      Gaby
      11/12/2012 at 8:22pm
      philip merry
      11/12/2012 at 11:31am
      Anonymous pledger
      10/12/2012 at 11:32am
      Irene Malone
      09/12/2012 at 3:57pm
      Kieran Rayner
      07/12/2012 at 2:15pm
      Miriam Jenkins
      06/12/2012 at 8:58pm
      Mildred Costas
      02/12/2012 at 1:32pm
      Taylor Hall
      30/11/2012 at 5:04pm
      Nina Petera
      26/11/2012 at 6:49pm
      Jack Buchanan
      26/11/2012 at 2:36pm
      Sam Bunkall
      25/11/2012 at 1:06pm
      K Wehipeihana
      23/11/2012 at 3:35pm
      Antonia
      22/11/2012 at 3:24am
      Gaye Poole
      21/11/2012 at 10:09pm
      June Dams
      21/11/2012 at 9:44pm
      Carrie Green
      21/11/2012 at 9:36pm
      Michelle Ny
      21/11/2012 at 8:30pm
      Katlyn Wong
      21/11/2012 at 5:33pm

      Followers of The Trip to Bountiful

      This campaign was successful and got its funding on 20/12/2012 at 7:51 PM.