Urban Arts Partnership's Master Poets program is a collection of UAP's most dedicated poets, lyricists and songwriters.  Throughout the year they have committed themselves to using their voices to raise awareness about issues in their community and to advocate for change not only in their own lives, but in the greater world beyond.  Over a 3-week intensive summer session held at Dixon Place Theater  in the L.E.S., the Master Poets have been working to record a full-length album comprised of both original poems and songs.  The program also worked in partnership with The Hip Hop Re:Education Project to give these young artists the opportunity to critically consider the specific crafts of writing, recording and performance.  Recently, students visited The Hook Studio in Brooklyn to work on their recordings, and were joined by UAP Artistic Board member and hip hop artist Pharoahe Monch.  Students had the opportunity to work with Pharoahe in the studio, as well as to discuss his career, inspirations and creative process.      

The final showcase exhibition, "The Summer Sessions," will be held Thursday, August 11 from 4pm - 7pm at the Dixon Place Theater in The Lounge.  This event is open to the public and free!  Please come out and support these future ARTivists!  You will not be dissappointed!

“We’re working on original individual pieces- raps, songs or poems.  We’re now working on recording, either acapella or to a beat.  We write about things like love, family, relationships, being hurt, and things that we try to change or fight against.  It’s great to be able to have the experience in a real studio to record with a well-known MC.  I’m excited to be a student in the Master Poets class.” – Genesis, 12th grade 


“We’re making an album and we will also perform later this month.  I chose to do a poem for my piece.  Recording is the hardest part for me, because I have a hard time hearing the sound of my own voice.  Being in the studio has helped me get comfortable and get over being nervous.  I liked when we did the doubling (vocal overdubbing).  It makes the sound stronger so the audience can hear it and respond to the emotion more.  It helps you to pinpoint the most important parts of your piece.  I like to write about what’s going on- how the world has changed, how things have gotten better and not only worse.  I like to write about how struggles and hardships make things better.  This is the first time I’ve really done poetry.  I used to write, but I thought it sucked.  The class really helped me.  Poetry is a good way to get your thoughts and emotions out, and I think it’s beneficial for a lot of teens.” – Petra, 11th grade


“I always wrote rhymes and verses, and I wanted to learn more about how to take it further and add on to what I’ve been doing.  I write about whatever comes to mind.  I get ideas when I’m on the train, or at home or watching TV, and then I write it down.  I want to have a voice, and to have the opportunity to voice emotions through my rhymes.  It’s surreal to be in the studio and see how real artists create.” – Steven, 12th grade

Students in the Life Stories Youth Ensemble recently performed at the Lucille Lortel Theater to debut seven new original plays created by their peers in the Naranjo-Golder Playwriting program.  Developed during the winter and spring through the advanced playwriting program, these new works represent the unique voices of our young playwrights.  The plays explored a wide range of themes, including love and relationships, family struggles, mental illness and issues around identity.  We are proud of all the hard work of the playwrights and the actors to bring to these works to the stage for an audience for the first time.   

To view more photos from the performance, please check out the

Rated (R)eal - Life Stories and Playwriting album on Facebook.

THE NEW GROUP and URBAN ARTS PARTNERSHIP present

Rated (R)eal

DIRECTED BY: IAN MORGAN AND JULIA GROB

TWO SIDED GIRL
By Petra Wimer
Mercedes Alvarez…………………………………………………………………Sam
Devin Mojica…………………………………………………………………………Andre
Kayla Robinson………………………………………………………………………Idesebal

BROKEN
By Sarwat Siddiqui
Jorge Garzon………………………………………………………………………Yasser
Genesis Urena……………………………………………………………………Janine
Petra Wimer………………………………………………………………………Aqsa

FINAL ROUND
By Lorenzo Jackson
Isaiah Alicea………………………………………………………………………Justin
Stephanie Diaz……………………………………………………………………Yvette
Devin Mojica………………………………………………………………………Derrick

PANICA
By Anthony Naranjo
Isaiah Alicea…………………………………………………………………………Johnny
Maxine Batchler…………………………………………………………………Conner
Lorenzo Jackson……………………………………………………………………Jack

MIRACLES
By Anurahda Golder
Sydney White…………………………………………………………………Laura
Hannah Dahm…………………………………………………………………Nurse
Anthony Naranjo……………………………………………………………Javier

THERAPIST
By Jorge Garzon
Sydney White………………………………………………………………………Lisa
Hannah Dahm………………………………………………………………………Stacey

OH COMMITMENT
By Genesis Urena
Haskiri Velazquez…………………………………………………………………Cassie
Stanley Mercedes…………………………………………………………………Father
Anthony Naranjo.…………………………………………………………………Aiden

Media Lab: Week 2

22 Jul 2011, 5:08 PM by frank, Urban Arts MediaLab

 

My name is Eduardo, I am a rising Junior at Gregorio Luperon High School in Washington Heights. I arrived from the Dominican Republic two years ago when I was 15-years-old. This is my second year in Media Lab – it has been a good experience for me because I am improving my skills in video production. I have taken on the roles of cinematographer (the camera operator) and editor. For Undocumented and Unafraid, I have been the main cinematographer for “Camera A”, which captures the principle photography and some B-roll. During the past week, we have been working hard on production for Undocumented and Unafraid.

 

In the beginning of the week, we visited Melissa at Lehman College, where she is a sophomore in Psychology and Sociology. Our interview focused on her experience as an undocumented student. She shared with us the importance of education (especially for undocumented youth) and the importance of the government passing the DREAM Act. Later in the week, we started capturing lyrical shots for the film – this is footage that very poetic and experimental and will be intercut with the more traditional footage of the interviews. 

On Wednesday, we wrote and recorded voiceover – this is audio recording of soundbytes that will be edited in the beginning of Undocumented and Unafraid. Each student from the class participated and read different statements about being undocumented. In addition, we went to Jackson Heights (in 100 degree weather!!) Here, we met Melissa in Little Columbia, where she took us to her favorite Columbian restaurant and ate arepas and yucas fritas. She spoke about the importance of food in Columbian culture and how the food and restaurants in her community take her back to her roots. We then shot b-roll of the neighborhood, capturing the diversity of people in the street and the diversity of the shops and restaurants along the sidewalks. 

We have one more week to finish the production for Undocumented and Unafraid and I am excited to continue to challenge myself and improve my skills as a cinematographer. 

 

My name is Leneya and my first day of MediaLab was Monday, July 11. The first two days we learned the basics of documentary production and researched our documentary topic: Undocumented Youth. I learned the roles of script supervising and set design. My classmates learned how to operate the digital video cameras, the still camera, the lights, the sound equipment, how to set up a shoot and be directors and producers.

The third day, we went to The New York State Youth Leadership Council  which is the only undocumented youth led organization in NY that works on improving access to higher education and creating equal opportunity for immigrant youth and children of immigrants regardless of immigration status through leadership, development, organizing and advocacy. They are working on passing the NY Dream Act, a bill that if passed will allow immigrant youth who have grown up in the US to access to state funded financial aid programs, obtain financial support for their education, ability to enroll in health insurance programs, access to NY state drivers license and equal access to any and all internships. We went there to interview one of their youth leaders, who is a Columbian born undocumented college student at Lehman college, named Melissa. It took us 45 minutes to set up the shoot and make Melissa feel comfortable. As the set designer, I chose the sign that would fit perfectly with the tone of the interview. It read: Pass The Dream Act Now. I also arranged how and where she would sit and helped advise on where the lights and cameras would be placed. It took a few trials to get the set in order.

Through listening to her story, I was able to place myself in her shoes and understand how she feels and the struggles she goes through as an undocumented resident. I was inspired when she shared the quote that her mother and grandmother tell her “ People can steal anything from you, but they can’t steal your education.” This quote is relevant because your education is your key to success and we all need to work on passing The Dream Act so all people have the right to an education. We appreciate how the other members of The New York State Youth Leadership Council  were very open to sharing their space with us and allowing us to interview Melissa so she can make the documentary personal.

Blog Post by Leneya
Photography by Kendra
 

This marks the 4th summer of implementing The 24 Hour Plays Off-Broadway at the end of the Life Stories academic year and beginning of the summer intensive, so that the year-long students are able to showcase their creativity, professionalism, and the skills they have learned during their residency and to welcome and assimilate new students into the ensemble.

The creative process for The 24 Hours Plays Off-Broadway began at 10am on Saturday, July 9 when a group of 4 writers (former UAP playwriting students), 17 actors (new & longstanding members), assistant directors & education professionals gathered at Theater Row.

The program kicked off with an orientation -each participant brought a prop, a costume element and shared their special skills sets, their stage dreams and inspired ideas to help inform the writing process.  After a collaborative character generating workshop, each writer was tasked with composing a 10-minute play by the end of the day with the guidance of professional playwrights. The acting students finished the day by engaging in acting games, ensemble building exercises and a 24 Hour Play Improvisation workshop.

Sunday morning, the guest directors joined the cast and crew at 10 AM. Over the next nine hours, the plays were blocked, staged and rehearsed. Our poet, UAP graduate Clevins Browne, arrived at 5pm to watch the rehearsals and pen 4 original poems to introduce each of the plays. At 7pm families and friends packed The Studio theater in Theater Row to see the culmination of all of the students hard work!

CAST & CREW

STARVED FOR FAME
Written by Audasia Glenn
Directed by Sarah Bisman & April Hernandez-Castillo

Maxine Batchler…………………………………………………Anna
Anthony Naranjo………………………………………………….Jeremy
Hannah Turner…………………………………………………..Jayne
Sydney White………………………………………………………Lauren

THE GREAT NINJA STEFFY
Written and Assistant Directed by Emmanuel Minaya
Directed by Paul Calderon

Vincent Castillo…………………………………………….……Tak
Lorenzo Jackson……………………………………………….…. Ryan
Petra Wimer …………………………………..……………….….Lu Lu
Genesis Urena……………………………………………………. Steffy

RETIRED SUPERHEROES
Written and Assistant Directed by Elizabeth Cruz-Cortes
Directed by Marie Masters

Mercedes Alvarez………………………………….……………….Isabel
Stephanie Diaz………………………………………………..……Jewels
Jorge Garzon…………………………………………..…………Hugo
Kayla Robinson……………………………………………………….Red Head
Haskiri Valazquez……………………………..………………..Bay

THE BALLAD DEL JINGO
Written by Maynor Alas
Directed by Chris Eigeman
Assistant Director Frank Turiano

Stanley Mercedes.…………………………………………………Santos
Devin Mojica………………………………………………………Francis
Dio Martinez…………………………………………………..Alejandro(AFR)
Isaiah Alicea………………………………………………………Dan Longhorns

****Poetry by Clevins Browne****

PRODUCTION CREW
Playwriting Teacher/Dramaturge…………………………………………….Zac Kline
Technical Director………………………………………………………….....Matthew Klein
New Group Associate Artistic Director………….………………………...…Ian Morgan
New Group Development ……………………………………………………James Gittins
Life Stories Teaching Artist/Director………………………………………...Julia Grob
Life Stories Associate Director………………………………………………..Frank Turiano
Urban Arts Partnership Artistic Board Chair…………………………………Rosie Perez
Urban Arts Partnership Special Projects Director…….……………………..Anna Strout

Special Thanks: Sarah Bisman, Philip Courtney, Tina Fallon, Jan-Patrick Schmitz, Atissa Tadjadod
 

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41
Facebook Twitter Contact
Website design by Hudson Union