The Earthlight Plan
July 1, 2020
Allan Mann, creator of the 1969-72 New Age stage revue company Earthlight (Earthlight. show), the one that saved the Woodstock Festival, has decided to do an Earthlight stage revival, video recording, Quick Bits for the internet, book, documentary film, animated film from old video recordings and possible feature film (The “Earthlight Revival Plan”). The book was originally planned to be released prior to the stage opening and the documentary released the day after the opening so that the opening can be used as the end of the film. All three would cross promote each other. However, due to the present unfortunate circumstances live stage performances will have to wait a bit, so Allan has decided to substitute an animated Earthlight show using original ½” B&W videotape recordings (that have been digitized) as templates for the new animated version. The originals would still be part of the documentary to be released after the animation debut.
Given that the world economy must move away from artificial material production based on ‘planned obsolescence,’ a major cause of climate change, and its increasing use of robo-tic production, we must move toward an economy based on artistic production which is the natural direction of human evolution, this could be a very profitable venture (see attached “Revenue Projections” (p 8). Earthlight is seeking working &/or investing partners. These do not have to be parties familiar with the entertainment business. This is an excellent opportunity for people in other lines of work or just out of school to get started in the enter-tainment business or for companies seeking to diversify. Since the world economy needs to be based less on material production, which is limited, and more on creative production, which is unlimited, the Earthlight Revival is an excellent opportunity to move human and capital resources in that direction. At least 5% of net revenues will endow a fund to supply tickets & negotiate deals for grade and high school students to attend or view professional performances of dance, theater, music, art galleries, museums, etc. to build the arts consumer base of the future.
There are 2 ways to approach this:
- Initiate a Title III Crowdfunding (pp 5 & 6) to fund the animated film and documentary and start production for the stage revival and video recording then pursue the Total Funding (page 7)
- Fund the Development Budget (p 7) to hire staff & facilities to begin work on all aspects of the revival with options to fund various costs by certain dates and have a creditable recording to use for additional funding or license to various outlets in whole or as Quick Bits for the internet.
Excerpts from reviews of Earthlight shows:
“… nothing less than pure, essential theater ” - L.A. Times, Frederic Milstein
“… the kind of experience that is rare in any theater… It is the style of each individual piece that really makes the show. Some have a verbal brilliance that suggest what Pinter or Joyce might have done if they had been born in this country.”
- Harvard Crimson, George Sim Johnston
“a near-perfect balance of theatrical tightness and free-form expression … the audience … comes as close to enjoying a total theatrical experience as it is ever likely to get.” - Queens College Phoenix, Pat Henry
“… excellent modern theater entertainment … Its effect is strong and leaves one feeling…HOPEFUL. It’s something everyone should see.” -The Stute (Stevens Inst. Of Technology), Bernard A. Mallon
“This is a superb musical legit offering which is honest, simple and moving ... It is excellent entertainment.” - Variety, Sege.
“…pure contemporary adrenaline…witty, deeply satirical, …a captivating piece with a lot for the mind in it.” - Red Deer Advocate (Alberta, Canada), Don Towers
“… this troupe … might well take the rock opera out of its rigid all-musical stages and add the dramatic element that is now lacking in the form. ‘Tommy’ and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ were fine starting points in the dark. Now let’s shed a little Earthlight on the matter.” - Cash Box, T. B.
“… ‘Earthlight’… is strictly on the beam …a corking good time … thoroughly enjoyable … musical sunburst and elastic warmth…” - NY Times, Howard Thompson
“After seeing their show several times now, I’m left with the same desire I felt after the first show – wanting each and every individual I know to see them. Their show is at once funny, serious, revealing and an artistic whole, and leaves me with a real, positive sense of human potential …”
- Kathy Patterson, Northwestern U. Symposium Speakers’ Committee
“... someone will eventually realize just how brilliant they are … magnificent simplicity ...”
- The Hollywood Reporter, Tony Lawrence
WHERE EARTHLIGHT PERFORMED
The company was formed in February, 1969 at Treehouse II, NYC.
April-Aug., 1969: Earthlight Theater (5 performances/wk), White Lake, N.Y.
July, 1969: Grossinger’s Hotel
Aug. 15-17, 1969: Woodstock Festival, White Lake, NY
Sept., 1969: Open Theatre, NYC.
Oct.-Nov., 1969:
Radio City Music Hall West (Fri. & Sat. nights), Hollywood;
Climax Discotheque (Thurs. nights), Hollywood;
Meredith Experimental Theatre, Hollywood;
Bullock's Christmas Party, L.A.
Dec., 1969-Dec., 1970: Earthlight Theater, Venice, CA - (6 performances/wk)
Clubs: The Fig, The Brass Ring, The Ash Grove, The Beach House, etc.
Events: Earthmother's Wedding; L. A. County, Youth Day; Renaissance Pleasure Faire, various charitable events, etc.
Jan., 1970:
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
April, 1970:
Earth Day, Union Sq., NYC;
Northwestern Univ., Rutgers Univ.,
New Brunswick, NJ
Nov., 1970:
Gracie Sq. Theatre, NYC (10 performances)
Oct-Nov.,1970:
Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
Fairleigh Dickinson Univ., Rutherford, NJ;
Notre Dame Univ., Notre Dame, IN;
Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO;
Wabash College., Crawfordsville, IN
Dec., 1970: Queens College, NYC
Dec., 25, 1970-March 21,1971:
The Garrick Theatre, NYC (7 performances/wk)
April-June, 1971:
Chaffey College, Alta Loma, CA;
Fitchburg College, Fitchburg, MA;
Portland State, OR;
Project Artaud, San Francisco (6 performances)
San Jose State, San Jose, CA
UCLA; UC Berkeley;
Washington St. Univ., Pullman, WA
Western Washington Univ., Bellingham, WA
Sept., 1971: Red Deer College, Alberta, Canada
Oct.-Nov., 1971:
Charles Playhouse,Boston (7 performances/wk)
Nov.,1971: Queens College, NYC
Feb., 1972:
The Unity Center Theater, NYC (7 performances)
March, 1972:
Colorado St. Univ.:
Univ. of Arizona
SEC Title III Crowdfunding Budget
for “EARTHLIGHT REVIVAL”
In accordance with Title III of the JOBS ACT the SEC adopted Regulation Crowdfunding in 2015, which allows businesses to approach prospective investors without filing a complete SEC offering registration, through financial companies (platforms) qualified by the SEC & FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority). The maximum offering is now $1,070,000 & investors must meet certain income/asset requirements. The offering will close as long as it meets the minimum budget (p 6).
9/16/2019
| PRODUCER | 2,500/wk | 16 wks | 40,000 | |
| EXECUTIVE PRODUCER | 20,000 | |||
| WRITER/DIRECTOR | 60,000 | |||
| MUSIC DIRECTOR | 30,000 | |||
| CASTING DIRECTOR | 10,000 | |||
| ASSOCIATE PRODUCER | 1,200/wk | 18 wks | 21,600 | |
| PRODUCTION MGR. | 2,200/wk | 12 wks | 26,400 | |
| PERFORMERS | 12 | 1,000/wk | 1 | 12,000 |
| PERFORMERS | 8 | 1,000/wk | 4 wks | 32,000 |
| MUSICIANS | 4 | 1,000/wk | 3 wks | 12,000 |
| THEATER | 30,000/wk | 4 wks | 120,000 | |
| MARKETING DIRECTOR | 2,200/wk | 8 wks | 17,600 | |
| INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIST | 1,600/WK | 8 WKS | 9,200 | |
| RESEARCHER | 1,400/wk | 6 wks | 8,400 | |
| ASSISTANT RESEARCHER | 1,000/wk | 6 wks | 6,000 | |
| SOUND EDITOR | 2,200/wk | 4 wks | 8,800 | |
| VIDEO EDITOR | 2,200/wk | 8 wks | 17,600 | |
| ASSISTANT EDITOR | 1,200/wk | 10 wks | 12,000 | |
| PRODUCTION ASSISTANT | 900/wk | 18 wks | 16,200 | |
| PRODUCTION ASSISTANT | 2 | 900/wk | 12 wks | 10,800 |
| ATTORNEY | 500/hr | 60 | 30,000 | |
| ACCOUNTANT | 250/hr | 30 | 7,500 | |
| TECHNICAL COSTS (video, sound, etc.) | 75,000 | |||
| OFFICE/REHEARSAL SPACE | 4,000/mo | 4 mos | 16,000 | |
| OFFICE EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES & UTILITIES | 1,200/mo | 4 mos | 4,800 | |
| ADVERTISING & PROMOTION | 100,000 | |||
| DISTRIBUTION | 75,000 | |||
| BOOK WRITER | 12,000 | |||
| SCREEN WRITER | 12,000 | |||
| TAXES/BENEFITS/INSURANCE/ETC. | 35,000 | |||
| FINANCING COSTS | 10,000 | |||
| MISCELLANEOUS | 40,000 | |||
| SUBTOTAL: | 907,900 | |||
| CONTINGENCY | 10% | 90,790 | ||
| SUBTOTAL: | 998,690 | |||
| CROWDFUNDING FEE | 7% | 69,908 | ||
| TOTAL: | $1,068,598 |
Minimum SEC Title III Crowdfunding Budget
for “EARTHLIGHT REVIVAL”
9/16/2019
| PRODUCER | 2,000/wk | 5 wks | 10,000 | |
| ASSOCIATE PRODUCER | 900/wk | 6 wks | 5,400 | |
| PRODUCTION MGR. | 1,600/wk | 3 wks | 4,800 | |
| MUSIC DIRECTOR | 6,000 | |||
| PERFORMERS | 10 | 200/day | 2 days | 4,000 |
| PERFORMERS | 8 | 900/wk | 2 wks | 14,400 |
| MUSICIANS | 3 | 900/wk | 2 wks | 5,400 |
| THEATER | 20,000/wk | 2 wks | 40,000 | |
| MARKETING CONSULTANT | 2,500 | |||
| RESEARCHER | 1,100/wk | 4 wks | 4,400 | |
| SOUND EDITOR | 2,000/wk | 2 wks | 4,000 | |
| VIDEO EDITOR | 2,200/wk | 4 wks | 8,800 | |
| ASSISTANT EDITOR | 900/wk | 4 wks | 3,600 | |
| PRODUCTION ASSISTANT | 900/wk | 5 wks | 4,500 | |
| PRODUCTION ASSISTANT | 900/wk | 2 wks | 1,800 | |
| ATTORNEY | 450/hr | 25 | 11,250 | |
| ACCOUNTANT | 250/hr | 12 | 3,000 | |
| TECHNICAL COSTS (video, sound, etc.) | 5,000 | |||
| OFFICE/REHEARSAL SPACE | 3,000/mo | 2 mos | 6,000 | |
| OFFICE EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES & UTILITIES | 700/mo | 2 mos | 1,400 | |
| ADVERTISING & PROMOTION | 30,000 | |||
| TAXES/BENEFITS/INSURANCE/ETC. | 15,000 | |||
| FINANCING COSTS | 5,000 | |||
| SUBTOTAL: | 196,250 | |||
| CONTINGENCY | 10% | 19,625 | ||
| SUBTOTAL: | 215,875 | |||
| CROWDFUNDING FEE | 7% | 15,111 | ||
| TOTAL: | $230,986 |
Development Budget for the “EARTHLIGHT REVIVAL”
8/3/2019
| PRODUCER | 2,500/wk | 18 wks | 45,000 | |
| EXECUTIVE PRODUCER | 10,000 | |||
| ASSOCIATE PRODUCER | 900/wk | 20 wks | 18,000 | |
| ALLAN MANN | 25,000 | |||
| PRODUCTION MGR. | 2,000/wk | 14 wks | 28,000 | |
| RESEARCHERS | 2 | $900/wk | 6 wks | $10,800 |
| MUSIC DIRECTOR | 10,000 | |||
| AUDIO EDITOR` | 2,000/wk | 3 wks | 4,000 | |
| VIDEO EDITOR | 2,000/wk | 4 wks | 8,000 | |
| ATTORNEY | 400/hr | 50 | 20,000 | |
| ACCOUNTANT | 250/hr | 30 | 7,500 | |
| TECHNICAL COSTS | 25,000 | |||
| OFFICE/REHEARSAL SPACE | 4,000/mo | 4 mos | 20,000 | |
| OFFICE EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES & UTILITIES | 1,000/mo | 4 mos | 4,000 | |
| CASTING DIRECTOR | 7,500 | |||
| PERFORMERS | 12 | 900/wk | 1 | 10,800 |
| PERFORMERS | 8 | 900/wk | 3 wks | 21,600 |
| MUSICIANS | 3 | 900/wk | 2 wks | 5,400 |
| PR FIRM | 10,000 | |||
| BOOK WRITER | 7,500 | |||
| SCREEN WRITER | 7,500 | |||
| TAXES/BENEFITS/INSURANCE/ETC. | 15,000 | |||
| FINANCING COSTS | 20,000 | |||
| SUBTOTAL: | 340,600 | |||
| CONTINGENCY | 10% | 34,600 | ||
| SALES COMMISSION | 8% | 27,200 | ||
| TOTAL: | $402,400 |
“EARTHLIGHT REVIVAL” Total Funding Needs
| PRODUCT | HIGH | LOW |
| Development | $402,400 | 402,400 |
| 1st Class* Stage Production | 2,000,000 | 700,000 |
| Video Recording & “Quick Bits” for the internet | 900,000 | 250,000 |
| Documentary | 1,500,000 | 400,000 |
| Book | 300,000 | 150,000 |
| Feature | 30,000,000 | 8,000,000 |
| TOTALS | $35,102,400 | 9,902,400 |
“EARTHLIGHT REVIVAL” Worldwide Gross*
Revenue Projections
The following Revenue Projections are based on: “Tommy” and ”Jesus Christ Superstar” were fine starting points in the dark. Now let’s shed a little Earthlight on the matter.” - CashBox (trade magazine) & other favorable comparisons to these shows and “Hair.”
3 yrs 10 yrs
| PRODUCT | HIGH | LOW | HIGH | LOW |
| Stage Productions | $ 40,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 200,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
| Video Recording & “Quick Bits” for the internet | 18,000,000 | 1,100,000 | 25,000,000 | 1,300,000 |
| Book | 20,000,000 | 900,000 | 30,000,000 | 1,200,000 |
| Documentary | 30,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 45,000,000 | 2,800,000 |
| Feature | 120,000,000 | 16,000,000 | 150,000,000 | 18,000,000 |
| Music Recordings | 35,000,000 | 1,100,000 | 40,000,000 | 1,200,000 |
| Ancillary Rights ** | 40,000,000 | 1,600,000 | 50,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
| TOTALS | $303,000,000 | 24,700,000 | 540,000,000 | 29,500,000 |
* gross revenues to producers & investors would probably be about 70% of these estimates, after costs & fees to distributors, theaters, talent, agents, etc.
** Ancillary Rights: merchandising, use of music in commercials, publication of the script, etc.
HELP NEEDED
RESEARCHERS:
- There’s a lot of material on Earthlight in various place in the US & Canada: photos, 8 & 16 mm film, B&W video of performances in theaters & parks; reviews, articles and people’s remembrances of what they saw & felt.
- Worldwide revenues of comparable products (i.e. Hair, Tommie, Jesus Christ Superstar) from TV, DVD, internet, stage performances, movie theaters, recordings, etc.
- Costs for theaters in Southern California and/or NY.
- Contact former Earthlighters to get their stories, memorabilia, etc. for use in the book and documentary & see if they would like to become involved in some manner.
- Gather information on prospective producers, agents, etc.
- Contact the people who wrote those glowing reviews, letters and articles about Earthlight to see if they would like to help this revival in some way.
- Contact all the places Earthlight played to gather materials we do not currently have & explore interest in booking new performances of Earthlight.
- Assist the Producer in finding writers for the book & screenplay
SOUND EDITOR/MIXER:
- “Sweeten” and edit the various audio and audio and video recordings of Earthlight shows to use for promotional purposes, the documentary and presentations to music companies.
- Record & sweeten sound for new video recording.
VIDEO EDITOR:
- Edit the existing B&W Earthlight recordings for promotional purposes and the documentary.
- Edit new video recording into a show that can be licensed to TV/Internet & sold directly.
- “Quick Bits:” edit individual pieces to license to purveyors of short entertainment pieces on the internet & as promotion for the various long form products.
PRODUCTION MANAGER:
- Research theaters and prepare budgets for possible stage openings in Southern California., NY and other venues
- Prepare budgets for book, documentary film & possibly feature film.
- Rent suitable space for Earthlight office and rehearsals.
- Research and interview the various craft people for stage and film production.
- Supervise casting
TECHNICAL COSTS:
- Transfer analog video, film & audio tape to Digital Video and transfer all digital video to Digital Videotape (DV) or Linear Tape-Option (LTO.
- Purchase computer hardware & software for budgeting, scheduling, writing, editing, etc
- Rent and/or purchase of audio and video hardware and software, lighting equipment, etc. so that a marketable video recording can be made whether or not funding for a theatrical opening, book or documentary film is secured.
OFFICE & REHEARSAL SPACE:
- Once Development funding is in place we will begin casting. It will take a few weeks to select 8 performers and begin creating a unique ensemble. If further financing for a 1st class production does not become available, a few performances will be put on wherever possible and recorded.
PRODUCER, hired or partnered to oversee all aspects of the revival including:
- Hiring and supervising all personnel,
- Negotiating deals with agents,
. Prepare list of possible venues for the revival opening & related costs.
- Explore coproduction and distribution possibilities, including music companies.
- Work with attorney & agent on possible deal with WB.
- Participate in casting with Director & Casting Director.
- Work with PR firm.
- Supervise preparation of detailed budgets for stage revival, tour, book & documentary film.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Liaison between financing & producing parties. Can be business person interested in learning the entertainment business. Referee, if necessary, between producer & director or other staff.
CASTING DIRECTOR: Place casting notices, organize & supervise the casting process, coordinate with agents & managers, deal with actors for certain things instead of director or producers.
MUSIC DIRECTOR: have lead sheets and arrangements mad, hire musicians and participate in selecting cast, making sure there are at least 2 great singers, supervise audio editor.
ALLAN MANN: will receive compensation for granting a nine (9) month option to purchase all rights to Earthlight material & his services as director.
PR FIRM: Need to figure out the best way to represent Earthlight to its mostly new audience.
WRITERS: Writers will be selected & given an advance to begin work on the book & screenplay.
Allan Mann
Allan began writing at the age of 8 with “Spot the Fire Dog” which his teacher thought he had plagiarized and his mother had to come to school to testify she had seen him write it. His interest in theater started in high school, Columbia Grammar & Prep. School in NYC, where he played the leads in “The Skin of Our Teeth” and “The Male Animal.” and won the Alden Award for best extracurricular activity for a chap book of poetry. Allan attended Columbia College where he acted with The Columbia Players, playing “Bamboola” in Isaiah Sheffer’s World Premiere of Eric Bentley’s “Pantegleize.” He began writing plays and was given a playwriting tutorial by Prof. Andrew Chiappe which led to a Universal Studios Fellowship for Dramatic Writing to attend graduate school in theater at Sarah Lawrence.
At Sarah Lawrence Allan studied improvisation with Viola Spolin and became fascinated with actor-created theater and wanted to create a show in collaboration with actors as his thesis project. Since Sarah Lawrence didn’t have an available theater he arranged to have a future show elsewhere considered for his thesis. Upon completion of his course work in June, 1966, Allan was hired by Motown Record Co. to start a theatrical division, which brought him to L.A. When his boss left to join CBS and Allan was out of a job he started The Realization Theater in North Hollywood and auditioned for and was selected to join the Workshop of the Committee, an improv comedy group at the Tiffany Theater, and performed with them on Monday nights. He became enthralled by the theatrical magic created by collaboration between actors, writers and director, seeing that as the basis for more than just comedy.
In the fall of 1968 Allan returned to NY to start a New Age stage revue company performing short pieces of various sorts, created by him and the actors in a storefront in Little Italy. In April, 1969 he brought the company to White Lake, NY to build a theater in a barn and perform a traditional summer stock season while continuing to work on original material. When the Woodstock Festival lost its venue, Allan arranged for them to come to White Lake and Earthlight was hired to create and perform theater pieces for the Festival and invited Swami Satchidananda to do the benediction. They then moved to L.A., establishing a successful theater in Venice and went on college tours. A performance at Rutgers in fall, 1970 was approved by Sarah Lawrence as his M.A. thesis project.
Earthlight incorporated the band Pure Love ‘n Pleasure in the summer of 1970, went on tour, opened off-Broadway at the Garrick Theater in December and ran for 5 months. The company then moved to Berkeley, CA & allied themselves with composer David B. Cohen to create a new show to go on tour while Allan returned to NY to cast a second company which opened at The Charles Playhouse in Boston in October, 1971. In the spring of 1972, he wrote a new show with composer Joel Mofsenson which played at the Unity Center in NYC for 2 weeks and went out on one last tour.
Feeling the need to expand his horizons, Allan returned to L.A. to learn to be a producer. Starting as a property master, he worked his way up to Line Producer on low-budget films becoming VP-In-Charge-of-Production for Trans World Entertainment. He was a member of the DGA 1984 Negoti-ating Committee, produced the film “Round Numbers” and successfully lobbied the U.S. Export Import Bank, on behalf of The American Film Market & Independent Feature Project, to insure payment on foreign sales contracts.
Allan always intended to revive Earthlight some day and, with the advent of the Woodstock 50th anniversary, has decided that that day has come.