Rabbbits Rock Opera

Hello! I'm Ron English.  I'm a fine art/street artist who has appeared in Oscar nominated Hollywood films, created murals and billboards around the world and worked on various musical projects over the years. I would like to create an epic rock opera called “Rabbbits in Delusionville”, played in three acts using the best available musical talent.  The songs have already been written and the demos have been recorded but to bring this musical epic to fruition, I need your help.




"Rabbbits in Delusionville" is a rock opera that will be like post-factual Animal Farm meets Aesop's Fables on LSD.   Delusionville tells the story of a society that formed as different animals fell down a rabbbit hole and created a world with their own mythologies, religion, and politics.  Every animal group represents an embedded archetype in the social structure that is about to come in question.  This is largely a commentary on faux news, stagnation of social mobility, and downright delusional thinking.

It is an opera in three acts that will take place over a double album:

 Act One – Introduces all of the characters in Delusionville and brings into question the nature of their society and their various places in the social order.

 Act Two – The animals get riled up about the economic disparity and social injustice in their previously unquestioned world of delusion.

Act Three – A very unusual take on revolution.

I am working with the producer Joe Johnson and opera singer Russell Cusick, both located here in Beacon NY.  Russell is a Julliard classically trained baritone operatic singer who has performed in Operas and Musical Theaters around the world.  Joe has worked with artists as diverse as Keith Richards and Daniel Johnston. 

Together we have written and recorded demos of the songs that will be on the double album. You can listen to the recorded demos at http://www.popaganda.com/ronsnews/delusionville/

We are hoping to have the album recorded and mastered by mid-June for a July release!

Why Crowdfund?
  The reason I’m reaching out on GoFundMe is because I feel that this project is bigger than me and needs to get out into the world.  Besides being a great work of music, "Rabbbits in Delusionville" creates a safe spot to discuss the politics of our day without bruising anybody’s party or embedded religious  loyalties.  We live in a world where people are overly defined by their political party and religion.  More and more we are losing the ability to have honest and fruitful discussions about the world we live in.  I need your help to put this project out into society and get as many people involved as possible.

 
Project Cost Breakdown

$15,000 - Studio time to record the musicians and performers in a well equipped recording studio.

$7,000 - Paying musicians to come in and record the music.

$4,000 – Mastering the record

$4,000 – Pressing of CDs


Breakdown of Rewards

$60 – 2 CD Set of “Rabbbits in Delusionville”

$100 - 2 CD Set and Lyric Book

Cover of the Lyric Book:

The Lyric Book contains an intro into the world of Delusionville and has all of the lyrics from the album with illustrations by Ron English.

$300 – 2 CD Set, Lyric Book, and Original Ron English Silk Screen Print of “Falla Sheep” or “Grinnie” from Delusionville.  Limited edition 50 of each.  Please indicate which print you want.



$400 - You get the 2 CD set of "Rabbbits in Delusionville", the Lyric Book, and an original black light Ron English "Rabbbits in the 70s" Silk Screen. Limited edition of 50.


$500 -  2 CD Set, Lyric Book, Plus 1 unique CD with 5 Rabbbit songs performed acoustically incorporating  shout outs to you or a loved one.  You will provide some information and concepts to us and we will record different versions tailored to you or whomever it is for.

$7,000 - 2 CD Set, Lyric Book, All 3 available prints, and an original 24"x36" oil, acrylic, and silkscreen painting on canvas by Ron English.  Limited to 8.  Please select which one you want.


$8,000 -2 CD Set, Lyrics Book, All 3 prints, One of the Rabbbits original paintings, as well as an appearance on the record and a dinner party with Ron and selected musical guest.  Come spend the day at the recording studio and be featured on a track on the record.  Then have dinner with Ron and some of his musician friends in Beacon, NY.  Your name will be included in the credits at the end of the record.


Bonus Rewards and Goals!

Here are some additional rewards if we go above and beyond our initial goal:

$40,000 - Every CD will come with a unique cover designed and signed by Ron English.  These hand made covers will be your very own one of a kind artwork by the artist.

Also, we will also add a new character to the world of Delusionville called "Trunk, the Orange Elephant" and create a new song about the character.



I think you know who "Trunk" is referencing, the "elephant in the room".  Trunk is the town narcississy savior/satan character.  He makes everything funnier and is there to keep things "real" in a world of "fiction".

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Let's make "Rabbbits in Delusionville" a reality!  With your help we can make music history!


Thank you!  Please spread the word and pass this project along!