We need your help to develop DSM: The Musical!
A transformative play set in a locked mental health unit during 9/11, DSM is written and composed by psychiatric survivor Kerry Westell inspired by his own lived experience. DSM has received the incredible opportunity of a ten day workshop with a dynamite team of theatre professionals culminating in a free public presentation at CAMH Auditorium January 17, 2025. But we need your help to make it happen!
Kerry, along with veteran dramaturg Kate Lushington, visionary director Mitchell Cushman and brilliant musical director James Smith, have together formed an independent ad hoc group, The Sunflowers Collective, to produce the workshop. And you can be part of the team.
While we received a generous grant of $14,000 from the Toronto Arts Council and donations of free rehearsal and performance space from Aluna Theatre and Workman Arts (thank you), we still need to raise another $5000 by January 4.
The show requires six professional actor-singers playing 14 roles. Along with artist fees for the actors and the creative team, we need to rent a keyboard, copy scripts and music and pay our stage manager and graphic designer; to pay for high quality audio documentation - and to hire an Accessibility Support Worker for Kerry, to help him navigate the intensive demands of the rehearsal and rewrite process.
We are now reaching out to our communities far and wide to help cover our shortfall and bring DSM to its full potential. Every donation helps, no matter how small! Your contribution will ensure that every professional artist, technician and support person working on this project will be paid a living wage. You will secure a personal invitation to the presentation on January 17, including a Q & A with the participants. And you will know that you have made the ongoing development of this important musical possible - this workshop presentation is key to a full production for a wider audience!
"The potential impact of this project cannot be overstated... DSM: The Musical promises to challenge stereotypes and bring a nuanced, layered and deeply humanistic lens to an area that touches almost everyone’s life in some way... " Dr Eloise Ballou, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, clinician-teacher and mental health consultant for the workshop.
Please donate today and share widely with your friends and contacts. Thank you so much for joining the DSM supporter team!
