Whipped Up! is going to Ed Fringe Fest
Donation protected
Let’s get Whipped Up! to Scotland’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival!
Since premiering at Gordon College’s black box theater in the summer of 2022, Whipped Up! has been warmly embraced by the baby/caregiver duos out there. The show has grown and is ready to be shared with more audiences in different places.
But it needs your help to get there!
Whipped Up! is all about connection. It was initially inspired by my experience as a new mother attempting to break out of the isolation that often comes to new parents with an infant. In those days, I relied on the “Baby and Me” movie showings at Cinema Salem. This setting provided a rare public place that welcomed my crying, pooping, nursing baby, while I engaged my adult brain with some art. And, as an artist with an MFA in collaborative theatre, my go-to strategy will always be connecting with others - that’s what is in the DNA of this theatre experience.
More babies connecting with theatre. More parents connecting with each other. More artists collaborating to bring art to more people.
So, we need your help! Your donation, large or pint-sized, can help this production reach more audiences in the US and internationally.
Why go all the way to the Edinburgh Fringe?
- Wait–what is the Fringe? The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is an annual showcase of over 3,000 different productions from around the world. It is the largest festival of its kind and has become a central meeting place for innovative theatre. I have experienced this festival twice as an audience member and once as a participating performer. I can personally attest to the benefit and visibility a small show can receive on the large “stage” of the Ed Fringe. And if you can tolerate the crowds, relentless marketing, and often grueling pace, it is also a whole lot of fun.
- It provides an unrivaled focus group. The aim is to have Whipped Up! touring the US reaching as many different types of communities as possible. To participate in the Fringe is one of the best ways to test a show’s mettle. It is like a month-long evaluation period with 30 different focus groups. After a successful run at the Fringe, it is easier to market to US theatres since it is a “proven concept”.
- It’s a space for collaboration. It is difficult to create a show on your own, especially if you have an MFA in collaborative theatre. The Fringe brings me closer to fellow creators/performers, which is a necessary part of the theatre process. Up to now, I have worked on this piece almost entirely independently.
- An opportunity for recognition and sharing. When it comes to “fringe” theatre, the UK is wonderfully supportive. What a gift to have organizations and audiences eager to see and support this unique show. I am proud of developing this unique and charming little show and want to show it off to an audience that is looking to experience what is “new” in theatre today. We are hopeful that Whipped Up! will be recognized for its innovation–while retaining its accessibility.
- A launchpad for more tours. There is the potential for a tour in the UK. It is not an uncommon outcome to have interest in picking up the show to tour, which would once again help provide this welcoming space to even more babies and parents.
To make this happen, we are looking to raise $10,000. Here is the breakdown of what those funds would cover:
3000 - venue rental
2000 - airfare
4000 - accommodations
1000 - rebuilding the set in UK
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10,000 - Total basic costs
The festival doesn’t start until August, but our goal is to raise $5,000 by April and the full $10,000 by June to help as expenses roll in.
Thank you for your support of this show as it grows!
Organizer
Jill Rogati
Organizer
Essex, MA