Find us on the HIGH 5 REVIEW!

heyo,

Quick update on this blog.... and where to go in the future for updates.....

As of today, this blog will remain here to redirect people and as an archive, but we won't be updating it anymore. We are happy to announce the building of our new online arts-paper --- The High 5 Review (www.high5review.org). There will be a TRaC section in the newspaper that will pick up where this blog left off. Expect weekly posts about TRaC ongoings, TRaC reviews, event announcements, and much much more!


Events like first friday Pizza and a Movie Nights will continue to be announced on Facebook (become a fan of High 5 here) and the High 5 Review.   Both will have updates for free tickets to shows, news about special TRaC events, and random posts about random arts opportunities for teens.

And if you're not on High 5's e-mail newsletter, you're missing out on new shows, reviews and event announcements every week! Sign up here to get the inside beat on all things art in the city: www.high5tix.org/mailinglist

We'll see you out there at the shows!
(and on the High 5 Review)

Apply for spring Theater TRaC!

Applications for spring Theater TRaC are now available for eligible high school students at www.high5tix.org/TRaC.

Come together with people from different backgrounds and schools who want to explore the arts and sharpen their critical eye.  Imagine yourself and these 12 peers attending world-class performances, meeting professional artists and critics, and breaking it down in weekly two-hour workshops.  All while improving your writing!

What else will you do in Theater TRaC?

• Attend at least 5 performances
• Experience the NYC arts world with behind-the-scenes access
• Learn from high-profile professional artists and critics
• Expand your critical writing and dialogue skills
• Publish reviews read by thousands
• Meet like-minded peers from all over NY and NJ
• Master New York City’s public transportation system
• Discover more about yourself!

ArtsConnection/High 5 partners with the Public Theater to bring you the best in theater from around the city.  The Theater TRaC schedule is as follows* (subject to change):

TRaC Kickoff Party, 4:30 - 6:15, March 16

8 Classes on Wednesdays @ 520 Eighth Ave, 3rd Floor & 20th Floor, 4:30 - 6:30

March 17, March 24, (off March 31 for Winter Break)
April 7, April 14, April 21 (off April 28 for Spring Break)
May 5, May 12, May 19
+ the 5 or 6 performances TBD

The TRaC Finale, 2:00 - 4:00, May 22

Download a TRaC flier and application today at www.high5tix.org/TRaC.  Or attend our Open House on February 25th to get more information.  Applications are accepted on a first come, first served basis.  (Yes, all former TRaC participants may take another TRaC class.  Yes, you must resubmit an application).


Applications are due on March 4th.

C. West on Music

http://colinresponse.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/cornel-west-on-music/

Music at its best…is the grand archeology into and transfiguration of our guttural cry, the great human effort to grasp in time our deepest passions and yearnings as prisoners of time. Profound music leads us–beyond language–to the dark roots of our scream and the celestial
heights of our silence.

-Cornel West

The Brothers Size - Sunday!

I am SO HAPPY to tell you that we have snagged tix for Part 2 of Tarell McCraney's THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 6 at the Public Theater. 425 Lafayette.

Meet there at 6:40 pm.

Clear your calendars and prep your parents. This is our final show of the session, and I could not be more thrilled that they made tix available to us!

Fela!

His Passion Ignited a Generation.
His Music Fueled a Revolution.
His Legacy Inspires the World. 

 

This Wednesday we're in for a treat!  Immediately after class we'll be heading to the Eugene O'Neill Theatre for the brand new Broadway Musical FELA!


To prepare you for the experience of the show, a little bit about the show, the man, and more, all from the show's website.....


What is Fela! about, you ask?  

FELA! is a new musical directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Bill T. Jones, with a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones, in which audiences are welcomed into the extravagant, decadent and rebellious world of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti. Using his pioneering music (a blend of jazz, funk and African rhythm and harmonies), FELA! explores Kuti's controversial life as artist, political activist and revolutionary musician. Featuring many of Fela Kuti's most captivating songs and Bill T. Jones's imaginative staging, this new show is a provocative hybrid of concert, dance and musical theater.

Who is Fela?

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, a pioneer of Afrobeat music, a human rights activist and a political maverick. He is ranked among the world’s most influential musicians.   Read a full bio of the man here.

Where is the theater and how long's the show?

The Eugene O'Neill Theatre
230 West 49th Street (between 7th and 8th Ave)
New York, New York
8pm - 10:45pm

Learn more about the show on the website:  www.felaonbroadway.com

Here's some real footage of Fela playing, his dancers dancing....

Article about Tarell

 

From the New York Times:
Writer Digs Up Gods From the Bayou
by PATRICK HEALY

(To the right:  the playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney at the Public Theater.  Photo by Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times.) 


The article begins:

TARELL ALVIN McCRANEY enters. Miami, 1980s. He is a boy growing up in the Liberty City housing projects, among the nation’s worst. He stays with his father and grandparents on some nights. They feed him peanut butter and jelly, and he is content. They are devout Baptists and fill up the boy with God’s stories, and he is content.

On other nights the boy stays with his mother. She is a crack addict with an abusive lover, with unpaid bills. Now and then the electricity is cut off. Now and then the boy is picked on by other boys for being gentle, shy, quiet. Still the boy is content; he loves his mother. She moves them to another project to give the boy a fresh start. Three years later a hurricane named Andrew hits their home, destroys everything. They return to Liberty City. The mother checks herself into rehab. Some years later, when the boy is a man of 23 and his mother is 40, she dies of an AIDS-related illness.

This is Mr. McCraney’s own story, and this is the kind of language — terse and unsentimental — that has helped make him a playwright of uncommon acclaim. His prose is as raw as his subject matter: children growing up without parents, teenagers searching for their identities, adults holding on to hope. Most of his characters are poor and jobless, and some die suddenly. And their dialogue takes a distinct form: The actors often drop out of character to describe their stage directions aloud — “Ogun Size enters” — to make the theatergoers feel they are not so much watching a play as they are sharing in every banal and beautiful line of a story that the cast and the author are unfurling.

 Continue reading  the article at the New Times website....here.

In The Red & Brown Water

Wednesday, November 4th - our 3rd show......

In the red & Brown Water

 

Meet at the Public Theater @ 7:40 pm

425 Lafayette Street

Playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney will speak with us!

Meet Tarell Tomorrow

I have heard back from Tarell, the author of IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER, that he would love to meet you people. He doesn't know yet if it will be before or after the show. Mostly likely AFTER - so please get permission from your folks! We do not want to miss this! Show will come down around 10pm, talk should be over AROUND 10:30 pm.

Tarell is the most celebrated twenty-something playwright in America at this time, and an inspired, inspiring person. For one of MANY articles on the guy:

http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821194805596

Over and out,

Karen

well, as some of you may know i work for an HIV/AIDS awareness non profit organization. this is jus a quick post and blog on an even; come check the talent and inspiration out!!!

here the info if the flyer is too confusing;
Date:Friday, October 23, 2009 Time:4:00pm - 6:35pm Location:BROOKLYN SOCIETY FOR ETHICAL CULTURE 53 Prospect Park West @ 2nd StreetDescription Spread Love its the BROOKLYN WAYYYYY : YO, IF YOU LIKE MUSIC, DANCING, AND LITTLE BIT OF POETRY HIT UP THE OPEN MIC WE GOT YOU COVERED!!!! "SPREAD LOVE ITS THE BROOKLYN WAY" THE CONDOM PACKAGING AND PROTECTION FROM HIV/AIDS *YES REFRESHMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED

CREATURE

Your second performance is scheduled to follow your third class on October 28th!
Immediately following class you'll head downtown together to the OHIO THEATER to see the latest New Georges production....

CREATURE

a new play by Heidi Schreck
directed by Leigh Silverman

with  Marylouise Burke, Darren Goldstein, Sofia Jean Gomez,
Will Rogers, Tricia Rodley and Jeremy Shamos


The OHIO THEATRE 
66 Wooster Street, Soho
between Spring & Broome streets
N/R to Prince; C/E to Spring; any train to Canal


About the show:  After being pestered by devils for more than half a year, Margery Kempe* – new mother, mayor’s daughter, and proprietress of a highly profitable beer business – is liberated from her torment by a vision of Jesus Christ in purple robes. 

Visions are hard to come by, even in 1401.  Should we trust the new Margery, with her fasting and her weeping and her chastity fixation, or burn her with the other heretics?  Can a woman of insatiable appetites just up and audition for sainthood? 

Playwright and OBIE-winning actor Heidi Schreck conjures a collision of contemporary and medieval imaginations: a very funny, a little bit scary new play about faith and its messengers. 

County of Kings

Immediately following your first class, you'll head down to The Public Theater together for your first show!  The Public Theater is located at 425 Lafayette Avenue, just below Astor Place.  The closest trains are the N, R, W and 6.  The B, D, F, and V are also close by!

Half Puerto Rican.

Half Norwegian.
Two-time felon.
One Hell of a show.

Academy Award nominated director Spike Lee, Culture Project, Steve Colman, Jayson Jackson, and Tom Wirtshafter in association with The Public Theater present:

County of Kings  Written and performed by Lemon Andersen, and developed and directed by Elise Thoron, County of Kings begins performances Tuesday, September 29 for a six week limited engagement at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street.

Featured earlier this year as part of The Public Theater’s Under The Radar Festival, Lemon Andersen’s County of Kings gives a tough, yet poignant autobiographical account of a good kid growing up in an unforgiving environment. Lemon, whose parents met at a methadone clinic and passed away from AIDS, served two prison sentences before he was 21 and won a Tony before he turned 30. His on-stage memoir touches on young love, the birth of hip hop, slinging crack, ballet, stealing car parts, prison, and poetry as he takes the audience on an astonishing and surprising one-man journey toward self-discovery. Weaving hard-edged drama with urban poetry, the Brooklyn born and bred performer tells his coming-of-age story with profound honesty, compassion and humor. A true story of finding passion in the arts and finding one’s way, Lemon paints a vivid portrait of his own life and the lives of countless other Brooklynites during the 1980s and 1990s.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Lemon Andersen has been featured as a regular on HBO’s “Def Poetry” presented by Russell Simmons and was also an original cast member and writer of Russell Simmons Tony Award winning Def Poetry Jam on Broadway. On screen Lemon has appeared opposite Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s Inside Man and The Soloist starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.

Theater TRaC begins!

And you begin with a bang.  The first day of class you will meet Karen Hartman, your intrepid instructor for the fall (that's her over there on the right--->).  Not only is she a fantastic teacher, she's also a professional playwright.  Check out her bio here.   You'll also be meeting one another and getting right into what we're here to do.... talk theater and art!  And if that isn't enough, right away you'll be off to your first show called COUNTY OF KINGS at the Public Theater!

Action packed.

So, here's directions so you know where to go for your workshops every week.

DIRECTIONS to the Teachers & Writers Collaborative: 
520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 2020
New York, NY 10018
map it here.

The easiest way is to take the A, C, or E train to 34th Street, then walk up 8th Ave to building #520.  We're inbetween 36th and 37th Street.  Look for the revolving door.  Take the elevator to the 20th floor and head towards Suite 2020.  Look for the glass doors and tables and chairs.

The building looks like this:


...but that's kind of what all old New York buildings look like, so just look for the number and the revolving door.


Happy first day!

Youth Venture's Blog :: Join the Movement!: Moments of Inspriation

Youth Venture's Blog :: Join the Movement!: Moments of Inspriation

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Re: Last class on Wednesday!

Thanks, Julia! This looks amazing.
Karen

On Fri, May 15, 2009 at 10:57 AM, Julia McGill <jools_@hotmail.com> wrote:
> http://www.publictheater.org/content/view/131/226/
>
> For anyone that's interested! It's a lot of fun.
>
> "Are you a creative-minded teenager attending a PUBLIC SCHOOL in one of New
> York City's five boroughs?  Are you interested in the arts, theater,
> performing, and poetry? Do you enjoy meeting new people and making life-long
> friends? Are you looking for something rewarding and fun to do during your
> summer break that's FREE?
>
> Students who complete this program will have the opportunity to:
>
> PERFORM onstage for family and friends;
> JOIN Summer ShakeUp on July 10, a special one-day event at the famous
> Delacorte Theater in Central Park, home of the world renowned Shakespeare in
> the Park.  Summer ShakeUp includes an exclusive backstage tour of the
> theater, workshop with Public Theater Artists, and lunch - ALL for free;
> Get two FREE tickets to see a Public Theater summer production without
> having to wait in line! *Subject to avail."
>
>
>> Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 20:29:17 -0400
>> Subject: Last class on Wednesday!
>> From: khartman@aya.yale.edu
>> To: achiilee@tmail.com; karenheart.trac@blogger.com
>> CC: arielkay@gmail.com; daniel.kadyrov@gmail.com;
>> dramaprincess777@yahoo.com; ichilds5@gmail.com; jennigirl1024@aol.com;
>> jodie54@live.com; jools_@hotmail.com; Lilbri1six5@aim.com;
>> nikkizdodd@gmail.com; roxygurl4193@yahoo.com; Tamarpaoli@gmail.com;
>> aliciacproto@gmail.com; eost@high5tix.org
>>
>> Sob - I will miss you all!
>>
>> But we have one more gathering (before the TRaC Finale, that is) -
>> Wednesday at 4:30 pm.
>>
>> Reminder, your last assignment is another Explode-a-Moment - but this
>> time write about a moment in these last two months of TRaC. A moment
>> that has stayed with you (in class, or at a performance, or in
>> conversation with a guest or even with each other).
>>
>> Send to me in advance if you can (up to 2pm on Wednesday is ok).
>>
>> See you Wednesday!
>>
>> Karen
>
> ________________________________
> check out the rest of the Windows Live™. More than mail–Windows Live™ goes
> way beyond your inbox. More than messages

RE: Last class on Wednesday!

http://www.publictheater.org/content/view/131/226/
 
For anyone that's interested! It's a lot of fun.
 
"Are you a creative-minded teenager attending a PUBLIC SCHOOL in one of New York City's five boroughs?  Are you interested in the arts, theater, performing, and poetry? Do you enjoy meeting new people and making life-long friends? Are you looking for something rewarding and fun to do during your summer break that's FREE? 
 
Students who complete this program will have the opportunity to:

• PERFORM onstage for family and friends;
• JOIN Summer ShakeUp on July 10, a special one-day event at the famous Delacorte Theater in Central Park, home of the world renowned Shakespeare in the Park.  Summer ShakeUp includes an exclusive backstage tour of the theater, workshop with Public Theater Artists, and lunch - ALL for free;
• Get two FREE tickets to see a Public Theater summer production without having to wait in line! *Subject to avail."

 
> Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 20:29:17 -0400
> Subject: Last class on Wednesday!
> From: khartman@aya.yale.edu
> To: achiilee@tmail.com; karenheart.trac@blogger.com
> CC: arielkay@gmail.com; daniel.kadyrov@gmail.com; dramaprincess777@yahoo.com; ichilds5@gmail.com; jennigirl1024@aol.com; jodie54@live.com; jools_@hotmail.com; Lilbri1six5@aim.com; nikkizdodd@gmail.com; roxygurl4193@yahoo.com; Tamarpaoli@gmail.com; aliciacproto@gmail.com; eost@high5tix.org
>
> Sob - I will miss you all!
>
> But we have one more gathering (before the TRaC Finale, that is) -
> Wednesday at 4:30 pm.
>
> Reminder, your last assignment is another Explode-a-Moment - but this
> time write about a moment in these last two months of TRaC. A moment
> that has stayed with you (in class, or at a performance, or in
> conversation with a guest or even with each other).
>
> Send to me in advance if you can (up to 2pm on Wednesday is ok).
>
> See you Wednesday!
>
> Karen

---

check out the rest of the Windows Live™. More than mail–Windows Live™ goes way beyond your inbox. More than messages

Talking with Eisa Davis

I couldn't have been happier to have you guys over at Multi TRaC two weeks ago....

Way to take what you deserve! Never settle! Stand up against injustice! Demand equal speaking time with the playwrights you wish to talk to!

Really, that was just fantastic. :)

Here is the proof of your iron will: http://multitrac.blogspot.com/2009/05/talking-with-eisa-davis.html

Last class on Wednesday!

Sob - I will miss you all!

But we have one more gathering (before the TRaC Finale, that is) -
Wednesday at 4:30 pm.

Reminder, your last assignment is another Explode-a-Moment - but this
time write about a moment in these last two months of TRaC. A moment
that has stayed with you (in class, or at a performance, or in
conversation with a guest or even with each other).

Send to me in advance if you can (up to 2pm on Wednesday is ok).

See you Wednesday!

Karen

Re: Wednesday - Deb Laufer and ANGELA'S MIXTAPE

Hello all,

Our fifth and final show will be a musical work!

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

at the Public Theatre Wednesday May 6.  We'll meet at the Public, 425
Lafayette, at 7:40 pm, so there will be time for a quick dinner break
after class.

The show will be over around 9:30 pm.

See you there!

If you will be absent, please e-mail me asap so I can release your ticket.

Tomorrow in class we will be working on REVISION - so bring a piece
you'd like to work on further. 4 copies if you can.

See you all at 4:30.

Karen

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

Hello All,

Our fifth and final show will be a musical work!

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

at the Public Theatre Wednesday May 6.  We'll meet at the Public, 425 Lafayette, at 7:40 pm, so there will be time for a quick dinner break after class.

The show will be over around 9:30 pm.

See you there!