OUR GOAL:
We are bringing Prejudice and Pride, a new folk musical, back to KC at The Arts Asylum for a 3-week run and then transferring to prestigious Off-Broadway venue, 59E59 Theaters, for a 6-week run in New York!

This musical is a precision-tuned instrument for spreading joy and teaching empathy, more important than ever in these divisive and stressful times.  We hope to influence the emotional and mental landscape of our society in the most productive and positive ways possible. We also intend to highlight some of the incredible art and talent comes out of Kansas City, which is why we have stayed committed to our Kansas City-based cast of actors and musicians. These performers are perfectly cast, and for many of them performing in an Off-Broadway show is a dream come true. We know that Kansas City is THE arts town of flyover country and we believe in this city's ability to rally around an artist-run effort like this.

HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHERE WE ARE GOING:
We have poured our hearts, souls (and savings) into this show over the last few years, conducting two staged readings and producing a full production at Music Theater Heritage through its 2022 Artist Residency award.  Then we took the entire KC-based company to Edinburgh Fringe to test it in the world's largest performing arts festival. Now we have the incredible opportunity to premiere our creation in the world hub of musical theatre, New York City.

Our runs in 2022 in Kansas City and Edinburgh last year cost us about $80k, but we were rewarded with all 4- and 5- star reviews AND a #1 Best of Fringe Award out of a pool of about 3,500 shows! From that came the invitation to perform for six weeks at 59E59, one of New York's top Off-Broadway theaters, but it's going to cost us over twice as much as before. That's while keeping the budget as tight as possible, but still paying everyone as fair a wage as possible. Thanks to incredible support from The Arts Asylum and a whole slew of private donors, we are so close to reaching our razor-thin budget, but words has just come down that our application for a major grant has been rejected, and all told, we're still about $23,000 short of our fundraising goal.

WHERE IS YOUR MONEY GOING?
As you may know, producing theater is a difficult venture in which one must pay the artists involved long before the product produces any revenue. These funds will help ensure we have the cash flow to pay all of our actors, stage manager, musicians, and other contractors their wages for the Kansas City run ($21,860). This also helps us update our scenery and costumes for both the Kansas City run and the NYC run (approx. $3000).

Of course, there are many, many more expenses involved with this production, such as venue rental on an Off-Broadway theater, lighting design, payroll for the New York run, transportation costs, and insurance. 

But if, through all of our fundraising efforts and box office returns, we run any kind of surplus, we'd really like to prioritize supplementing the actors' pay with bonus stipends, to help offset the high cost of living in New York.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
We are committed to making this happen, no matter what. We owe it to Kansas City and our incredible performers to show the world what we've got! But we could really use the backing of Kansas City to mitigate the crippling cost of producing an Off-Broadway musical. Plus, if we are able to raise above our goal, we will be able to give our performers a little bonus going into NYC to make their stay a little more comfortable amid that high cost of living.

Thank you for making a tax-deductible donation. It means the world to us and allows us to make this dream come true! Please share this campaign on all your social media for us and help get the word out that Kansas City is a town that supports the arts!!

ABOUT THE SHOW:
From the stage at Hoedown Jane’s Bar, Grill & Shootin’ Range, banjo-picker Bennett
Longborn sings the tale of how he and his brothers must find love or at least empathy
before they lose the family farm in Longborn Hollow, Tennessee. When New York
millionaires move into the luxurious Netty’s Field ranch next door, Papa Longborn sees this
as the boys’ golden opportunity to marry rich. Hunky yet shy Jake Longborn quickly
attracts Internet sensation Carly Bing, but her best friend, proud broadcasting heiress Darcy
Fitzwilliams, irks and offends Bennett as they both wrestle with gender roles, social expectations, and their own assumptions. Featuring:

Sam Wright - Bennett Longborn / Banjo                     
Bridget Casad - Darcy Fitzwilliams / Guitar
Tim Ahlenius - Papa Longborn / Senator deBerg
Margaret Shelby - Mama Longborn /Tour Guide / Judge
P T Mahoney - Jake Longborn / Guitar
Christian Thomas Owen - Lyle Longborn / Georgie
Stefanie Stevens - Carly Bing / Victoria "Wick" Hamm
Chris Arnone - Luke Charlton / Big Chaps Clerk / State Trooper
Franci Talamantez-Witte - Jane / Rev. Willamina Cole / Reporter / Lawyer
Mark Hamblin - Upright Bass
Chris Hudson - Lead Guitar
Nicholas Collett - Director
Diane Bulan - Stage Manager
Kevin Bogan - Music Direction
Stefanie Stevens - Choreography
Lauren Long - Costume Design
Jeff Eubank - Sound Design 

AWARDS & REVIEWS:
Winner of the 2022 Artist Residency at Music Theater Heritage
Winner of Sinners Review’s #1 Best of Edinburgh Fringe award
Show album named the #68 Top Recording of 2022 by KKFI's Midday Medley

“I would be subject to carpal tunnel if I attempted to write all the accolades this cast is due. The
best way to discover their immense talent would be to purchase tickets for one of the remaining shows.” - Broadway World

“From the opening strains of music, this foot-tapping, line-dancing adaptation is
awash with witty social commentary and fantastic tunes.” - The Stage

“I actually can’t think of the last time I saw this kind of iconic source material so beautifully and
naturally woven into a new idea.” - KC Studio

“an incredible modern adaptation of the world-renowned Jane Austen classic.” - The Review’s
Hub
“If only all hot takes on classic lit were as refreshing as Clueless as this.” - The Pitch