Chicago Ave Project, Showings Nov 9 and 10

Chicago Ave Project presents:
EYES ON THE PRIZE
November 9th at 7pm
November 10th at 4:30pm
November 10th at 7:00pm

All performances are FREE.
[facebook event page]

What happens when Pillsbury House Theatre takes 27 volunteer actors, directors and dramaturges and teams them up with area youth? The result is the highly acclaimed Chicago Avenue Project; seven outstanding one acts written by kids and performed by professional actors. Come witness the beginnings of tomorrow’s theatre stars.

In mid-October, the kids attended a retreat with their very own dramaturge to learn about the creation of a story and to apply these techniques to creating their own production. Actors and directors were then assigned to each production to bring the children’s works to vivid life on the stage.

The CHICAGO AVENUE PROJECT gives inner-city children an experience of success through the medium of theatre. Based on New York’s nationally renowned mentoring program, the 52nd Street Project, the CHICAGO AVENUE PROJECT brings together professional adult playwrights, actors and directors who volunteer to work one-on-one with neighborhood youth on the creation and production of an original play. The project is not about teaching youth how to act, though they do learn acting. Nor is it about teaching them how to write plays, though they learn that as well. It is about giving every child an opportunity to prove that he or she has something of value to offer, something that comes from within, something that cannot be taken away.

WATERLOO’S DREAM
By Charel McGee
Dramaturg: Sarah Slight
Actors: Rose le Tran and Ernest Briggs
Director: Eric Powell Holm

SPEEDY & FREDDY
By Welton Alexander
Dramaturg: Dawn Brodey
Actors: Carolyn Pool and Sherwin F. Resurreccion
Director: Andre Samples

THE CUBED WORLD OF SKATING
By Myasia Tyson
Dramaturg:
Nathan Tylutki
Actors: Kalif Troy and Eric “Pogi” Sumangil
Director: Joseph Scrimshaw

I’M NOT A KID
By Dienaboy M’boup
Dramaturg: Dan Pinkerton
Actors: Erika Crane and Katie Kaufman
Director: Jess Finney

NERD’S DELIGHT
By Abib M’boup
Dramaturg/Director: Kiseung Rhee
Actors: Payton Woodson and Randy Reyes

INSIDE MYSELF: JEJA’S UNIQUE STORY
By Fanta Diallo
Dramaturg: Sarah Gioia
Actors: Simone Perrin and Nathan Tylutki
Director: Dionne Laviolette

THE SAHARA STORY
By Alexis Tarrios Luna
Dramaturg: Wendy Salinas
Actors: Pedro R. Bayon and Maggie Chestovich
Director: John Miller-Stephany