Support Theatre for Hope and Healing: Help us create spaces for storytelling, connection, and community healing with Ghosts—a staged reading and mental health-centered talkback in Chicago this March!
Hi! We are Janine Ashley and Harry Barandes, the co-founders of Theatre for Hope and Healing (THH), an organization dedicated to bringing together the healing power of theatre and the transformative potential of mental health advocacy.
We are passionate about creating spaces where storytelling and community healing intersect, and our upcoming project, Ghosts: A Staged Reading + Talkback, is an embodiment of this mission.
We are launching a campaign to help fund THH's first in-person event since moving to Chicago,IL, a staged reading of Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts, and also to begin the process of establishing our organization. The reading will be performed in our unique Slow Theatre style, an approach that turns theatre experiences into communal healing rituals through a focus on emotional safety, mental health and narrative awareness, and engaging in deep, supportive conversation about healing and trauma.
This staged reading, taking place on March 19th and 20th of 2025, is not just a performance — it’s a community experience designed to foster connection, emotional resilience, narrative agency, and growth. Through a participatory process that includes grounding practices like breathwork and a talkback with actors, mental health professionals, and community leaders, we aim to explore themes of trauma, healing, and personal liberation. The talkback will also be a space for sharing ideas about the potential of theatre as a third place of mutual aid and well-being support.
Please be aware that this staged reading contains themes that some may find challenging. Check out this content note if you prefer to review these themes prior to attending the event.
Why This Campaign Matters
With your support, Ghosts will be a major milestone of THH’s journey toward creating meaningful, accessible arts programs that tackle real-world issues. We are deeply committed to integrating diverse voices and ensuring that the stories we share resonate with marginalized communities. Theatre is an inherently collective experience, and we strive to create inclusive spaces where everyone’s voice is heard and valued. The impact will create an ongoing ripple effect that empowers people to heal and engage in conversations that matter. The funds raised will also allow us to build the infrastructure for future events, programs, and a sustainable, community-focused organization.
Since our founding in 2022, we have been successfully coordinating online workshops, classes, open mics, and performances for communities, creating safe spaces where participants can process their emotions and find support. We know this work has the power to create real social impact and healing, and with your help, we can take it to the next level.
Venue Selection and Rental: At the conclusion of the campaign, we will need to evaluate where we are and scale the production to a suitable venue to meet our funding capacity. This will require booking the venue at the end of February for March 17-19, 2025. Since we don’t have funds to put down a deposit before finishing our campaign, our options may be limited by each venues established calendars.
Budget Adjustments: While we’ve calculated our needs carefully, the reality of event production often brings unexpected costs. We are prepared to scale the production as necessary through cuts in venue and rehearsal space costs.
We have successfully produced and coordinated events in the past and am committed to working tirelessly to ensure everything falls into place. Plus, with the support of our community—YOU—there is no challenge too great.
What We Need & What You Get
How Much We Need
Our goal is to raise $5500.
Here’s how your contributions will be used:
Venue Rental and Deposit (Thrust Space @ Bramble Arts Loft for 3 days): $2000
Actors + Director Stipends ($300/Person): $1800
Production Designer / Crowdfunding Manager Stipend: $400
Rehearsal Space (12 hours): $300
Actor Childcare / Travel Reimbursement: $150
Printed Marketing Materials and Outreach: $150
Commercial Insurance: $150
Contingency (10% of Campaign): $550
We will be transparent with how every dollar will be spent and ensure that your contribution has the greatest possible impact on our success. If we don’t reach our full goal, we will scale the project and allocate funds to the most crucial areas, such as actor compensation, venue rental, and essential production costs. Meeting our goal will allow us to keep our ticket prices low (ideally sticking to a pay what you can model) and accessible, while fully supporting all aspects of this important event and laying the groundwork for future productions.
Blossoming Sponsor ($35): Front row reserved seat for Ghosts + Sprouting Supporter reward. (Limit 40)
Flowering Sponsor ($50): Access to a pre-show reception an hour before curtain time + Budding Sponsor reward. (Limit 50)
Fruiting Sponsor ($100): 15-minute Zoom meeting with the co-founders (groups of 5) + digital shoutout + Flowering Sponsor reward. (Limit 20)
Crown Patrons ($150 - $750):
American Elm Patron ($150): Signed playbill + exclusive behind-the-scenes content + Flowering Sponsor reward. (Limit 50)
Green Ash Patron ($200): Virtual backstage tour with Q&A + American Elm Patron reward. (Limit 8)
Black Cherry Patron ($300): Appear in the program as a Supporter + Tech Process Patron Event invite + American Elm Patron reward. (Limit 12)
Sugar Maple Patron ($500): Appear as a Patron in this program and future ones + Black Cherry Patron reward. (Limit 8)
Star Producers ($750 - $1500):
Sunshine Producer ($750): Associate Producer credit* + Invitation to virtual Creative Roundtable with the team + Sugar Maple Patron reward. (Limit 6)
Superstar Producer ($1000): Producer credit* + Invitation to virtual Creative Roundtable with the team + Welcome to observe rehearsals + Sugar Maple Patron reward. (Limit 4)
Supernova Producer ($1500): Executive Producer credit* + Invitation to virtual Creative Roundtable + Welcome to observe rehearsals + Exclusive digital production media + Sugar Maple Patron reward. (Limit 4)
Every contribution, no matter the size, is deeply appreciated and moves us one step closer to bringing this vision to life!
If you can’t contribute financially, there are still ways you can help!
Spread the Word: Share our campaign on social media, tell your friends, or forward this message to anyone who might resonate with our mission.
Offer In-Kind Support: If you have a venue, materials, or other resources to donate, we would be incredibly grateful.
Attend the Event: Whether you’re able to contribute financially at this time or not, coming to our staged reading is a huge way to support us. The more people who attend and engage, the stronger our community becomes!
Thank you for considering a contribution to this important campaign. Your support will help us bring theatre, hope, and healing to the Chicago community and beyond, and launch Theatre for Hope and Healing as an organization committed to making a difference.
We invite you to come see our staged reading of Ghosts and participate in our talkback! We will be live in the North Side of Chicago, IL on March 19th and 20th of 2025. Venue TBA.
What is "Slow Theatre"?
Slow Theatre is a unique approach that we’ve developed to turn theatre experiences into communal healing rituals. This style places a focus on emotional safety, mental health awareness, and meaningful conversations around trauma, growth, and resilience. By integrating breathwork, talkbacks, and deep storytelling, we create a space where participants can connect, share, and heal.
Will I get updates on how the campaign is going?
Yes! Once you back our campaign, you will receive updates on the progress of the event, venue details, rehearsals, and other important information as we approach the performance date. We want you to be as involved in this journey as possible and will keep you informed every step of the way!
What if the campaign doesn’t reach its goal?
If we don’t meet our funding goal, we will still move forward with the event. We’ll prioritize the most essential costs, like actor compensation and venue rental, and adjust as necessary. However, meeting our goal will allow us to fully fund all aspects of the event and give us a strong foundation for future projects.
Are there volunteer opportunities?
If you’d like to contribute your time or skills to help us make this event a success, please reach out to us directly at theatreforhopeandhealing@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you and will be happy to share more details about how you can get involved.
Is my donation tax-deductible? Yes! Theatre for Hope and Healing is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Theatre for Hope and Healing must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
However, the tax-deductible amount may be impacted by any rewards you select.
Fully tax-deductible donations: If you choose a donation level that doesn't include a reward (or if the reward is non-commercial and has no market value), your entire contribution is tax-deductible.
Partial tax-deductible donations: If you select a reward, the market value of the reward must be deducted from your donation in determining the tax-deductible amount. For example, if you receive a gift or experience with a market value (such as a reserved ticket or a Zoom meeting with our team), the value of that reward is subtracted from your total donation.
If you have any questions about the tax-deductibility of your donation or rewards, please feel free to reach out to us.
*Given the nature of this campaign with the vision for our new model of theatre, no Artistic Control will be included in Executive Producer, Producer, or Associate Producer perks.
Rewards
Featured
Flowering Sponsor
Donate $50.00 or more
Amount over $25.00 is tax-deductible.
Access to a pre-show reception an hour before curtain time + Budding Sponsor reward. (Limit 50)
Seedling Supporter
Donate $2.00 or more
Amount is fully tax-deductible.
A thank you on our website.
Sprouting Supporter
Donate $5.00 or more
Amount is fully tax-deductible.
A thank you on our website, in our program, and on social media.
Sapling Supporter
Donate $10.00 or more
Amount is fully tax-deductible.
A digital shoutout on our socials, Sprouting Supporter reward, and a digital program.
Virtual backstage tour with Q&A + American Elm Patron reward. (Limit 8)
Black Cherry Patron
Donate $300.00 or more
Amount over $25.00 is tax-deductible.
Appear in the program as a Supporter + Tech Process Patron Event invite + American Elm Patron reward. (Limit 12)
Sugar Maple Patron
Donate $500.00 or more
Amount over $25.00 is tax-deductible.
Appear as a Patron in this program and future ones + Black Cherry Patron reward. (Limit 8)
Sunshine Producer
Donate $750.00 or more
Amount over $25.00 is tax-deductible.
Associate Producer credit (no artistic control) + Invitation to virtual Creative Roundtable with the team + Sugar Maple Patron reward. (Limit 6)
Superstar Producer
Donate $1,000.00 or more
Amount over $25.00 is tax-deductible.
Producer credit (no artistic control) + Invitation to virtual Creative Roundtable with the team + Welcome to observe rehearsals + Sugar Maple Patron reward. (Limit 4)
Supernova Producer
Donate $1,500.00 or more
Amount over $25.00 is tax-deductible.
Executive Producer credit (no artistic control) + Invitation to virtual Creative Roundtable + Welcome to observe rehearsals + Exclusive digital production media + Sugar Maple Patron reward. (Limit 4)
