Dear friends and collaborators,

We were just awarded our second cultural grant from the Queens Council on the Arts to present three new chamber operas this spring. We've chosen to transform a raw space in Long Island City into the backdrop for these new experimental multimedia works. Help us do this. We're asking you to help us raise $3000 with whatever contribution is comfortable: http://www.nycharities.org/donate/c_donate.asp?CharityCode=2544

Large arts organizations are struggling to keep their doors open, meanwhile thingNY has thrived on a budget mostly made up of small donations from many friends. 2011 was really special thanks in part to arts supporters like you:
OUR FIRST RESIDENCY: SPAM v. 2.0
NEW COLLABORATIONS: TIME: A Complete Explanation in Three Parts
OUR FIRST CULTURAL GRANT: IN HOUSE
OUR FIRST TOUR: ...PATRIOTS...
TIME OUT'S BEST OF 2011: Varispeed's PERFECT LIVES MANHATTAN (watch some of the video)

2012 brings new opera productions. A new residency at Vaudeville Park in Brooklyn. New presentations in June with the 22 Magazine, Valerie Kuehne, Ian Colletti, Thomas Bell, Christina DeRoos, Anya Liftig, Brian McCorkle and Esther Neff. And in the Fall, another helping of SPAM (v. 3.0).

Support the three new operas
On April 6-8, thingNY will perform three new operas at a renovated space in Long Island City. First the underperformed gem of 1970s avant-garde Un Jour Come Un Autre by Slovenian composer Vinko Globokar – whose account of a tortured woman during the French-Algerian War brings to mind unfortunate parallels to political repression and prisoner torture still around today. Then, after a two-year hiatus, ADDDDDDDDD returns to New York. Called “rapid-fire... pulseracing... and all consuming” by NewMusicBox, thingNY's first collaboratively composed opera about excess comes home to Queens. Finally, Jeff Young and Paul Pinto present the New York premiere of their verbose mobile opera about immigration, Jeff Young and Paul Pinto, Patriots, Run for Public Office on a Platform of Swift and Righteous Immigration Reform, Lots of Jobs, and a Healthy Environment.

We've already received $3400 from the QCA specifically for artistic fees. We've already raised $500 and we're looking to raise the remaining $2500 by March 15th.
$250 score rental and performance rights for Globokar
$250 Poster design and print
$500 Chashama space rental
$600 Materials, equipment and labor for constructing the sets
$700 Video documentation and editing
$800 PA (5 amplifiers, 12 microphones, mixing board + cables and stands)

But I got no money!
Most of our individual donations come in the $20 amount. We like this. It proves we have many friends who are willing to help out with a few bucks to make a project work. It also shows larger foundations and donors that we're serious about grassroots fundraising. We'd like to give you admission into one show for your donation, so think of it as just buying a ticket in advance.

Seriously. Bank account < $20.
Okay. We get it. Look at the list above. Can you donate some of that stuff? Or donate your time and expertise to build the set? Can you design and print posters? We need folks to write grants, build sets, transport equipment, donate space for rehearsals, work doors, record and edit video, design and hang posters around town. EMAIL US HOW YOU CAN HELP at thingNY@gmail.com. HONESTLY. IF YOU EDIT VIDEO OF OUR PERFORMANCE, THAT'S A HUGE DONATION AND BRINGS OUR EXPENSES DOWN!

Pledge your support by contributing via our NYCharities site: http://www.nycharities.org/donate/c_donate.asp?CharityCode=2544

or send a check made out to "THINGNY" to:

thingNY's Spring Programming Campaign
c/o Paul Pinto, Artistic Director
380 7th Street, #1B
Jersey City, NJ 07302

Sincerely yours,
Paul, Erin, Jeff, Alejandro, Gelsey, Isabel and Andrew

DONATE BELOW

Better than an Opera Star [$501 or more]
Queens Council on the Arts
William Verdone
Matthew P Reid
Paul Pinto
Erin Rogers
Jeffrey Young
Alejandro Acierto
Isabel Castellvi
Gelsey Bell
Andrew Livingston

Opera Star [$251-500]
Amanda Pinto
Anonymous

Elitist [$101-250]
Patrocinia and Julio Pinto
Hermine and Robert Lewis
Esther Neff
Tim Cohan
Jayme Khare
Anonymous

Storn Child [$51-100]
Mary Aman & Family
Todd Vunderink
Matt Evra-Silver
Andrea McArdle
Derek Bermel
Glynda Hull
Thomas Delano
Robert Gonyo
Google

Groupie [$20-50]
Robert Gonyo
Saadia Halim
Debra L Kaye
Gail Noor
Lisa P
Tom Swafford
Barry Seroff
Deshawn Mandic
Garth Sunderland
Mike Hawk
Silas Huff
Erin Carr
Sandy Sakiyabu
Jake Wise
Stefanos Tsigrimanis
Ilias Pantoleon
Tom Piercy
Allen Schulz
Daniel Stewart
Scott Brandwein
Susanna Connors
Brian McCorkle
Bryant Taylor
Alex Unger
Adam Noor
Aly Lakhaney
Matt Evra-Silver
Sarah Berman
Bruce & Mary Rogers
Robert and Patrice Towey
Daniel Pinto
Gabriel Pinto
Joe Dal Pra
Caryn Blum
Leah Asher
Jeni Beck
Morton M Stine
Ryan Muncy
David Drexler
Greg A Steinke