Mayhem After Dark Presents: Carnivalia the Musical

Story

WHO WE ARE:

Officially founded in the first months of 2020, Mayhem After Dark Productions is a new, diverse, all-inclusive local artist collective that focuses on producing 21-and-over fully immersive events that showcase original works and products incorporating all mediums of the arts and technology.

Our vision at Mayhem After Dark Productions is to provide non-equity artists an opportunity to make their art their life, by providing creators of all kinds the opportunity to make and be compensated for their work.

Samantha Kozloff began laying the foundation for this company and writing “Carnivalia” in 2017, and met Amber Hugee in the summer of 2019.

Since then, they have been persevering with the help of other like-minded artists to build Mayhem After Dark and “Carnivalia” from the ground up.

Using their personal finances, Amber and Samantha worked together throughout 2020-2021 to hire independent contract artists to get the company to grow, despite precarious global and local circumstances.

Absolutely, we believe that artists make art. Creators create. The goal of Mayhem After Dark is to both give ourselves and others the space to tap into creativity and empathy. While “Carnivalia” is the beginning, we are optimistic for the future, both near and far away.

Now, the near future involves you – the Ladies of Mayhem and the Troupe of “Carnivalia” need your help to make this show a reality!

THE TROUPE THUS FAR (OUR TEAM):

Samantha Kozloff

Playwright, Artistic Director, President of Mayhem After Dark Productions, “Madame Mayhem”

Amber Hugee

Production Manager, Vice President & Secretary of Mayhem After Dark Productions

Cassandra Foley

Musical Arrangements and Music Direction, “Carnivalia.” Music Chair of Mayhem After Dark Productions.

Shannon Lee Day

Director, “Carnivalia”

Melody DeRogatis

Assistant Director: “Carnivalia”

Amber Wuttke & Jay Donley (Violent Delights)

Violence Design and Intimacy Direction, “Carnivalia”

Joshua Taylor

Website and Graphic Design

Alex Gorfinkel

All Things Russian, “Carnivalia”

Michael Dreger

Right Hand Man, Mayhem After Dark Productions

WHAT IS “CARNIVALIA”?

“Carnivalia” is an original musical by Samantha Kozloff, encased in an immersive “festival” atmosphere guaranteed to engage all five senses.

“Carnivalia” is an intimate storytelling experience. There is no 4th wall. The “Carnivalia” Troupe will frequently interact with our guests as soon as they walk through the theater doors and enter into our “Gypsy Bazaar.” The doors will open 1 hour before the show begins to allow guests to visit our cast-run bazaar, featuring concessions (Russian street food, wine, and vodka), music, tarot readings, visual art, etc. They will be transported through sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch into the world of “Carnivalia.” We will offer Audience Participation** tickets that are higher priced and put you in the action, giving you a chance to deliver lines during the show and interact directly with the cast. We also have VIP Audience Participation! There will be tables on stage auctioned off to the highest bidder, that will include food tickets and a bottle of sponsored wine and vodka.

** Audience Participation Seats: For those wishing to purchase these tickets, please be advised that you will be a part of the show. The actors will be talking and interacting with you. You also might be asked to participate in other ways as well… if this type of in-your-face theatre experience doesn’t appeal to you, then we suggest you purchase General Admission tickets.

CONTENT WARNING:

This show is designed for an audience of 21 and over and contains the following: violence, murder, rape, prostitution, alcohol & drug use, profanity, homophobia, and racism. If you are sensitive to or triggered by any of these subjects, we highly recommend that you do not attend this show.

SHOW SUMMARY:

A Russian traveling troupe called “Carnivalia” has for generations traveled Europe from town to town performing tales from their ancestry. Now in America, their tour begins in Chicago. They will regale the audience with their legendary show, “The Tale of Khamsin.”

Set during the Russian Revolution and spanning to the rise of Stalin, we are introduced to Khamsin, the daughter of the elegant swordstress Vadoma. Since conception, Khamsin has been “cursed” due to her mother’s torrid affair with a passing gentleman. It has always been said it was her fate to endure great hardship (within which she would also find great love).

After barely escaping the massacre of her troupe via Red Army militants, she flees to a brothel where she lives out her existence as a favorite companion for the sadistic Red Army commander, Viktor.

One night, at the Uzbek Brothel, Khamsin’s world is changed by meeting Vasily, a man who sees the truth and beauty in her and seeks to whisk her away to a carefree life of love and comfort. The only catch is that he is Viktor’s brother, and Viktor wants Khamsin to himself…

PLAYWRIGHT STATEMENT: THE BIRTH OF “CARNIVALIA”!

“On a beautiful spring day in 2017, as I was walking to pick up my daughter, Liv, from school, I was listening to The Gogol Bordello station on Pandora Radio. The song, Breakout The Violins, by the band ‘Viza’ began to play. Immediately I was floored. I began to ask myself, “Who in the hell is this band ‘Viza’ and why haven’t I heard of them before?’ As I listened, in my mind’s eye I started seeing images of a Gypsy Troupe performing through a crowd and instantly thought that this would make a great scene in a show.

So as time went on and I began listening to more of Viza’s music, the walks to and from Liv’s school became a breeding ground of inspiration that bloomed into a full-blown concept for a show.

After a year of having this concept just floating in my head and nagging at me to be written, I knew that I had to reach out to the band and see if they were interested in doing a collaborative project.

So on June 18, 2018, I sent that random email to the band and waited for a response, hoping for magic.

After a few rounds of emails, and the securing of a lawyer from Lawyers for Creative Artists, I got the green light to put pen to paper. But then the dreaded writer’s block took hold.

A year of formulating, conceptualizing, and piecing together a full musical; and there I was: not able to write a word. At first the show was to take place in Turkey during the Ottoman Empire and the Armenian Genocide but for some reason it wasn’t connecting with me. Then I started thinking of my family, ancestry, and past, and that’s when the idea of setting it in Russia set in. The second I made the story personal, I was able to create and the rest is history. Truth be told, I did shed a few tears when I finished the first draft…

This show has had so many facelifts and reconstructions, it is like a successful end result from a plastic surgery nightmare on the TV show ‘Botched!’

“Carnivalia” started off as and has remained a passion project. It has become near and dear to many people already and I am so thankful that I didn’t ignore that nagging muse who has been incessantly guiding me to continue on this journey since that spring day in 2017.”

–Samantha Kozloff

DISCLAIMER

“Carnivalia” is a work of fiction. A story. A tale that was made up in the wonderfully twisted mind of a playwright.

With that being said, any references to real people ( alive or dead), historical events, institutions, cultures, or locales, are intended to give a sense of authenticity…umph, pizazz, mojo, intellectual glitter…whatever have you…

Anyhoo, while every effort was made to be historically accurate, it should be remembered that these references were used in a fictional manner and are to be taken with a grain of salt…this is a musical, after all, people, not Chekhov…

One last thing, pumpkins. Even though “Carnivalia” refers mostly to one culture, it was written for every culture, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and person that has been attacked, abused, murdered, slandered, racially profiled, exiled, demeaned, raped, enslaved, beaten, oppressed, and hated. For those cultures, people, races, and religions, are the warriors and still from generation to generation survive and grow stronger! Nostrovia, darlings!!!”

– Samantha Kozloff, Playwright, “Carnivalia”

THE MUSIC

“Carnivalia” features songs with original compositions by the L.A.-based band VIZA (We at Mayhem After Dark Productions are not represented by Viza).

All songs in this two-act musical are arranged for “Carnivalia” by our fantastic Music Director, Cassandra Foley. The show arrangements are completed transposed by ear; there was no existing sheet music for the songs before!

Here is a sneak peek of the sheet music:

WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING?

1. The Artists (41% of budget)

We are hiring about 17 total theatre professionals to help design and build our set and costumes, lead and manage rehearsals, choreograph, et al necessary to bring “Carnivalia” to life.

There are 18 actors total (12 main cast members and 6 swings), 9 band members.

All those who work on “Carnivalia” are compensated either hourly, or by stipend, except Samantha Kozloff and Amber Hugee.

2. The Venue (15% of budget)

We are looking to rent a space in which we can build, rehearse, and perform for 18 weeks (12 weeks of rehearsal, 6 week run from July – November 2022).

This space will have the capacity for an audience of 150-300, with room for as many as 14 vendors.

This will most likely necessitate us renting a warehouse/flex space in which we may need to rent lighting and sound equipement.

3. Materials (33% of budget)

We are utilizing as many recycled/upcycled and donated materials as possible for this project, including but not limited to elements of the set, costumes, props, set dressing and show swag.

We will be ordering a custom weapon for the show

Depending on venue, we may need to purchase lighting equipment

We will be printing scripts and scores for our ensemble and crew

4. Mayhem After Dark Community Resources/Misc. Expenses (11 % of budget)

We will be providing meals during tech rehearsals for cast and crew

We will be providing water, snacks, and sanitary essentials for every rehearsal

4 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD DONATE:

1. Our Core Values As A Company:

Mayhem After Dark Productions’ sole purpose is to bring artists together in a space to perform freely, showcase, and create collaboratively with a focus on ensemble-led projects, events, and productions. We aim to be a Mecca for artists of all mediums.

As our vision states, we intend to make the largest part of our show budget go to the people making it possible!

We let talent speak for itself. We understand that one’s physical exterior is only a facet of the individual. We approach the creation of our world through that lens.

We want to foster innovative theatrical engagement. Catering to the brains of today, we invite the Chicago community to feel at home in an environment that finally places outcasts center stage.

2. We are woman-owned and operated, diversity is our default, and this is reflected by the strong female leads and characters in the shows we produce.

3. Immersive experiences are a hot ticket right now, but there is no other show like ours. This immersive musical/theatrical/festival experience has not been done before.

4. We don’t plan on making this a one-run wonder – “Carnivalia” is designed to be able to tour different cities. Chicago is our beginning, but the world is our oyster!

COVID-19 POLICIES

All cast and crew members of “Carnivalia”will be required to provide proof of COVID vaccination.
Regular COVID tests will be taken by cast and crew members throughout the rehearsal and run of the show, and a negative COVID test result is required at intervals including but not limited to: before auditions, before rehearsals, and before performance weeks.
You either need proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test that is to be taken 24-48 hours before seeing the show.
In the event of a lockdown, we will be looking to change the method of performance to work for a drive-thru or virtual performance.

FOLLOW THE MAYHEM ON INSTAGRAM: @mayhemafterdarkproductions

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CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE: http://www.mayhemafterdark.com

DONATION TIERS AND THEIR REWARDS: