How can I make my Shakespeare Slam Donation? You can use the "Donate Now" button at the top of this page to either: 1. Support a particular slammer with a donation. 2. Buy a ticket for the SlamBash ($25), or "Friends of Dionysus" ticket ($50) to the Wine Tasting and the SlamBash. Just indicate your intention in the "how would you like your donation to be used" box ("Sponsor Kit Marlowe", "Friends of Dionysus tickets", "Slam tickets", "general donation", etc) 3. You can make a general donation to support ARTFARM's work. ALSO, you can make your donation go a little bit further for either of these options by simply sending a check made out to "ARTFARM" to 119 Highland Ave., Middletown, CT 06457. THANK YOU! **************************************************************************** ARTFARM's Fifth Shakespeare Slam is just around the corner, and this year we shall be celebrating with more ferocity than ever -- celebrating not only the 450th birthday of William Shakespeare, but the 80th birthday of our King Lear, John Basinger. The Shakespeare Slam and Elizabethan Birthday Bash will take place on Saturday, May 10 at 7 pm at the Community Health Center, 675 Main Street in Middletown. From the ground level stage to the pre-event organic wine tasting in the roof top garden, the Health Center will provide a charming and beautiful venue for this celebration.  We hope that you will join us. For those of you who have never participated in the SlamBash, here are a few FAQs to help you understand this unique event: What is the Shakespeare Slam and Elizabethan Bash? The SlamBash is ARTFARM's primary fund raising event which allows us to stage our annual Shakespeare in the Grove summer productions. It is a blend of performance and party. At the heart of the gathering is the Shakespeare Slam -- bold and often silly performers present short pieces of Shakespeare in imaginative ways. These performers hustle to get Sponsors (or "Patrons", the more proper Elizabethan term) to support their performances by donating to ARTFARM. The performers who accumulate the greatest amount of Patronage receive prizes, the audience laughs, shudders, gapes in awe and generally has a great time, and ARTFARM is able to mount King Lear in the Grove on the Middlesex Community College campus July 17 - 27. It's a win-win-win!!!!  Who can perform? Anyone who musters a minimum of $50 in patronage can perform any piece of Shakespeare (sonnets, monologs, scenes, mash-ups, you name it) up to 2 minutes in length. Performers generally include youth, college-age, adult amateur and adult professional performers. Performers must pre-register by May 5! (see the Slam Guidelines document below for full details). What else goes on? What doesn't go on at the SlamBash??? There is live music provided by the ARTFARM Irregular Orchestra; costumed servers and entertainers; lots of fine food, both home-made and selections from various Middletown Restaurants; a selection of wines, beer from City Steam Brewery, and non-alcoholic beverages; lots of friends, old and new; a birthday cake for John and Will from It's Only Natural Restaurant; Shakespeare-themed fun activities; and whatever charm and imagination you and your party bring to the event! Is there a charge to attend? Entrance to the SlamBash is $25 for adults, $15 for age 25 and under. Performers attend for free. This is a fancy fund raising event that is not just for those with means, but is accesible to Groundlings as well!  New this year -- Guests of Dionysus can enjoy an organic wine tasting hosted by Organic Vintages in the Health Center's unique and beautiful rooftop garden. From 6 - 7 pm, Guests of Dionysus can try great organic wines from around the world while enjoying one of the best views of Middletown and the river valley with members of ARTFARM's Shakespeare Ensemble. Guests of Dionysus tickets are $50 and, of course, include admission to the SlamBash. Contact us with more questions! Enjoy the photos below by Ben Jordan from last year's SlamBash, and see the Guidelines and Sponsor Form below for more info or to start recruiting PATRONS! Remember, you can Sponsor a Slammer or purchase your SlamBash tickets RIGHT NOW by clicking the "Donate Now" button at the top of the page! |
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