Theater Performance at IS 145

18 Feb 2011, 12:17 AM by keith, Middle School

The afterschool theater arts class at IS 145 in Jackson Heights, Queens has spent the fall and winter developing scenes from a play called "Class Action" by Brad Slaight. Student actors have learned about the parts of the stage, vocal and physical expression, basic acting techniques, and developing awareness as actors and as members of an ensemble. One inspired duo also performed a student-written skit.  The scenes dealt with themes rooted in middle school students' everyday experiences with school, friendship and family.

For most students, performing in the school auditorium was their first time on stage presenting work to an audience.  Here's what they thought about the performance and the class:

“It actually felt really good.  I think the audience liked it.  Ms. Kira helps us bring the actor out in us.” – Jefferson, 6th grade

“It felt good.  I hope the other people like theater as much as I do.  We have fun and are not bored.  We’re learning vocal work and how to express ourselves more and how to have confidence.” – Claudia, 6th grade

“Well, I liked when me and Kerry performed because it was really fun.  I like Ms. Kira because she’s a really cool theater arts teacher and she shows us a lot of stuff, like how the games we do help us with improvising and facing the audience when we’re performing.” – Jonely, 6th grade

“It was exciting because it was the first time I performed in the school.  The best part is spending time together learning how a good actor should perform.  Theater is not as boring as you think it is.” – Kerry, 6th grade

Theater at Middle School for Arts and Philosophy

17 Feb 2011, 11:54 AM by keith, Middle School

The students in Urban Arts Partnership's after school theater program at Brooklyn's Middle School for Arts and Philosophy (MSAP) researched various professions in the community and wrote original scenes inspired by those jobs.  Students were to pick jobs they could see themselves having in the future or jobs that they wanted to learn more about.  They explored the various responsibilities of each occupation, as well as the skills necessary to be successful at each job.  The scenes depicted a day in the life of a hairstylist, a senator, a journalist, a photographer and a sheriff.  Students performed the scenes in front of their classmates to RAVE reviews!

The writers and actors of "Two Face," an action-packed scene about a sheriff.

Students performing their original scene about a photographer's high-stakes assignment to capture a photo of a rare bird.

When asked about their experiences with performing on stage students said:

Kaaliyah: "I felt a bit nervous.  Also I felt excited because I felt eager to perform."

Kadeem: "I felt confident on stage. I felt as if people loved me (which they did!)"

Chardenay: "I felt free because I love the stage."

Students celebrating after the performance with teaching artist Michelle Slonim

Vejigante Masks at PS 48M

17 Feb 2011, 10:03 AM by kaya, Elementary School

Students work on painting their masks in a base coat

At PS 48M the visual arts class is building vejigante masks. Students researched the history of the Puerto Rican masks and play to display them in time for carnival. Vejigantes wear brightly colored, ornate masks of all colors and a costume with bat-like wings. The term vejigante derives from the word vejiga (bladder) and gigante (giant), because they used to be made of blown up and painted cow bladders. We used balloons instead!

Here is a sketch of a mask next to the real thing- on its way!

First we have to do a base coat, then layer the paint to strenghten the masks

MediaLab Films Screen at Harlem Stage

13 Feb 2011, 3:32 PM by Elizabeth Rodd, Urban Arts MediaLab

IS 230 Afterschool Programs

11 Feb 2011, 5:37 PM by Lisa LH, Middle School

Students at IS 230 have been doing great work in the Urban Arts afterschool programs!  Through photography and mask making, students have explored their neighborhood and aspects of their personalities.

In the photography class, students have been working with teaching artist Elise Rasmussen to document their neighborhood.

In the mask-making program with teaching artist Beto Sepulveda, students have created Vejigantes, protection masks from Puerto Rico. The masks symbolize what students would like to protect in their current surroundings and culture. The students created this animation as a fun way to show off their masks.