Bard-a-thon 2010
A 48 Hour Festival of Shakespeare
September 10-12, 2010
What is the Bard-a-thon?
Welcome to the 48 hour extravaganza we like to call the Bard-a-thon. September 10-12, we are going to raise $7,000 by reading 12 Shakespeare plays for 48 hours straight, and we want you to join us. Participants read as much or as little as they like, from one play to all twelve.
The 3rd Annual Bard-a-thon is a fundraiser to support NC Stage's 2010-2011 Season. Just like a walk-a-thon or crop walk, participants will ask their family and friends to sponsor them. But instead of walking, we're reading 12 Shakespeare plays in 2 days, beginning Friday night and running continuously through Sunday evening.
NC Stage is a non-profit organization, and ticket sales do not even begin to cover the costs of producing professional theatre. Since 2001, NCSC has spent over $1 million in the community, served over 18,000 WNC students with residencies and performances, and supported 27 other performing arts groups through the Catalyst Series. The fine print: North Carolina Stage Company is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible. Sponsors must give their full name and mailing address to receive a tax receipt.
If you'd like to read in the Bard-a-thon, here's what you need to know
- There's no minimum amount you have to raise (but there are prizes for raising the most!). Send this link to your friends and family to raise money: http://bardathon.ncstage.org/pledge.php
- You can read as much or as little as you like, from one play to all twelve
- A $12 registration fee includes the official limited edition LOVE ASHEVILLE BARD LOCAL tshirt
- The sign-up period begins August 13 at 10 am and continues through the start of the Bard-a-thon. Only two lead roles per person, and lead roles go quickly, so we suggest registering early!
So come join the insanity and raise money for a good cause!
We choose to do the Bard-a-thon for several reasons:
- It's fun and open to all!
- It’s closely tied to our mission
- It’s a lot easier to organize and run than other fundraising models like auctions, dinners, etc.
- It encourages widespread participation. Even though we call it the "Bard-a-thon," it is more like a relay than a marathon, which means we need a lot of people to participate!
- It reaches new networks through participants' friends and families.
- It reaches folks who would not be likely to respond to our other fundraising efforts. It is easy to give, and the average gift is well under $50, with many $5, $10, or $15 gifts.
What fabulous prizes can I win?
Our volunteer Bard-a-thon readers work hard and stay up waaaaaay past their bedtimes in order to support the mission of North Carolina Stage Company. So this year we've already started collecting some pretty cool prize packages, all donated by local Western NC businesses.
Prizes will be given for...
The person (or team) who raises the most money
The person who recruits the most donors
The person(s) who reads the most plays
Plus, we'll be giving out additional prizes throughout the weekend!
We're thrilled that the following businesses have already donated prizes. This list is being updated all the time, so check back often!
Registration for the Bard-a-thon begins Friday, August 13 and runs through the start of the Bard-a-thon.
First, check out the list of plays below, and take a look at the character lists to decide what character(s) you'd like to play ("lead" characters are highlighted). We're limiting you to only two "lead" characters, but there's no limit to supporting characters, and you can sign up to be an understudy if a role is taken.
Beginning August 13, you can call or drop by during box office hours (10 am-5 pm M-F), or register online. We'll get your name, contact info, $12 registration fee, and if you're part of a team, your official team name (so start brainstorming now!).
Then come on down to NCSC and read some Shakespeare! You'll need to bring your own script - if you need one, we suggest going to Malaprop's Bookstore, which is stocking scripts for all of NCSC's plays this season.
Call (828) 239-0263
Email ncstage@ncstage.org
Drop by 15 Stage Lane in downtown Asheville
Finally, don't forget to register on http://bardathon.ncstage.org so that you can raise money online!
You can see a breakdown of characters for each play by clicking here. "Lead" roles are highlighted in the document. To sign up for a particular role, call (828) 239-0263 or email ncstage at ncstage dot org.
To see the full text of each play, and how many lines each character has, visit the very cool site www.opensourceshakespeare.org.
Friday
5 PM Kick off event! Reading of the "new" Shakespeare play Double Falsehood, co-presented with Montford Park Players
8 PM Antony and Cleopatra
Saturday 
12 AM Pericles
4 AM Richard II
8 AM King Lear
12 PM Julius Caesar
4 PM The Tempest
8 PM A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Sunday
12 AM Troilus and Cressida
4 AM King John
8 AM Henry IV, Pt I
12 PM Macbeth
4 PM The Comedy of Errors
How much does it cost just to watch?
Admission to the Bard-a-thon is completely free. However, if you'd like to support the work of North Carolina Stage Company, we will have a donation jar at the door, or you can donate online through our Bard-a-thon pledge form!
You don't need to RSVP, just come on out and see some sleep-deprived Shakespeare reading!