The Chequerboard Watch
New York City, New York | Theatre
Musical, Adventure
We are sharing a historically inspired story; while also crafting a theatrical experience that resonates with themes of identity, camaraderie, and the resilience of the human spirit, all while presenting a lively and exciting musical.
The Chequerboard Watch
New York City, New York | Theatre
Musical, Adventure
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $15,401 for development. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
76 supporters | followers
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We are sharing a historically inspired story; while also crafting a theatrical experience that resonates with themes of identity, camaraderie, and the resilience of the human spirit, all while presenting a lively and exciting musical.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Our Story
The Chequerboard tells a story of sailors from different backgrounds, cultures, and races coming together to sail and complete a voyage. When the sailors reach their destination, they find themselves transformed by their odyssey, and minds opened by their shared humanity. We as team also come from different backgrounds, phases of life, and live in different cities around the world. While our initial goal was to bring this original story about a forgotten period of time to life, we have also realized along the way that our team reflects the very core of the story we are creating.
What is a Chequerboard Watch
A Chequerboard Watch was a mixed race sailing crew often made up of British, Irish, African, Caribbean, and Spanish sailors.
Our Sound
The Chequerboard Watch is a new original musical featuring original music with traditional shanties and work songs. It takes place on the sea where usual social constructs and rules are blurred, and what can be seen as weaknesses on land, are strengths at sea.
Our Purpose
Time has become one of the most valued currencies in modern day. As society turns more to technology as a means of connection, we may have lost the ability to reflect where the origins of our beliefs come from. The story of The Chequerboard Watch seeks to remind audiences of a time in history without distraction, where conversations were the bricks of people's ideologies and cultural exchange was the mortar.
Development & Producing Timeline
From November 2020 to January 2024 our team has been developing this idea, story, and script. We are now ready to take The Chequerboard Watch from page to stage, and share with audiences in 2024!
London Script and Music Development, March 2024: Our team will be traveling to London to work with our writer, Selena Seballo to finalize our music and script. We will also be traveling to ship docks, clipper ships, and hear sea shanties in their native country to make sure our story is as authentic as possible!
Philadelphia Reading, June 2024: We will be presenting our first full reading of The Chequerboard Watch with actors, musicians, and audiences in Philadelphia this June. We are excited to present this reading in a non traditional theater space, to expand the definition of where theater can be shared and presented.
New York City Reading, Fall 2024: We will be hold a traditional rehearsal process, and present a reading of The Chequerboard Watch in an off broadway theater.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Script Copyright & Legal Fees
Costs $1,000
Copyrighting a script is a way to legally protect the intellectual property rights of the script's creators
Talent Fees
Costs $3,500
As we prepare for our Philadelphia reading, we will need to hire talented actors, musicians, and a stage manager.
Creative Team Fees
Costs $6,500
We don’t have a show without our collaborators, writer, composer, and producers!
Post Production & Marketing Fees
Costs $1,800
We need to cover our "proof on concept" post production and editing fees!
Philadelphia Reading Space
Costs $2,500
We believe in presenting theatre in more accessible and familiar spaces. Help us cover our Philadelphia reading location and experience
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Selena Seballo (Book, Lyrics, Story). Selena is versatile artist hailing from Orlando, Florida, has established herself as a singer-songwriter, dramaturg, and playwright based in the United Kingdom. Her musical playwriting journey commenced in 2010 under the mentorship of Eugene O’Neil award-winning playwright Ken Eulo. Recognizing Selena's songwriting talents, Ken invited her to collaborate on "Paradise Walk," a play with music workshopped in 2012. This marked the beginning of Selena's exploration in the world of theatrical composition. Graduating with Merit from Goldsmith’s University in London, she holds a Masters Degree in Writing for Performance and Dramaturgy. In 2021, Selena served as the dramaturg for the workshop of the immersive musical "Whisper Darkly," a collaboration with DJ Salisbury and Andrew Gerle. Beyond the stage, Selena has ventured into podcast writing and currently contributes as the book and lyrics writer for "The Chequerboard Watch," showcasing her multifaceted creative prowess.
Jack Denman (Composer, Arrangements, Story) . Jack is our composer, arranger of all the shanties, and has contributed to the overall plot of the story. Jack is a Philadelphia-based music director, accompanist, composer, and musical theatre collaborator. After getting his B.M. in Music Education (Voice) from Temple University, Jack began working in both educational and professional settings including the Fulton Theater, Centre Theater, Temple University and University of Pennsylvania. Jack is thrilled to be writing with this incredible team and exploring how music is the language we share across borders.
Eyakeno Ekpo (Story). Eyakeno was one of the original collaborators on the project, and has contributed to the overall plot of the story. Eyakeno is a passionate storyteller, musician and performer. Born in Nigeria, emigrated with his family to USA and now making his way through life in Switzerland. His love for telling stories led him from graduate from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, onto performing on cruise ships and traveling the world, to finding love in Switzerland, to having the confidence to explore and create new stories through writing, music, and live performances.
Mimi Warnick (Conceived, Direction, Story). In October 2020 as covid cases began to rise again, Mimi opted out of going to dinner with friends, and instead came across one of the greatest films of all time, "The Fisherman's Friends". Coming from a vibrant Irish family and community, and brought up through Irish dance and music, she was immediately inspired by the rich sound of the shanty and sea faring traditions. Mimi began to explore the music's history, and how it could ultimately end up on a musical theatre stage. Besides her deep love of shanties, Mimi was raised in the Philadelphia area, learned a whole lot in Boston, and currently lives in New York City. Mimi holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Directing from Emerson College. Mimi has an extensive background directing Musical Theatre, New Work, Plays, and Theatre for Young Audiences. She is drawn to directing stories that close the gap between humans. People can be born in different places at different times, live very different lives, but when they intersect on feelings, for her, that sweet spot, is what she wants to live in, and explore with people. In addition to being a freelance director, Mimi is a Co-Founder and the Programming Artistic Director of In Confidence, a social storytelling production company, and she is also the New Work Director with AMT Theater.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Our Story
The Chequerboard tells a story of sailors from different backgrounds, cultures, and races coming together to sail and complete a voyage. When the sailors reach their destination, they find themselves transformed by their odyssey, and minds opened by their shared humanity. We as team also come from different backgrounds, phases of life, and live in different cities around the world. While our initial goal was to bring this original story about a forgotten period of time to life, we have also realized along the way that our team reflects the very core of the story we are creating.
What is a Chequerboard Watch
A Chequerboard Watch was a mixed race sailing crew often made up of British, Irish, African, Caribbean, and Spanish sailors.
Our Sound
The Chequerboard Watch is a new original musical featuring original music with traditional shanties and work songs. It takes place on the sea where usual social constructs and rules are blurred, and what can be seen as weaknesses on land, are strengths at sea.
Our Purpose
Time has become one of the most valued currencies in modern day. As society turns more to technology as a means of connection, we may have lost the ability to reflect where the origins of our beliefs come from. The story of The Chequerboard Watch seeks to remind audiences of a time in history without distraction, where conversations were the bricks of people's ideologies and cultural exchange was the mortar.
Development & Producing Timeline
From November 2020 to January 2024 our team has been developing this idea, story, and script. We are now ready to take The Chequerboard Watch from page to stage, and share with audiences in 2024!
London Script and Music Development, March 2024: Our team will be traveling to London to work with our writer, Selena Seballo to finalize our music and script. We will also be traveling to ship docks, clipper ships, and hear sea shanties in their native country to make sure our story is as authentic as possible!
Philadelphia Reading, June 2024: We will be presenting our first full reading of The Chequerboard Watch with actors, musicians, and audiences in Philadelphia this June. We are excited to present this reading in a non traditional theater space, to expand the definition of where theater can be shared and presented.
New York City Reading, Fall 2024: We will be hold a traditional rehearsal process, and present a reading of The Chequerboard Watch in an off broadway theater.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Script Copyright & Legal Fees
Costs $1,000
Copyrighting a script is a way to legally protect the intellectual property rights of the script's creators
Talent Fees
Costs $3,500
As we prepare for our Philadelphia reading, we will need to hire talented actors, musicians, and a stage manager.
Creative Team Fees
Costs $6,500
We don’t have a show without our collaborators, writer, composer, and producers!
Post Production & Marketing Fees
Costs $1,800
We need to cover our "proof on concept" post production and editing fees!
Philadelphia Reading Space
Costs $2,500
We believe in presenting theatre in more accessible and familiar spaces. Help us cover our Philadelphia reading location and experience
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Selena Seballo (Book, Lyrics, Story). Selena is versatile artist hailing from Orlando, Florida, has established herself as a singer-songwriter, dramaturg, and playwright based in the United Kingdom. Her musical playwriting journey commenced in 2010 under the mentorship of Eugene O’Neil award-winning playwright Ken Eulo. Recognizing Selena's songwriting talents, Ken invited her to collaborate on "Paradise Walk," a play with music workshopped in 2012. This marked the beginning of Selena's exploration in the world of theatrical composition. Graduating with Merit from Goldsmith’s University in London, she holds a Masters Degree in Writing for Performance and Dramaturgy. In 2021, Selena served as the dramaturg for the workshop of the immersive musical "Whisper Darkly," a collaboration with DJ Salisbury and Andrew Gerle. Beyond the stage, Selena has ventured into podcast writing and currently contributes as the book and lyrics writer for "The Chequerboard Watch," showcasing her multifaceted creative prowess.
Jack Denman (Composer, Arrangements, Story) . Jack is our composer, arranger of all the shanties, and has contributed to the overall plot of the story. Jack is a Philadelphia-based music director, accompanist, composer, and musical theatre collaborator. After getting his B.M. in Music Education (Voice) from Temple University, Jack began working in both educational and professional settings including the Fulton Theater, Centre Theater, Temple University and University of Pennsylvania. Jack is thrilled to be writing with this incredible team and exploring how music is the language we share across borders.
Eyakeno Ekpo (Story). Eyakeno was one of the original collaborators on the project, and has contributed to the overall plot of the story. Eyakeno is a passionate storyteller, musician and performer. Born in Nigeria, emigrated with his family to USA and now making his way through life in Switzerland. His love for telling stories led him from graduate from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, onto performing on cruise ships and traveling the world, to finding love in Switzerland, to having the confidence to explore and create new stories through writing, music, and live performances.
Mimi Warnick (Conceived, Direction, Story). In October 2020 as covid cases began to rise again, Mimi opted out of going to dinner with friends, and instead came across one of the greatest films of all time, "The Fisherman's Friends". Coming from a vibrant Irish family and community, and brought up through Irish dance and music, she was immediately inspired by the rich sound of the shanty and sea faring traditions. Mimi began to explore the music's history, and how it could ultimately end up on a musical theatre stage. Besides her deep love of shanties, Mimi was raised in the Philadelphia area, learned a whole lot in Boston, and currently lives in New York City. Mimi holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Directing from Emerson College. Mimi has an extensive background directing Musical Theatre, New Work, Plays, and Theatre for Young Audiences. She is drawn to directing stories that close the gap between humans. People can be born in different places at different times, live very different lives, but when they intersect on feelings, for her, that sweet spot, is what she wants to live in, and explore with people. In addition to being a freelance director, Mimi is a Co-Founder and the Programming Artistic Director of In Confidence, a social storytelling production company, and she is also the New Work Director with AMT Theater.