The Trip to Bountiful
By Keagan Fransch
PledgeMe.Project
Performance,
NZ $3,500 pledged
40 people pledged
Closed
NZ $3,500 minimum target
This campaign was successful and closed on 20/12/2012 at 7:51 PM.
Make a PledgeAbout
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
Craig Atkins
21/11/2012 at 5:19pm
Anonymous pledger
21/11/2012 at 5:14pm
Lucy Suttor
21/11/2012 at 5:12pm
Honey Carmody
21/11/2012 at 4:39pm
sera henare
21/11/2012 at 4:36pm
Kimberly Muncaster
20/11/2012 at 9:19pm
Brynley Stent
20/11/2012 at 8:16pm
Anonymous pledger
20/11/2012 at 8:02pm
Jon Hunter
20/11/2012 at 7:37pm
Jacques Fourie
20/11/2012 at 7:25pm
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
Craig Atkins
21/11/2012 at 5:19pm
Anonymous pledger
21/11/2012 at 5:14pm
Lucy Suttor
21/11/2012 at 5:12pm
Honey Carmody
21/11/2012 at 4:39pm
sera henare
21/11/2012 at 4:36pm
Kimberly Muncaster
20/11/2012 at 9:19pm
Brynley Stent
20/11/2012 at 8:16pm
Anonymous pledger
20/11/2012 at 8:02pm
Jon Hunter
20/11/2012 at 7:37pm
Jacques Fourie