Help Jeff Stolz fund his musical!

Good people of Lawrence and beyond!

During the dark days of Covid, when nobody could go out and see each other, I often sat alone wondering what people might be yearning for when the ability to expose whole faces and make human connection returned, if it ever returned at all. Exciting live community entertainment, of course! Acting! Dancing! Singing! Mythology! And music-making!

So what else was there to do but hunker down and begin writing a musical about a man named Sonny who’s afraid of bathtubs? He’s got a bad recurring nightmare too. But with the assistance of his therapist, he manages to learn how to craft his dream about his mother into events that he hopes will be less distressing, the Roman myth of Prince Actaeon’s encounter with the goddess Diana at the forest spring. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with that tale, but it doesn’t end well for the prince, and there’s of course a villain in Sonny’s dream intent on making certain of that.

The play is called The Exultant Stag, and I’m excited to tell you that The Lawrence Arts Center has agreed to put on a production of it on the weekend of September 22-24 2023! There will be four shows. The play will also be an album release featuring seven new songs by my current band, The Frightened Stag, who will be performing live during the play, and a new song by Drakkar Sauna! It promises to be a spectacle.

But here we are on GoFundMe. I was going to write that I need your help to make all of this happen, but I’m happy to say it’s going to happen one way or the other. There’s just an extremely conservative budget at the Arts Center for this kind of production, but I want it to be good. I want it to look good. I’m flying in Wallace Cochran from North Carolina to be the character of Sonny. Planes ain’t cheap. Heidi Gluck is going to be his therapist. Talent should be rewarded. The amazing artist Brian Hawkins has created the original artwork for the album cover and poster. The members of the Frightened Stag have literally not made a single cent since playing in this band for over two years, because all the gig money has gone to this recording and vinyl production. And there’s currently no money budgeted for art supplies, costuming, and make-up to boot!

I’m excited and proud of this project but humbled to ask if ya’ll would be willing to throw down a little something as support. I want to be able to pay these expenses and pay the amazing people, who are committing to make this production a reality, something respectable for their creativity and time. I’m hoping to raise $5000 to cover supplies, recoup some recording costs, and for critical artistic personnel. Anything you can contribute would be just right!

At the very least, when the time comes, please buy a ticket at the Lawrence Arts Center for yourself and your friend or lover and come see the show! You can also buy a ticket to live stream it. That’s great support right there.

And if you’re interested in buying the album Songs from the Exultant Stag, the album will be released on the weekend of the performances. And you can use this platform to pre-order the colored 12” vinyl pressing here for $25. And you can pick it up at the show or add another $5 for shipping. That would be amazing!

If you have more to offer, we have more to provide! I’ll be commissioning a limited edition run of Exultant Stag pint glasses and hand printed promotional fliers. The band can autograph an album or send you a personalized postcard. If you live in the Lawrence/KC area, the Frightened Stag will play your house party or special event for only $600. Consider your contribution and let me know what you’d like in the notes section.

Thank you so much for your time and for your support!

Truly,

Jeff Stolz