Official Kickstarter to get Spring Awakening to perform on the Tonys- Page 10

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 11:33am

E. riley said: "HogansHero said: "RW3 said: "I can't wait to see Davenport to try to explain himself for all of this once the announcement of Spring Awakening performing comes out and they haven't reached their Kickstarter goal yet."

If you read this thread, and I know that's a lot to ask of a person, you will learn that the goal will be met, by a last minute wash donation from the funder. That, in fact, is what was intended all along-to subsidize the cost with the misguided contributions of people who have good souls. 

Okay...I am one of the dupes. This show changed my daughters life. I am a widow raising kids and really pulled money I didn't have to contribute 100.00. There is so much conjecture on this thread. Perhaps there is producer greed involved but can you really say with certainty? I would really appreciate it if someone could tell me if they KNOW......for certain or if this is just conjecture.

Not just based on producers reputation etc. I have this ( as does my girl all over our FB trying to raise money. She is literally upset that the dollars have stalled) I hope all this negativity is fact based because in the end I really want Deaf West and this beautiful production to have this moment.  

"

 

Believe me when I say that I loved this production.  Thought it was really beautiful and changed the way I understood the show.  That said, this whole thing does seem fishy, but none of us know for sure what is going on.  Like someone previously said, the schedule is set for Tony performances which is why we are all skeptical.  My hesitation and skepticism is not to bash or inhibit the show at all.

[E. riley]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 12:01pm

Thank you DramaTeach. It does seem fishy. I worry that perhaps it's naive and a stumble or misguided attempt being misconstrued as a cynical money grubbing ploy. That would be a shame.

It changed the way I understood Spring Awakening as well and I am pretty old. It deepened and elevated the material. That is rare.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 12:04pm

I also loved this production and I hate so much about this kickstarter and how Davenport and Deaf West have either ignored or very, VERY selectively answered any questions about this on social media.

I've been a fan of Deaf West's work since Big River, but this has really soured a great deal of how I think about them.

[Sondheim_Disney1595]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 2:32pm

So with 12 days left, they still have 125,525 dollars to go. That means they must raise about 10,500 a day which they are not on track to do. Are we thinking that Davenport will pull another shady stunt and put up the rest of the money so they don't loose what has already been raised?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 2:33pm

That's what's been said more than once in this thread, yes.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 9:15am

Scarywarhol said: "It must be downright indefensible if Mr. Social Media hasn't responded by now. There are questions about this all over here, Facebook, and blogs (including his own), and there have been since the campaign began. "

 

Seriously. He isn't answering questions because we are right and there are no logical answers.

[Anakela]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 10:19am

elphaba.scares.me said: "Isn't Deaf West one of those LA theatres that doesn't pay its actors any salary? Maybe they should raise some money for that instead.

"

This just inspired my new thought: what is the role of the unions in all of this? (Is there a role of the unions in all of this?) I don't know about Deaf West/L.A. theatres, so I won't speak to that, but Spring Awakening was a Broadway production. Davenport says it's not "fiscally responsible" for the producers to pay for the cast to perform, which is why they're asking the public to pay. Is AEA ok with producers paying their actors in this way? Is IATSE ok with a producer trying to pay crew this way, etc. Whatever unions might be involved here.

eta: I know the whole Kickstarter part is nonsense, they're either performing or not performing, and there's no June 11th deadline to perform on June 12th. I'm just wondering what unions have to say about this kind of advertising/soliciting of money, in order to supposedly be the only way for a producer to pay their members.

Updated On: 5/31/16 at 10:19 AM

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 10:36am

My instinct is that the unions don't care where the money comes from, as long as their members get paid.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 11:13am

@Anakela

What possible basis would a union have to object to the source of funds for a show? Many shows have been financed with stolen money or money amassed via fraud. I can't even imagine what your line of thinking is on this...

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 11:27am

So when Ken Davenport swoops in at the last minute with a "mystery donor" to put them over the top (himself), he'll get the Kickstarter reward of going to his own Tony party!

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 5:23pm

Anakela said: "elphaba.scares.me said: "Isn't Deaf West one of those LA theatres that doesn't pay its actors any salary? Maybe they should raise some money for that instead.

"

This just inspired my new thought: what is the role of the unions in all of this? (Is there a role of the unions in all of this?) I don't know about Deaf West/L.A. theatres, so I won't speak to that, but Spring Awakening was a Broadway production. Davenport says it's not "fiscally responsible" for the producers to pay for the cast to perform, which is why they're asking the public to pay. Is AEA ok with producers paying their actors in this way? Is IATSE ok with a producer trying to pay crew this way, etc. Whatever unions might be involved here.

eta: I know the whole Kickstarter part is nonsense, they're either performing or not performing, and there's no June 11th deadline to perform on June 12th. I'm just wondering what unions have to say about this kind of advertising/soliciting of money, in order to supposedly be the only way for a producer to pay their members.

 

"

How do roundabout and Lincoln center pay their cast and crew? From donations. So I think the unions are fine with it.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 6:23pm

Call_me_jorge said: "How do roundabout and Lincoln center pay their cast and crew? From donations. So I think the unions are fine with it."

That's a non-sequitur. If there were an issue (and as rehearsed the unions are not involved in the source of funds) it would be about legitimate and sketchy fundraising. By definition, NFPs raise a part of their revenue from donations, grants etc. 

 

[E. riley]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 9:00pm

Thanks g.d.e.l.g.i. I appreciate your kindness. The truth is seeing this show with my girl more than once was as uplifting for me as it was for my daughter. Anything cynical inside melted away watching those kids. So true and open. They turned me into a pile of goo in that most special way only the theatre can.

So to read this thread. To know this ...it is not a tragedy in the scheme of life but I almost wish I didn't know. It deeply bums out my little heart. Sounds like you produce and maintain your integrity and that's a good thing.Genuine kudos for that. Davenport sounds like a jerk.

I just can't believe anything nefarious about DW or their Artistic Director

D J Kurs though.

This just makes me sad.  

[Valentina3]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 1:58pm

$86.7 k... 10 days to go. Doesn't look too good.

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 2:02pm

Valentina3 said: "$86.7 k... 10 days to go. Doesn't look too good."

It's been expressed in the thread numerous times already, but you do realize a last-minute donor is going to come along to "save the day," right? With these wily fundraising methods, he's not going to let $86,700 slip between his fingers.

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 5:37pm

Just sent out a blast to their SA mailing list:

Hello Guilty Ones Family,
 
You’ve helped us raise $87,000—that is absolutely amazing! We are so humbled and honored by your love.
 
We have 10 days left and $113,000 more to raise, but with your continued help, we can do it! If you haven’t yet, click HERE to donate. If you have, remember to Spread the Word and Rally your Friends! Your help will get us closer to performing on the Tony Awards®.
 
Donate Now…GetSpringOnTheTonys.com - Spring Awakening is #NotGone.
 
Sincerely,
Your Cast
 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 5:51pm

Right. I highly doubt he consulted all of them to approve the copy.

[playbill-love]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 6:00pm

Yeah none of this is the cast members' fault or decision

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 6:17pm

There are multiple cast members who are promoting it, though. Multiple. And we all know that they know they're performing. They're probably in rehearsal now. Deaf West is letting this happen, as well as everyone involved with the show. I'm not blaming anyone but Davenport, but the rest of the people involved certainly aren't stupid.

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 6:23pm

To a certain extent, he's using these disabled actors as props for bolstering his personal agenda. I understand why a working actor would not want to speak out against it at the risk of tarnishing his or her reputation, but the fact that many of them have either assisted in publicizing the campaign on Twitter and/or have offered to be involved with one of the rewards is indication that those individuals condone what's happening. He may be the mastermind, but they appear to have willingly come along for the ride. And as members of the industry, they should know how appearances like this work. Then again, they too may have been deceived by Davenport in some way. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 6:27pm

So, post-Muringate, I guess BWW doesn't have to be nice to producers of shows? Only the cast members? 

[playbill-love]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 6:33pm

I just think that like as someone very young, the same age as some of the cast members, I would have a lot of trouble with saying no to someone who is essentially my boss telling me that I will have this excellent once in a lifetime opportunity and it might not happen if I don't promote it enough. 

[MinnieFay]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 6:48pm

"So, post-Muringate, I guess BWW doesn't have to be nice to producers of shows? Only the cast members?"

That horse is long dead, no sense in continuing to beat it, pal.

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 6:54pm

Cupid Boy2 said: "To a certain extent, he's using these disabled actors as props for bolstering his personal agenda. I understand why a working actor would not want to speak out against it at the risk of tarnishing his or her reputation, but the fact that many of them have either assisted in publicizing the campaign on Twitter and/or have offered to be involved with one of the rewards is indication that those individuals condone what's happening. He may be the mastermind, but they appear to have willingly come along for the ride. And as members of the industry, they should know how appearances like this work. Then again, they too may have been deceived by Davenport in some way."

Ignore my response, this is written far better and conveys what I was trying to say much more than what I actually said.

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 6:54pm

playbill-love said: "I just think that like as someone very young, the same age as some of the cast members, I would have a lot of trouble with saying no to someone who is essentially my boss telling me that I will have this excellent once in a lifetime opportunity and it might not happen if I don't promote it enough."

But they must already KNOW they're going to have this opportunity. They're not going to throw this thing together over night once the money "comes in." Nor will they put in all of the work to prep for this performance while fearing their efforts may go to waste. That's just not plausible.

 

Updated On: 6/1/16 at 06:54 PM