The Trip to Bountiful

By Keagan Fransch

video

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NZ $3,500 pledged


40 people pledged


Closed


NZ $3,500 minimum target


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

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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

    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
      20/11/2012 at 7:25pm

      Followers of The Trip to Bountiful

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