© 2024 University of Hawai‘i Foundation, All Rights Reserved
Art by Devan Meinhart
The Cerulean Circle are an ancient and mysterious order whose ranks include aristocrats from some of Rookspireʻs most illustrious noble houses. The Circle uses their privilege and place in high society to infiltrate and carefully excise the evil forces festering in Rookspire. They are wary of wild, brazen upheaval, as all too often, theyʻve seen the innocent suffer alongside malefactors when chaos reigns supreme.
Every gift pledged to the Cerulean Circle supports our Conservatory Fund.
These coffers cover the crucial day-to-day needs our students (sometimes making sure they eat that day). Additionally, this fund mounts productions, takes the students to festivals, brings in world renowned guest artists to inspire and create with them, and covers the costs of our programsʻ most life-transforming experiences (such as our UK Study Abroad).
We have home-grown this first conservatory in the islands from nothing, with little official institutional support. Our official annually allotted budget when we began this work in 2012 was $300 per year. All that weʻve built comes from generous grantors and donors like yourself, as well as the kindly patronage of a few determined administrators who work hard to help us find grants and funding every single year.
Many of our most impactful projects of the past several years have happened by the very skin of our teeth. Please help us build this Conservatory Fund to supply a more sustainable resource for our studentsʻ experiences, so we can focus on them.
If youʻd like to know more about the programs youʻll be helping fund head over to our website and explore.
If you want to see the kinds of local artists youʻll be patronizing to come in and create with our students take a look, here.
If you are eager to give, please take a look at the exciting rewards below and their important impact in the “LEVEL UP!” section directly below. Your gift delivers with some pretty cool real-life and in-game impacts.
You get to choose from a thrilling menu of level options for your donation to the Conservatory Fund, and they all have a profound impact on our students’ experiences on our programs.
Each level has one or more exciting rewards attached as well.
You’ll get to affect the action in-game by providing advantage/inspiration boons, healing potions, radiant magical treasures, and even wishes.
You’ll also be able to get behind-the-scenes access to Nick’s adventure design behind the Red Raven, and attend online AMA sessions where he’ll reveal his treasured secrets of the Ancient Art of Dungeonmastery.
Maybe you’d like to be recognized as an official patron of the new Hawaiʻi Consevatory of Performing Arts, or perhaps christen a sword in our new armory with whatever awe-inspiring (or hilarious) name you choose? Maybe you’d even like to name a space in our conservatory for a dear loved one, or sage mentor?
Feast your eyes on these levels, adventurer!
Impact: You’ve snuck off to the forest and gathered food for a hungry student – we use this fund to feed our students often (and they are often in need!), and you’ve just made a healthy meal happen! Spread the word and make your gift go even further – no brave adventurer should ever go hungry!
Reward: You have bolstered our spirits and ensured our efforts are not in vain. If we reach 500 Familiar, or higher level, pledges (across both funds), Nick will schedule the next installment of “Mysterious Benefactors” and continue these live-streamed gaming events (with celebrity guests) for the viewing public to enjoy.
Impact: You’ve helped provide a prop, or costume piece, for one of our upcoming productions – we cast our students and alumni in all principal roles and you’re helping us make sure they have what they need to play their part with aplomb!
Rewards: You have purchased a “boon token” that either gives a player-character advantage on one roll (they get to roll twice and take the highest result), or gives them Inspiration (an additional attempt at a saving throw to shrug off a terrible condition or effect).
Impact: You are a shadowy benefactor who has registered a student for full participation in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival next year – they will gain tons of XP at the festival, thanks to your kind gift!
Rewards: You’ll be given access to all behind-the-scenes information on the design process behind the Red Raven adventure.
Additionally, you are hereby invited to attend one or more of a few live online “Ask Me Anything” gatherings with Nick Logue about his adventure design and/or the DM techniques he employs in his secret art. These seminars will take place one week after the event (Sunday April 8th) with a few time slots available to accommodate patrons in divergent time zones.
Impact: You’ve just hired a student to run a light/sound board or crew a production for a weekend – paying our students to learn by doing is one of our program’s secret recipes, and you are the alchemist mixing up the brew!
Rewards: You get the Shadowy Ally reward, but also you can provide a healing potion to any player-character of your choice (or leave it up to Nick). You’re chosen hero regains 2d8+2 hit points! Get them back in the fight!
Impact: Your powerful magic creates light, conjures sound, and weaves a spell over our audiences – you’ve provided us with a significant portion needed to pay for lighting, sound or another technical element of our productions!
Rewards: You get the Shadowy Ally Reward, and also get to offer a special magical boon (a spell effect of level 3 or lower) to your chosen hero.
You also be invited to the exclusive preview showing for every production in the 2023-2024 season and will be acknowledged in our programs as Patron of the Conservatory.
Impact: You have lent us your mighty sword and your donation has purchased fine steely blades to add to our armory for all our stage combat courses!
Rewards: You get the Enchanter Rewards, but also, we will send you the fight test videos of students using your blades in action, along with a thank you message.
Additionally, you’ll get to provide a player-character of your choice of a timely piece of magical loot that will give them a fighting chance against the rising tide of evil during the Red Raven.
Finally, you have the honor of naming one of the new blades you’ve provided for our armory. The name you choose for this magical weapon will be inscribed upon it for all time, and we’ll think of your generous donation every time we hand it out in class for battle!
Impact: You have fully covered all lodging for one student for the UK Footholds Shakespeare Study Abroad – they will soon be a fledgling Bard, whose oratory skills shall inspire courage and greatness in all those around them – all thanks to your generosity!
Rewards: You get the Bladesmaster Rewards, but also you get a one-on-one online get-together with Nick to talk-story about adventure design and games. During that get-together, you’ll get some previews of some pretty crazy unexpected twists coming in The Red Raven.
Additionally, you’ll receive a “thank you” and a personalized video performance of a Shakespeare sonnet of your choice by the student you’ve sponsored.
Impact: Let there be light! Call down thunderclaps and strange mists! You’ve provided for a skilled designer to help us weave magical illusions for one of our upcoming productions next season. Your powers create strange visions of distant worlds!
Rewards: You gain the Master Bard Rewards, and your name shall be added to every program for every show we produce for the next 5 years as one of the honored patrons of our students.
Additionally, you’ll get updates from the cast whose production costs you’ve sponsored throughout the semester so you can see your gift’s effect on their learning and training.
You’ll also work with Nick to grant a timely wish or miracle effect at a crucial moment in the tale of the Red Raven, changing crushing defeat into soaring victory!
Impact: From atop your hoard, you dole out lustrous gold and sparkling jewels to pay great bards to dance, sing and perform for your amusement!
You’ve fully funded several guest actors for an upcoming production – as these roles usually go to our alumni – you are their very first patron, ensuring they are paid a good wage for the first time to use their talents on stage!
Rewards: You gain the Archmage Ascendant Rewards. Your name shall be added as a Founding Patron of the Conservatory on our Founders Plaque to be installed at the commencement of our Fall 2023 Season.
Additionally, you’ll receive updates and messages from your sponsored student throughout the year and personal updates from Nick and Taurie as well.
Finally, Nick will help you design your next adventure or campaign in a series of online get-togethers (at least four get-togethers, each at least 1-hour in length).
Impact: You have conjured angels with great power to soar to our students aid and teach them their incredible skills. You have single-handedly covered all financial needs for one of our amazing guest artists for next season!
Rewards: You get the Great Gold Wyrm Rewards, additionally you’ll be invited to meet our guest artists next year at a few gatherings and get to know their work better on a personal level.
You’ll also get sneak peeks at the next installment of Mysterious Benefactors from its very inception, long before that episode is even announced.
Impact: By your vast benevolence, whole worlds are shaped into being. You are sponsoring an entire production next season – a campaign of learning and audience-joy wrought by your kind and generous powers.
Rewards: You get the Deity and Demigod Rewards, additionally, Nick will run an entire weekend of games (three sessions, minimum) for you and up three more friends (in each game, you can spread the love around if you like). If you live on the continent or abroad, Nick will fly out and stay nearby in a hotel to be on hand as your personal Dungeon Master, or run online (your preference)
Impact: You have created a whole multi-verse of learning for an entire cohort of students on our Foundation in Acting pathway, covering all production costs, festival trips, guest artists and the UK Footholds Study Abroad program in full. You have given these brave adventurers one of the best years of their lives, and ensured dozens of working artists are paid to create with them.
Rewards: You get the Dungeon Master rewards, additionally, we will name our principal training room and rehearsal space, the large Dance Studio in Hale Palanakila, or the Palikū Theatre second-floor lobby (first come, first choice) after you, or anyone you want to honor.
You have bolstered our spirits and ensured our efforts are not in vain. If we reach 500 Familiar, or higher level, pledges (across both funds), Nick will schedule the next installment of “Mysterious Benefactors” and continue these live-streamed gaming events (with celebrity guests) for the viewing public to enjoy.
You have purchased a “boon token” that either gives a player-character advantage on one roll (they get to roll twice and take the highest result), or gives them Inspiration (an additional attempt at a saving throw to shrug off a terrible condition or effect).
You’ll be given access to all behind-the-scenes information on the design process behind the Red Raven adventure. Additionally, you are hereby invited to attend one or more of a few live online “Ask Me Anything” gatherings with Nick Logue about his adventure design and/or the DM techniques he employs in his secret art. These seminars will take place one week after the event (Sunday April 8th) with a few time slots available to accommodate patrons in divergent time zones.
You get the Shadowy Ally reward, but also you can provide a healing potion to any player-character of your choice (or leave it up to Nick). You’re chosen hero regains 2d8+2 hit points! Get them back in the fight!
You get the Shadowy Ally Reward, and also get to offer a special magical boon (a spell effect of level 3 or lower) to your chosen hero. You also be invited to the exclusive preview showing for every production in the 2023-2024 season and will be acknowledged in our programs as Patron of the Conservatory.
You get the Enchanter Rewards, but also, we will send you the fight test videos of students using your blades in action, along with a thank you message. Additionally, you’ll get to provide a player-character of your choice of a timely piece of magical loot that will give them a fighting chance against the rising tide of evil during the Red Raven. Finally, you have the honor of naming one of the new blades you’ve provided for our armory. The name you choose for this magical weapon will be inscribed upon it for all time, and we’ll think of your generous donation every time we hand it out in class for battle!
You get the Bladesmaster Rewards, but also you get a one-on-one online get-together with Nick to talk-story about adventure design and games. During that get-together, you’ll get some previews of some pretty crazy unexpected twists coming in The Red Raven. Additionally, you’ll receive a “thank you” and a personalized video performance of a Shakespeare sonnet of your choice by the student you’ve sponsored.
You gain the Master Bard Rewards, and your name shall be added to every program for every show we produce for the next 5 years as one of the honored patrons of our students. Additionally, you’ll get updates from the cast whose production costs you’ve sponsored throughout the semester so you can see your gift’s effect on their learning and training. You’ll also work with Nick to grant a timely wish or miracle effect at a crucial moment in the tale of the Red Raven, changing crushing defeat into soaring victory!
You gain the Archmage Ascendant Rewards. Your name shall be added as a Founding Patron of the Conservatory on our Founders Plaque to be installed at the commencement of our Fall 2023 Season. Additionally, you’ll receive updates and messages from your sponsored student throughout the year and personal updates from Nick and Taurie as well. Finally, Nick will help you design your next adventure or campaign in a series of online get-togethers (at least four get-togethers, each at least 1-hour in length).
You get the Great Gold Wyrm Rewards, additionally you’ll be invited to meet our guest artists next year at a few gatherings and get to know their work better on a personal level. You’ll also get sneak peeks at the next installment of Mysterious Benefactors from its very inception, long before that episode is even announced.
You get the Deity and Demigod Rewards, additionally, Nick will run an entire weekend of games (three sessions, minimum) for you and up three more friends (in each game, you can spread the love around if you like). If you live on the continent or abroad, Nick will fly out and stay nearby in a hotel to be on hand as your personal Dungeon Master, or run online (your preference).
You get the Dungeon Master rewards, additionally, we will name our principal training room and rehearsal space, the large Dance Studio in Hale Palanakila, or the Palikū Theatre second-floor lobby (first come, first choice) after you, or anyone you want to honor.