American Psycho producers launch ‘Kickstarter’ campaign to raise extra funds

The show, adapted from the 1991 novel by Bret Easton Ellis, is composed by Tony and Olivier-Award winner Duncan Sheik (Spring
Awakening) with a book by playwright Roberto
Aguirre-Sacasa (Glee, Spiderman). It’s directed by incoming Almeida artistic director Rupert Goold.

The campaign follows Easton Ellis’ first Kickstarter campaign for his film The Canyons, an erotic thriller starring Lindsay Lohan that is due to open later this year.

Production company Act 4 Entertainment aims to raise $150,000 in “enhancement money” by 24 May. The additional funds will, according to press material, “allow for an extended seven-week rehearsal period, in addition to enhancing production values and hiring live musicians”.

Individuals who donate a minimum of $5 through the Kickstarter website
will be able to download “You Are
What You Wear”, one of Sheik’s songs from the production. Additional
packages include more demos from American Psycho,
as well as t-shirts,
limited edition prints and signed copies of Ellis’ original novel.

Jesse Singer of Act 4 Entertainment said: “We chose Kickstarter because
of its ability to generate excitement and build a new community around
our production. There is already an expansive and dedicated fan base
surrounding American Psycho – we really built this campaign with these
fans in mind.”

Billed as “a bloody satire”, American Psycho tells the
story of Wall Street trader and self-possessed serial killer Patrick
Bateman, who is living the high life in 1980s Manhanttan – buying the
most expensive designer clothes, eating at the most exclusive
restaurants, partying at the hottest clubs … and indulging in much
darker transgressions privately.

The novel has sold more than 1.6 million copies worldwide. The 2000 film adaptation starred Christian Bale as Bateman.

American Psycho runs at the Almeida from 12 December 2013 to 25 January 2014 (previews from 3 December).