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
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