Dear Friend,

Flaneur Productions began 2005 with an unexpected honor: American Theatre magazine named us one of "twelve theater companies you need to know" in its December 2004 issue. Now, a year later, we look back at a year of accolades and remarkable successes, encouraged by the fact that our season of performances, experimental music, and an international tour could match up to such high praise.

In 2006, we have even more in store, including Flaneur's unique take on a rarely performed Shakespeare play, Coriolanus, directed by Dr. Bridget Escolme, Senior Lecturer in Drama at Queen Mary College, University of London; the third annual Heliotrope festival of underground and under-recognized local music; a new work by playwright and Flaneur co-Artistic Director Jim Bovino; and a short-works festival featuring area artists and performers. We will also be presenting a site-specific performance and visual art installation at the 2006 Minnesota Fringe Festival.

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By now you may be wondering, “if this group is doing so much why don’t I know much about them?” You guessed it: money. It’s no secret how difficult it is to produce consistently high quality performance work on a limited budget. Up to now we have presented our full-scale theatrical work for less than $4,000 a show. This remarkable feat is the result of the sheer determination and commitment of the artists involved. But this is not sustainable. We need your help to pay these artists for their time and talent, to rent appropriate performance space, and to market our work properly. Our near-term fundraising goal is $15,000. This will support our workshop production of Coriolanus, help us to get Heliotrope off the ground, and anchor the short works festival we plan to present in early summer 2006. Believe it when we say this is a steal. Your tax-deductible donation will help us to start this next phase of our work with the resources we need to consistently create the quality of work audiences and critics expect from us. Please consider supporting one of the most innovative and exciting performance companies in the Twin Cities. You can support vital and challenging work by making a secure, online donation; go to our website www.flaneurproductions.com and click the click-and-pledge button at the bottom of the home page. Of course you can also send checks payable to Flaneur Productions to the address below.

Sincerely,

Flaneur Productions
Rich Barlow, Co-Artistic Director
Jim Bovino, Co-Artistic Director