8$: ‘Old People Play;’ A Workshop Production

8$ is a series which occasionally highlights interesting crowdfunding projects. Every day, the 8Asians team is inundated by many worthy pitches. We are unable to highlight every one that comes our way, or even the ones we might individually support. The projects selected for 8$ are not endorsements by 8Asians. (To be considered for 8$, we highly suggest you not harass the writers or the editors of 8Asians.)

WHO: In 2005, playwright Jason Fong and musician Shin Kawasaki began their collaboration on Old People Play — and ten years later, they are embarking on their first workshop production. Jason created characters for some of the lovely “old” actors at EWP, in collaboration with Timescape Arts Group and Traci Kato-Kiriyama.

WHAT: Indiegogo project: Old People Play

Old People Play is a whimsically meaningful play with music that takes place in the wait room between life and death, where occupants wait (and play!) while they figure out what unfinished business has landed them in this room. Whether that business be love, unfaithfulness — or even a crushing fear of failure, its occupants find (or don’t find) closure in their timely ends.

The process of developing a play and particularly a musical is daunting and expensive. It requires the contribution and time of a playwright and composer, a group of talented actors and musicians, a rehearsal space, a stage to perform on, an audience, and a little bit (or a lot; depending on your perspective) of money. So far, we’ve got a play, music, a terrific ensemble (which includes Rodney Kageyama, Traci Kato-Kiriyama, Takayo Fischer, Ken Takemoto, Alberto Isaac, Emily Kuroda, Ping Wu, Haruye Ioka, Steve Brady, David Cheung, Kurt Kuniyoshi, , Marlene Yamane Chau, and Sharon Omi), and a rehearsal space, courtesy of Keiro Senior Healthcare. Most of our ensemble is working for little more than gas money, but we need to pay for the rental of our stage at Inner-City Arts, and we need an audience — and this is where you can help.

WHEN: Deadline to contribute is Sunday, March 1, 2015 (11:59pm PT).

WHY:

We’d like to keep ticket prices low as we are still developing the piece, but we think an important part of the play development process is mounting the show for an audience. Your contribution will help pay for the rental of our stage and musicians.