The Bucket Brigade (Kingdom Undone)

Let us introduce ourselves: we’re Jeremiah and Vanessa Gamble (creators of Theater for the Thirsty). Over the past twelve+ years, we’ve been refreshing and entertaining audiences with imaginative, redemptive theater. We write stories for people whose faith is strong and for those who are still trying to find it. We believe that people are hungry and thirsty for more than what much of this life offers, so, to that end, we aim to give ‘em something that will enliven their spirits, challenge their assumptions, entertain their socks off and inject some hope into their lives. And with each new show we try to do that to a greater degree.

Which leads us to our current project... (drum role, fanfare, etc.)

We are in the thick of producing our newest show, Kingdom Undone. Here’s a description of the piece: When revolution spins out of control, Judas Iscariot, and a young Zealot named Isaac, rush toward their ultimate liberation, or their undoing. Kingdom Undone pits earthy drama, music and unexpected humor with the passion of Jesus' final days and the messy justice that turned the world on its head.

We’ve spent the last three years writing and refining the script, doing multiple readings and workshops to make this show the best it can be. We believe great art moves people and we believe that this story is worthy of our best efforts. We’re excited to produce this show and get it in front of a wide audience. But in order to do that, we realize we’re gonna need some help.

Enter… The Bucket Brigade. What is the Bucket Brigade? It’s you and you and him and her, and them and us, working together to accomplish what we cannot accomplish alone. Together we can pull this off. Together we can produce Spirit-infused, artistically inspired theater that engages culture.

We created the Bucket Brigade because, frankly, we need you. We’ve never been more excited about a story and its potential to impact audiences, but we lack the resources to “do it on our own.” It takes a village, and we need just that. We need people who believe in the power of art to move people. We need people who believe that the re-telling of the Jesus story is worthy of our best artistic efforts. We need you. Please consider grabbing a bucket and joining the brigade by giving a tax-deductible donation to help us make Kingdom Undone a reality.

Some questions you might have:

Q: What will the funds be used for, specifically? 

A: I’m glad you asked. We are hoping to raise $60,000 by April 1st, 2012. That number reflects our total budget for a 3 week run (March 21st-April 8th, 2012) at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis. Rent is $8,100. Paying our cast of 15 professional actors is nearly $20,000. You can see where this is going– it all adds up.

Q: Is my contribution tax deductible? 

A: YES! Kingdom Undone is a sponsored project of Springboard for the Arts, a nonprofit arts service organization.

Q: Who do I write the check to and where do I send it?
A: Write the check to Springboard for the Arts. Then, in the memo line, put The Bucket Brigade. Then send the check to us: The Bucket Brigade, 3627 Fremont Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55412

Q: How many zeros does one million have in it? 

A: Six. It should look like this: 1,000,000

We believe that this story, well told, will be like fresh water for thirsty audiences. Are you willing to grab a bucket and join the brigade? (This is where you jump up from your chair and shout “yes!”)

Grace, peace and passion, 

Jeremiah and Vanessa Gamble

p.s. To keep up with the latest Kingdom Undone news, become a fan of Theater for the Thirsty on Facebook.