Graham and Kristina Fuller Lean into Community for Theater Funding

Musical Title: Miss Manhattan: A New Musical

Budget: $45,000

Status: Currently in the midst of its premiere run at the Dairy Center in Boulder, Colorado. Tickets available on the website.

Brief Synopsis: MISS MANHATTAN is a new musical inspired by the true story of Audrey Munson, America’s “first supermodel,” whose often-nude statues adorn the New York City skyline. Allegedly cursed as a child, Audrey’s meteoric rise to fame meant brushing elbows with Rockefellers, Whitneys, and Astors, but her abrupt fall was punctuated by scandal and murder.  Why has Audrey been largely forgotten, despite her image enduring around the world? In modern day, precocious but awkward 8th grader Claire seeks to learn more about Audrey and what it means to be “beautiful.”

Sometimes it takes a village to bring a project together! Writer/composers Graham and Kristina Fuller recently did a big fundraising push for their current musical, Miss Manhattan: A New Musical, and here they share some community-oriented theater funding strategies that brought the project to life.

How did you approach funding for this project?

[Graham Fuller] Ticket sales should hopefully get us to about $15,000-20,000 in revenue. The remainder we have to come up with as we self-produce. We were given advice early on to produce it ourselves as long as possible.

We got a $5,000 Boulder Arts Commission grant, such a godsend! People should also know that you can apply for a $500 grant just to pay a grant writer. We got that $500 grant and used it to pay Rachel Halmrast, who helped us so much with our application, helping us to be successful getting the $5,000 grant.

We came up with a small portion of the ~$25,000 (between ticket sales and budget) via advertisement sponsors in our program.  We are fundraising the rest, and hosted a large event at a home in Niwot, Colorado in July. That event featured performances from the show, a silent auction (probably 20+ businesses generously provided items for bidders), and a paddle raise. The event, when all was said and done, raised over $20,000 toward our $25,000 goal.

Anne Terze-Schwarz as Audrey Munson in Miss Manhattan: A New Musical. Photo credit RDGPhotography.

Did you have theater funding in place before writing, or get funding together after you wrote the script? 

[GF] We've been writing since 2020, so we did not have funding in place until just the last two months or so. A leap of faith. 

What are some of the pros about funding this way? The cons?

[GF] Pros: We maintain total control of our vision and the process. Our community feels a sense of "buy-in" and integration into the process.

Cons: Thinking about money distracts from the creative process. It's stressful and time-consuming. At the end of the day, the buck stops with us in many different ways. It also is somewhat of a weird dynamic to be the writers, to be in the show, AND to be the producers. We try to make a very welcoming and calm, down to earth space, but I worry it makes the cast a little more on edge. 

What is your long-term vision for the project?  

[GF] We hope our Boulder production will be successful, and that we can learn some good lessons about how to improve the show for next time. Next, we'd love for either a local theater company in Colorado to produce the next step, or perhaps we'll skip straight to an NYC 29-hour reading process. A handful of NYC producers have already expressed interest in the piece. 

Full cast and band members for Miss Manhattan: A New Musical. Photo credit RDGPhotography.

Did you learn anything when it comes to theater funding and budgeting that you will do differently on your next project? 

[GF] A paddle raise, though awkward, was key for us (along with an excellent MC in Jonathan Singer who made the appeal). He helped us realize that if you don't ask, you won't get it. 

Were there any areas where you were able to call in favors/save money? What were those areas?

[GF] Some lovely friends offered us their home for the fundraiser, avoiding any venue costs. My parents formed the most amazing fundraising committee with Jonathan Singer and Christine Harrell, and they together were our MVPs. Our caterer offered us a discount for an ad placement in the program and publicity at the event itself. 

Any fun anecdotes you'd like to share? 

[GF] Not really, except we're having the best time in rehearsals. Our cast is just legit bonkers amazing. And we're getting to play with an 8 piece orchestra, which is kind of unheard of for musicals these days. It's bliss. 

What do you think people will be interested in knowing that I haven't asked?

[GF] I hope your audience will come check out the show! It runs September 19-28 at the Dairy Center in Boulder. Our goal is to write NYC-ready musicals and develop them here in Colorado, so we feel it is a special opportunity for the audience to come be part of building something from the ground up.

Thanks for sharing, Graham! Can't wait to see where this project takes you!

Miss Manhattan: A New Musical featured on Denver 9News

About Graham and Kristina Fuller

Graham and Kristina Fuller are an award-winning Colorado-based composing team. They've been creating and producing professional new musical theater in the Denver metro area and New York City since 2017. To date, they have four musicals in varying stages of development. Their first musical opened off -Broadway in 2024. When they aren't making theater, Graham is a busy civil litigation attorney and Kristina teaches a full vocal studio. They are consistently inspired by their two amazing children, ages 13 and 9. www.fullermusicals.com