Your invitation to support this powerful new theatrical work as it moves toward the professional stage.

War Bride of Mormon County is moving toward professional production in Manchester, England. If it’s been a while since we’ve talked, or since you read the script or saw a reading, a synopsis is below. I’m also happy to send you the full script.

I hope you will help make this project a reality and become part of my community of supporters.

What is happening?

A 2-step process.

Step 1: a week of workshopping and a staged reading scheduled for Nov. 22, 2024, with UK professional actors.

• Huge news: this project has been given a grant from Arts Council England which will cover a substantial portion of the costs!! Securing this funding is a massive step forward—both financially and for the reputation of the project—within the UK theatre world.

• Securing additional donor funding will cover the remaining expenses and future development. I invite you to consider helping.

Step 2: a full professional production in 2025 or possibly early 2026.

I have assembled the key England team —

• Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder, director. Hannah is joint artistic director of Box of Tricks. Recent directing credits include: Last Quiz Night on Earth (urban/rural tour); SparkPlug (national tour, shortlisted for Alfred Fagon Award 2018); Narvik (national tour, nominated Best New Play MTAs, winner Best New Play UK Theatre Awards 2017). More about Hannah.

“‘War Bride of Mormon County’ sparks vital, challenging conversations about misogyny, abuse and the generational damage caused by patriarchal communities. A period of development on the script allows us to interrogate these themes and begin conversations with key stakeholders and audience partners.”
Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder

• Megan Brewer, consulting producer. Megan is a migrant theatre director & producer. Her work is highly physical & ensemble-led, spanning musicals, contemporary plays, classics & devised work performed in Russia, the US and the UK. She is the co-artistic director of Halfpace Theatre, a migrant-led company dedicated to new work and devised theatre by underrepresented artists. More about Megan.

• Chris Grady, UK mentor. Across 40 years Chris has created, run, and marketed, numerous theatres & festivals. He has worked in senior roles at Bristol Hippodrome; Plymouth Theatre Royal; Edinburgh International Festival and Traverse Theatres, and others. Chris worked internationally as head of licensing for Cameron Mackintosh productions of Miss Saigon and Les Miserables. More about Chris.

“‘War Bride of Mormon County’ is a deeply sad, powerful, and necessary play. Two fabulous parts for women. It is much closer to home than many in the audience may be expecting.” Chris Grady

A weeklong workshop and and staged reading with professional actors in Manchester will ensure the script is ready prior to moving toward full production. (If you are already familiar with producer terminology, this is roughly equivalent to a “29-hour reading” in the United States).

The reading will also build further awareness of the project with Manchester’s creatives, and another essential aspect: it begins building relationships with community partners who will be an essential part of the show’s success (see Community Partners below; all are in varying stages of engagement).

Manchester is a major TV and film production center in the UK, providing a deep pool of artistic talent. We are casting only professional actors, and paying industry rates to do so. We intend to cast a British “name” actor for at least one of the main roles.

The reading is currently slated for Nov. 22, 2024.

How is it being financed? The cost to produce the workshop/reading is partially covered by a generous grant from Arts Council England. The successful reading and workshop will put the show on the Council’s radar for support toward the full production. Additional funding is through private donations — I’d love to count you among that group of supporters.

How much are you asking me for right now?

I am raising $200,000 in funds to support both the current workshop reading and future development costs of the Manchester full production in the 2025-26 season.

• I am looking for donations/gifts of $1000 and up. (Of course, smaller amounts help, too).

• I would be delighted if you feel compelled to donate more!

What is the money being spent on? Theatre is expensive! The bulk of expense is payroll, including the director and actors (and in the UK there are mandatory government requirements), all at industry standard rates which strengthens access to top talent. Additional expenses include producers, designers, marketing, technical support and other professionals. And of course there are administrative expenses.

What’s in it for me? If you are new to helping theatre get produced, welcome! It is a fascinating world to become a part of.

• You will be helping to tell a really important story on topics that are often swept under society’s rug.

• Bragging rights! You can tell people that you’re helping produce theatre. And you’ll want to tell them because it’s really cool. And perhaps they’ll want to get involved too.

  • < $1000: You and a guest are welcome to attend the reading in Manchester. Recognition on the official show website. You will also receive updates including: grant status, casting, venue happenings, and Randall’s musings on the process.

  • $1000-2999: all above, plus you are welcome to observe one day of the workshopping, and 2 tickets to any performance of the eventual Manchester production of the show and show poster or program autographed by the cast. You will also receive access to the video recording of the reading.

  • $3000-5999: all above, plus dinner with the playwright in Manchester or when we are both in the same location elsewhere.

  • $6000+: all above, plus you and a guest will be on list for the opening night performance and opening night party of the eventual full Manchester production.

• Every show starts out with early financing. You’ll have pride in being a part of that. There is no financial return to you on this project (that’s essential to remember).

Why Manchester? The story is as English as it is American. While the story takes place in Utah, USA, the protagonist of this play is “from” Manchester. The British attitude toward live theatre—especially plays—is much more open; the Brits grow up with theatre. Plays that succeed in the UK are often highly regarded by US producers and audiences. Thus workshopping, reading, and premiering the work there may help its odds of future high-level production and licensing in the US and internationally. Additionally, the cost of producing the reading and eventual premiere in the UK is approximately 1/3 what it would be in the US.

Tell me about development to date:

• 2021 Online reading for invited audience; 2023 partial reading hosted by NYC’s Houses on the Moon; other private sectional and full readings.

• The play has been through extensive professional dramaturgy in New York and in Manchester, England.

• The play was a finalist for the TRU Voices reading series, NYC, 2024.

• In spring 2024, Hart Theatre Co. of Salt Lake City, did two nights of staged readings.