We Might Be Experimenting On You: A Theatrical Surprise Party by Collision Productions

About The Project

We Might Be Experimenting On You (WMBEOY) is the innaugural production of the newly formed Collision Productions, a fortuitous, joyful, delight-filled collaboration between Kym Bernazky and Melanie Jones.

We created this show based on these burning questions:

- Why do performers and audience members have to be separated by that imaginary line where the stage ends and the seats begin?

- What would happen if we got rid of that line?

- What if theater was about the giving and receiving of gifts?

We created WMBEOY as a bonafide experiment based on those burning questions and a mutual preoccupation with delightful surprise. The result was a teeny-tiny workshop performance for thirteen brave souls on May 24, 2010. We asked big things of our audience and we gave them big things in return. It was, in a word, wondrous. 

And so were doing it again. This time, weve been accepted into New Yorks FRIGID Festival running February 25 - March 6, 2011 at the Red Room Theater. We have five performances in the festival and we are looking for support for our production costs and especially for one key element: the surprise. 

We cant tell you the surprise because, in a perfectly delicious world, you would be there to experience it yourself. And also because its not a surprise if we tell the whole Internet, and as grown-ups there are so few really great surprises anymore. 

We can tell you that the looks on our audience members faces when they received this theatrical gift brought tears of joy to our eyes. Our hearts flew out of our chests and had to be retrieved by bird-catchers. We can also tell you what our audience members said:

What youre doing is important. - Tina West

I have never been given a gift like that in my life. Thank you. - Ted Hannan

Mind-blowing. - Max Frey

What The Money Is For

WMBEOY is an intentionally intimate experience, so our houses will have a maximum of 16 people per show. We have five performances (Feb 25, 27, March 3, 5 and 6). The surprises will run us an extra $300 per show and we figure around $500 for marketing (postcards, posters, etc). So far, our amazingly generous production staff are volunteers, but it would be so great to pay them for their valuable skills and time.

Venue         $550

SURPRISE! $1000 

Marketing $500

Production Staff                           $950

___________________________

TOTAL       $3000

If we dont raise enough, well be paying cold, hard cash out of our hard-working, self-producing pockets. We believe in this work so strongly that we are willing to do that, but we also believe that work like this is worthy of support. WMBEOY is not an obscure novelty show. It is experiential theater created with the explicit intention of creating joy, openness and connection in a culture dominated by cynicism, separation and self-protection. 

We are at work on a miracle. And you have the opportunity to be part of it. 

Your contribution goes directly into creating an experience that shines more light into the world and edges out the darkness just a little bit. If thats not a great cause, we dont know what is. And if youre embarrassed about only having $5 to offer, please dont be. We are grateful for every single, love-filled cent and it all goes toward making magic happen.

Benefits

Beyond upping the bliss quotient of the world, we are happy to extend some other benefits to our donors, including tax receipts from our fiscal sponsor Fractured Atlas, Kym and Melanie blowing kisses in your general direction, special backstagey other-side-of-the-surprise benefits and promo pricing on tickets. 

Larger donations receive thank you calls, delightful surprises directly to your home and if you pledge the whole amount and we will shower you with kisses, gummy bears, balloons and cute, wiggly puppies.

All donors will be mentioned and thanked on our web site: www.collision-productions.com.

Other Ways You Can Help

Come to the show! If you are in the NYC area February 25 - March 6, please buy a ticket (or six) and experience this magical show for yourself. Bring your friends and loved ones and share the gift with them.

You can also help us get the word out about the show and the fundraising campaign by passing around our video, posting to your Facebook page or Tweeting about us. Every bit of word-of-mouth helps!

Thanks so very much!