Invasive Species has raised $18,666 out of their goal of $20,000
What is Invasive Species?
What if acting was a disease, brought on by the poisonous bite of an invasive species of insect called the acting bug? What if we actors are all afflicted with a strange illness that causes us to lie about, to pretend to be, to forget even, who we really are? This is the question (one of many) at the heart of Invasive Species, a dramatic essay on the false truths of acting, on lying to live, and living to lie. And how immigrating to the United States may just be the role of a lifetime.
We're self-producing Invasive Species, a new play, a dark comedy that grapples with issues of mental health and the experiences of an immigrant artist. The play takes a comedic yet poignant look at the mental health challenges that immigrant artists face as they navigate the US entertainment industry.
But we need your support to bring this important workshop production to life. As you probably know, producing a play in NYC is no mean feat but we mean to do it, and we can't wait to share what we've been working on with you.
Who's Involved?
Michael Breslin is a writer, performer, and producer who works in theater, film, and television. His play Circle Jerk, co-written with Patrick Foley, won an Obie Award and was a 2021 Pulitzer Prize Finalist. With Foley, he is a creative director of Fake Friends, a theater and media company, who recently developed and produced This American Wife, which was featured in the New York Times, LA Times, Vanity Fair, ArtForum and named as one of the "Best Performances of 2021" by the New Yorker. He executive produced and co-wrote the book for Ratatouille: The Tik Tok Musical, which raised $2 million for the Actors Fund. Breslin and Foley are writing a musical commissioned by Seaview Productions and Ars Nova, where they are resident artists. Michael holds an MFA in dramaturgy from Yale School of Drama (David Geffen School of Trauma), as well as a BA in theater and comparative literature from Hamilton College. www.michaelstevenbreslin.com
Maia Novi is a performer and writer. She’s the first Argentinean to get into the Yale School of Drama for Acting, from where she graduated with a full scholarship in ’22. Her most recent acting roles include GIRLS by Brandon Jacobs Jenkins (Yale Rep) YELL by Jeremy O. Harris and Bodas de Sangre, directed by Tatiana Pandiani (Iseman Theatre). Her writing credits include AMAZONIA a feature film currently in development with Film4 and set to be directed by Yann Demange. Her work is focused on bilinguality and multiculturalism.
Amauta M. Firmino is a writer, producer, and dramaturg based in NYC. He was the production dramaturg for “Slave Play” on Broadway (with a record-breaking 12 Tony Award nominations) and a resident dramaturg at the Sundance Institute. He has developed new plays at the Yale Repertory Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, Playwrights Horizons, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and the Sundance Theater Labs. He is currently developing TV and film projects with A24, Film4, eOne, Monkeypaw and Universal Pictures.
We'd love your help!
Materials and Supplies $50
A $50 donation will help us cover the cost of materials and supplies necessary for the production, including props, costumes, and set pieces. Every donation counts, and your support will help us bring this production to life.
Marketing Costs $100
With a $100 donation, you'll help us cover the cost of promoting the play to a wider audience. This includes graphic design, marketing, and outreach efforts to bring the play to more people. Your donation will help us ensure that Invasive Species reaches as many people as possible.
