February 26, 2014 — The 52nd Street Project mourns the loss of Ed Vassallo, a Project Pal if ever there was one. He was first a friend, a great friend, beloved, wonderful company, a man with a delightful gift for friendship. And he was as fine a volunteer as we have ever known, always ready, tireless even, refreshing to everyone around him. He did everything a theater artist does: write, sing, dance, act, direct, dramaturge, mentor, you name it; and he did all of it well and with flair, and then he’d go and play catch or checkers with a kid or two (often the kids with the roughest edges and the biggest challenges, who were drawn to him because Ed was cool and sweet-natured and he saw what was best in you).

He did load-ins too, back when we had load-ins, and for three years in a row he hosted the Playback Weekend up at Franklin Stage in the Catskills, courtesy of his friends Gene, Carol and Carmela Marner. He did everything, not just the fun stuff where everybody tells you that you were great when it’s all over. And no matter what, everything he did with us was shot through with what the Project is all about: pleasure, common endeavor, and the full expression of each kid’s promise and potential.

We will always remember him with abiding love and with deep gratitude for how much he blessed the Project and all of us who call it a place to belong.

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You can jump right on the latest news from The 52nd Street Project right now, on line (and in full color). Or if you prefer, you can wait until the new newsletter has been shipped to your home. Either way, it’s here, and you can see photos of all the productions and fun things that have been going on the past few months and get information about what’s coming up.

Check it out here!

Then click “Download this Issue.”

On that page, you’ll also see all the other back issues here to, if you want to dig into some Project history …

Hey there, if you’re trying to figure out what the big event of this week is … um, it’s the Super Bowl, where have you been living?

But, if you want to know what the OTHER big event of the week is, it’s the Project’s 2014 production of BY DEGREES, Six Plays of Separation, this Friday, Saturday, and (yes, Superbowl) Sunday.

We went on our rehearsal trip two weeks ago, and now it’s production week. Check out our FB photo album and click Get Ticket under Productions and Events above to make your reservation. Hope we’ll see you there!

Facebook Gallery for BY DEGREES

The 52nd Street Project mourns the loss of Project Member Carlos Dume. He joined us in 2004, at the age of 10, with the production of his play “The Miracle of Music,” and went on to act and sing, to write and recite poetry, and to make the most of all the opportunities that he was given. He subsequently attended the University of Michigan as a recipient of the Henry and Gloria Jacobs Scholarship, offered every two years to a Project teen. His death has shocked and saddened all of us, all the more for the great promise his young life held. We grieve not only for the end of that glorious possibility, but for what he gave to us through his prodigious artistry, his constant integrity, his tenacity and fierce appetite, and the sweetness and beauty of his spirit.

All of this found its fullest expression for us in his participation in the Project’s Teen Ensemble, a two year acting program, which culminated in 2011 with the production of “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” which played Off-Broadway at our home theater, and then spent a week on the road, with stops at the University of Calgary and The Banff Centre. On the last night of the tour, the Ensemble gathered to celebrate their time together and all that they had accomplished. Carlos recited for them the following poem, an exquisite depiction not only of the challenges and triumphs and joys that came from the work of the group, but also of the greatness that radiated out of him. That radiance will be missed.

The Final Chapter

By Carlos Dume (2011)

Carlos the Playwright, age 10

On the way to Block Island 2009

Carol & BI kids 2009

 

Carlos reads his poetry

Carlos in the Mask Unit Presentation of the Teen Ensemble

Carlos in THE NEXT LEVEL, Teen One-Act Festival

AJ, Hera & Carlos in THE NEXT LEVEL, Teen One-Act Festival 2010

Carlos in The Two Gentlemen of Verona

 

Carlos in Canada on tour with The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Carlos at George’s Desk

 

Reservations are available NOW for the newest Project production (free as always)!

BY DEGREES, Six Plays of Separation

2014 Two-on-Twos

This is the production where the kids are the performers in short musicals written by one adult and directed by another. BY DEGREES will feature the talents of:

The Kids:
Carlos Breton, Nathaniel Butler, Melody Cruz, Venecia Escamilla, Tatiana Goode, Kamil Kuzminski, Leah Macuilt, Samantha Paduani, Asia Rosado, Rene Paul Santiago, Derek Tineo, & Miguelangel Vezquez.

The Directors:
Eliza Baldi, Matthew Jellison, January Lavoy, Tim J. Lord, Natalie Martin, & Yusef Miller.

The Writers:
Rachel Bonds, Craig Cox, Chisa Hutchison, Jiehae Park, Max Posner & Sung Rno.

The Composer:
Robert Cowie.

The Performances:

Friday, January 31 @ 7:30

Saturday, February 1 @ 7:30

Sunday, February 2 @ 3:00

Here’s a super cool and fun thing. You get to personalize a Happy Holiday video card, which is fun, and then when you share it on FB or Twitter, the company will donate money to the Project (and a couple other charities). One of our wonderful Board Members, Noël Mihalow, who is now General Manager Content for Raison D’Être by Click 3X, set this up for us, and we’re awfully glad.

Happy 2014 Video Card — Make One Now

All the best in the new year to everyone!

‘I can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks.’

(“Twelfth Night,” Act 3, Scene 3)

The teens and their contributions to the pot luck.

Back in July, our 2011-2013 “Twelfth Night” Teen Ensemble decided that they wanted to organize a Thanksgiving reunion so that recent graduates could return and so that the whole cast could come back together again for fun and fellowship. So Doris Alcantara and Armando Cosme took the lead and messaged, texted, chatted, and called everyone to organize the event, and announced that it would be a Pot Luck (with teenagers!) and each teen would bring a dish to share. In true luck-of-the-pot form, we feasted on a delicious array of pork, rice & beans, macaroni salad, sweet potatoes and many desserts. And we toasted to our friendships with sparkling apple cider.

Loading up on bounty

Throughout the dinner, these “experienced” Shakespearean actors all tried to see if they still remembered their lines… but it seemed they all could remember only ONE of their own lines… “If music be the food of love, play on!” “And thus, the whirligig of time brings in his revenges.” “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ‘em!”

Corn bread, rice and beans, pernil, and thanks.

We then took a moment for each person to write down a simple expression of thanks. Below are all of the teens’ statements of gratitude, along with the food they brought to share at our communal table.

We hope to make this an annual event!

I’m thankful for everyone in the ensemble, better yet my ensemble “family!”

(Ashley Smith, freshman @ SUNY Buffalo. brownies and sparkling apple cider.)

Late nights at Calgary is what I’m thankful for. Be good, and I hope you have the best forever more.

(Alvin Garcia, senior @ Manhattan Village Academy. Entemman’s chocolate fudge cake.)

I felt lost and hopeless when I was gone. But now that I’m reunited with all of you I finally feel complete. Thank you for giving me the best moments of my life.

(Tino Paduani, freshman @ BMCC. soda.)

I’m thankful for being able to share old memories and making new ones.

(Doris Alcantara, senior @ Frank McCourt. Pernil–shredded pork)

I’m thankful for the constant bond, even after the Teen Ensemble was “over” we still managed to keep in contact so it’s not really “over.”

(Melissa Rebolledo, senior @ Talent Unlimited. loaf of French Bread)

–Bacon           –Bacon           –Bacon

(Jason Gil, freshman @ SUNY Albany. Brought HIMSELF!! (we didn’t think he’d be able to make it, but he did!)

I’m thankful for Gus’ laugh and us!

(Armando Cosme, freshman @ Pace University. macaroni salad)

I’m thankful that even through the “whirligig of time” we still love each other.

(Lily Capstick, senior @ Beacon. cornbread muffins)

A new Project holiday tradition may have been established

Here are some photos, by the wonderful Stephanie Berger, of our smash hit benefit last night, GET BACK, a concert with Jonathan Groff. It was an amazing experience and we’re tremendously grateful to all who participated.

The Project’s first ever benefit concert GET BACK, with Jonathan Groff this coming Sunday, November 24 @ 7 pm has gained some serious talent in the last couple of days.

Not only do we have Jonathan Groff and Mary-Mitchell Campbell, but joining in will be Broadway’s Cinderella Laura Osnes, and the whole gang from [title of show] Hunter Bell, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff, and Jeff Bowen — who are going to be sharing a small piece of their brand new show (in progress) NOW. HERE. THIS.

Mary-Mitchell Campbell & Jonathan Groff

Laura Osnes

Jeff Bowen, Heidi Blickenstaff, Hunter Bell, & Susan Blackwell

The Project got a LOVELY shout-out in the Manhattan User’s Guide (MUG) a week-daily email newsletter about what’s going on around town. If you don’t subscribe to MUG, you should check it out … and NOT just for the nice things they say about the Project. Check it out:

Wanna come? Click GET TICKETS under Productions & Events above.