Our Crowdfunding Groups
Who are we?
Vertigo Productions is the only student theater organization on campus dedicated to producing exclusively student-written work. With an executive board made up of passionate students of all interests and studies, we support the visions and voices of student playwrights as they mount their work in dynamic productions, readings, and festivals. Our spring mainstage show, which this Catalyzer raises funds for, offers a student playwright the opportunity to collaborate with fellow student artists and executive board members in a near-year-long process of workshopping, rehearsing, and, eventually, showcasing a fully-produced premiere of their new play.
What’s this project?
Vertigo’s spring mainstage show, The Bloody Bricks and Blows of American Dream High, is written by student playwright Gabriela Furtado Coutinho. Gabriela summarizes her play as such:
Bia has always followed the rules. On grasping the opportunity to study far north, her new nation and school present heavy challenges in the form of an expressionistic culture shock. As Bia tries accepting power dynamics and the-way-people-do-things here, she recognizes the absurdity and inequity of the demands imposed on her versus her peers. Suddenly, it becomes awfully difficult to follow the rules. She learns, however, that the school’s supernatural structures aren’t so immune to her power. In a turn of events, she recruits the powerful and powerless alike to build a different kind of American Dream High. Highlighting the visceral and emotional impact of otherness, The Bloody Bricks and Blows of American Dream High is the play I dreamt of as a young person, and never got to see. With this work, I aim to help young people feel seen and strong; place adults squarely into the emotional experiences of a child whose lifelines fail her; and inspire all audiences that there just might be another way to construct—or deconstruct—the walls around our youth.
What’s our goal?
This spring, we’re looking to empower students on Northwestern’s campus and beyond by producing a show that is dark, humorous, expressionistic, and ultimately hopeful. We’re working with a cast and production team of nearly 50 Northwestern undergraduates to make this dream a reality.
Due to our extensive team and the scale and caliber of the production we’re hoping to produce, we are asking for your financial support. Funds from our Catalyzer will go towards purchasing or renting the necessities of making theater: materials for our set, props and costumes, lighting and sound equipment, and more!
How you can help:
Make a gift to the Catalyzer! Every little bit helps, and your gift of $10, $25, or $50 can go a long way.
Spread the news! Share this link with your friends and family on social media.
Come see the show! We will be performing in Shanley Pavilion on April 15th and 16th.
We started trying to count, then lost track of your big help.
