[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] so I’m here to talk about the 52nd
so I’m here to talk about the 52nd
so I’m here to talk about the 52nd Street project the project is a
Street project the project is a
Street project the project is a community based arts organization in
community based arts organization in
community based arts organization in Hell’s Kitchen it’s been there since
Hell’s Kitchen it’s been there since
Hell’s Kitchen it’s been there since 1981 we work with kids from the
1981 we work with kids from the
1981 we work with kids from the neighborhood girls and boys and we work
neighborhood girls and boys and we work
neighborhood girls and boys and we work with volunteer adult professional
with volunteer adult professional
with volunteer adult professional artists women and men and we put kids
artists women and men and we put kids
artists women and men and we put kids and adults together in pairs the kid
and adults together in pairs the kid
and adults together in pairs the kid adult ratio at the project is always
adult ratio at the project is always
adult ratio at the project is always one-to-one so kid adult pair making art
one-to-one so kid adult pair making art
one-to-one so kid adult pair making art together as equal partners mostly what
together as equal partners mostly what
together as equal partners mostly what we do what we make is theater where our
we do what we make is theater where our
we do what we make is theater where our first and identity was as a theater
first and identity was as a theater
first and identity was as a theater company but we also make films we make
company but we also make films we make
company but we also make films we make dances we make songs we make photos we
dances we make songs we make photos we
dances we make songs we make photos we make poems we make cupcakes um seriously
make poems we make cupcakes um seriously
make poems we make cupcakes um seriously there’s a lot of cupcakes and we
there’s a lot of cupcakes and we
there’s a lot of cupcakes and we continue doing that for a long period of
continue doing that for a long period of
continue doing that for a long period of time and the kids actually are with us
time and the kids actually are with us
time and the kids actually are with us for almost a decade elementary school
for almost a decade elementary school
for almost a decade elementary school middle school on through high school and
middle school on through high school and
middle school on through high school and that long engagement allows us to set up
that long engagement allows us to set up
that long engagement allows us to set up long term mentoring relationships and
long term mentoring relationships and
long term mentoring relationships and those relationships allow us to have a
those relationships allow us to have a
those relationships allow us to have a very positive impact on the kids
very positive impact on the kids
very positive impact on the kids well-being this the what you’re watching
well-being this the what you’re watching
well-being this the what you’re watching up here is a the boy that’s featured is
up here is a the boy that’s featured is
up here is a the boy that’s featured is Ricardo Koren he is one of thousands of
Ricardo Koren he is one of thousands of
Ricardo Koren he is one of thousands of children that have participated in the
children that have participated in the
children that have participated in the work and the life of the 52nd Street
work and the life of the 52nd Street
work and the life of the 52nd Street project there’ll be more on Ricardo and
project there’ll be more on Ricardo and
project there’ll be more on Ricardo and Ricardo very soon so when the kids first
Ricardo very soon so when the kids first
Ricardo very soon so when the kids first come to the project at the age of 10 9
come to the project at the age of 10 9
come to the project at the age of 10 9 10 11 the first thing that they do is
10 11 the first thing that they do is
10 11 the first thing that they do is they learn how to write a play
they learn how to write a play
they learn how to write a play and then when the plays are written we
and then when the plays are written we
and then when the plays are written we have a full production with professional
have a full production with professional
have a full production with professional actors professional directors composers
actors professional directors composers
actors professional directors composers designers stage manager the whole thing
designers stage manager the whole thing
designers stage manager the whole thing and the kids voice is what is most
and the kids voice is what is most
and the kids voice is what is most distinctly presented it it shines with
distinctly presented it it shines with
distinctly presented it it shines with the most light through the whole
the most light through the whole
the most light through the whole creative collective process and when the
creative collective process and when the
creative collective process and when the show is going on of these plays there
show is going on of these plays there
show is going on of these plays there the kid playwright is sitting on the
the kid playwright is sitting on the
the kid playwright is sitting on the side at a desk and there’s a sign on the
side at a desk and there’s a sign on the
side at a desk and there’s a sign on the desk that says the playwrights desk the
desk that says the playwrights desk the
desk that says the playwrights desk the playwright and when the play is over the
playwright and when the play is over the
playwright and when the play is over the two actors bow and then the kid
two actors bow and then the kid
two actors bow and then the kid playwright comes over and takes a bow
playwright comes over and takes a bow
playwright comes over and takes a bow and then they all bowed together I’ve
and then they all bowed together I’ve
and then they all bowed together I’ve been doing this for 25 years seven years
been doing this for 25 years seven years
been doing this for 25 years seven years as a volunteer and 18 years as artistic
as a volunteer and 18 years as artistic
as a volunteer and 18 years as artistic director and now is producing director
director and now is producing director
director and now is producing director and I am always amazed at what we make
and I am always amazed at what we make
and I am always amazed at what we make together kid art adult art side-by-side
together kid art adult art side-by-side
together kid art adult art side-by-side of equal merit by which I mean that the
of equal merit by which I mean that the
of equal merit by which I mean that the art the children makes is as good as the
art the children makes is as good as the
art the children makes is as good as the art that adults make they’re very
art that adults make they’re very
art that adults make they’re very different but they are of equal merit so
different but they are of equal merit so
different but they are of equal merit so what we’re going to do now is we’re
what we’re going to do now is we’re
what we’re going to do now is we’re going to present a song so that you can
going to present a song so that you can
going to present a song so that you can get a better sense of of how we work and
get a better sense of of how we work and
get a better sense of of how we work and the people in the process that bring it
the people in the process that bring it
the people in the process that bring it about I’m here as a representative of
about I’m here as a representative of
about I’m here as a representative of the staff of the 52nd Street project I
the staff of the 52nd Street project I
the staff of the 52nd Street project I am one of eleven staff members a
am one of eleven staff members a
am one of eleven staff members a remarkable group of people and we do
remarkable group of people and we do
remarkable group of people and we do everything that is necessary to bring
everything that is necessary to bring
everything that is necessary to bring the kids and the adults together and
the kids and the adults together and
the kids and the adults together and then we give them encouragement as they
then we give them encouragement as they
then we give them encouragement as they work which includes food it’s a big
work which includes food it’s a big
work which includes food it’s a big factor so over here we have avi Amon who
factor so over here we have avi Amon who
factor so over here we have avi Amon who is our music director today and Andy Don
is our music director today and Andy Don
is our music director today and Andy Don who is
who is
who is our singer they they represent the adult
our singer they they represent the adult
our singer they they represent the adult volunteer professional artists Andy is
volunteer professional artists Andy is
volunteer professional artists Andy is new to us he sang the song he’s going to
new to us he sang the song he’s going to
new to us he sang the song he’s going to sing today in some other songs this past
sing today in some other songs this past
sing today in some other songs this past this last fall that was his project
this last fall that was his project
this last fall that was his project debut and avi has been with us for a
debut and avi has been with us for a
debut and avi has been with us for a couple of years as a composer and as a
couple of years as a composer and as a
couple of years as a composer and as a music director working with both kid
music director working with both kid
music director working with both kid lyrics and with adult playwright lyrics
lyrics and with adult playwright lyrics
lyrics and with adult playwright lyrics avi has proven to be a transformational
avi has proven to be a transformational
avi has proven to be a transformational volunteer he is a graduate of NYU Tisch
volunteer he is a graduate of NYU Tisch
volunteer he is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the art graduate musical
School of the art graduate musical
School of the art graduate musical theater writing program I’m just going
theater writing program I’m just going
theater writing program I’m just going to call it NYU from now on and Abby came
to call it NYU from now on and Abby came
to call it NYU from now on and Abby came to us like a little more than a year ago
to us like a little more than a year ago
to us like a little more than a year ago and he wanted us to create a new program
and he wanted us to create a new program
and he wanted us to create a new program and he proposed that the adult composers
and he proposed that the adult composers
and he proposed that the adult composers at NYU work with kid lyricists the thing
at NYU work with kid lyricists the thing
at NYU work with kid lyricists the thing that you know because what obby said to
that you know because what obby said to
that you know because what obby said to me was that in in their work in the
me was that in in their work in the
me was that in in their work in the graduate program you they get very sort
graduate program you they get very sort
graduate program you they get very sort of caught up in rules and forms and
of caught up in rules and forms and
of caught up in rules and forms and muscle memories and and they get sort of
muscle memories and and they get sort of
muscle memories and and they get sort of into a rut and he said you know a great
into a rut and he said you know a great
into a rut and he said you know a great way to get out of a rut is to work on a
way to get out of a rut is to work on a
way to get out of a rut is to work on a nine-year-old lyrics it’s true it just
nine-year-old lyrics it’s true it just
nine-year-old lyrics it’s true it just turns you upside down in a great way so
turns you upside down in a great way so
turns you upside down in a great way so we said yes and nyu said yes so we put
we said yes and nyu said yes so we put
we said yes and nyu said yes so we put together three sets of kids and adults
together three sets of kids and adults
together three sets of kids and adults you know three Rodgers and Hammerstein’s
you know three Rodgers and Hammerstein’s
you know three Rodgers and Hammerstein’s three crowns and two Sori’s and and so
three crowns and two Sori’s and and so
three crowns and two Sori’s and and so one of those three kids is Ricardo
one of those three kids is Ricardo
one of those three kids is Ricardo Ricardo came to the project five years
Ricardo came to the project five years
Ricardo came to the project five years ago when he was ten and he began a
ago when he was ten and he began a
ago when he was ten and he began a brilliant career with us
brilliant career with us
brilliant career with us he started by writing a play
he started by writing a play
he started by writing a play a called the situation between bees and
a called the situation between bees and
a called the situation between bees and flies it really really great play it
flies it really really great play it
flies it really really great play it featured two Broadway actors very gifted
featured two Broadway actors very gifted
featured two Broadway actors very gifted Broadway actor actors John Ellison
Broadway actor actors John Ellison
Broadway actor actors John Ellison Conley played the fly and Christopher
Conley played the fly and Christopher
Conley played the fly and Christopher Evan Welch played the bee and he went on
Evan Welch played the bee and he went on
Evan Welch played the bee and he went on from there to perform three times always
from there to perform three times always
from there to perform three times always short musical plays short people short
short musical plays short people short
short musical plays short people short plays two of them were written by an
plays two of them were written by an
plays two of them were written by an adult co-star and another one written by
adult co-star and another one written by
adult co-star and another one written by Riccardo himself he wrote poems and
Riccardo himself he wrote poems and
Riccardo himself he wrote poems and recited them in a poetry slam he
recited them in a poetry slam he
recited them in a poetry slam he choreographed a duet a dance with his
choreographed a duet a dance with his
choreographed a duet a dance with his adult partner and then they performed it
adult partner and then they performed it
adult partner and then they performed it he wrote music comedy material comic
he wrote music comedy material comic
he wrote music comedy material comic material that was then performed by the
material that was then performed by the
material that was then performed by the comic John Bowman at a project benefit
comic John Bowman at a project benefit
comic John Bowman at a project benefit he was a regular after school for
he was a regular after school for
he was a regular after school for homework help for just to read or just
homework help for just to read or just
homework help for just to read or just to hang out and this fall he wrote
to hang out and this fall he wrote
to hang out and this fall he wrote lyrics and his adult partner a really
lyrics and his adult partner a really
lyrics and his adult partner a really wonderful composer Wesley Brant wrote
wonderful composer Wesley Brant wrote
wonderful composer Wesley Brant wrote the music for three new songs that were
the music for three new songs that were
the music for three new songs that were sung at our first song making concert
sung at our first song making concert
sung at our first song making concert this past October so now Ricardo is
this past October so now Ricardo is
this past October so now Ricardo is going to introduce one of his songs
going to introduce one of his songs
going to introduce one of his songs [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] hey Ricard hi my name is Ricardo
hey Ricard hi my name is Ricardo
hey Ricard hi my name is Ricardo um the song is called the dancing ice
um the song is called the dancing ice
um the song is called the dancing ice ballerina and it’s actually based off my
ballerina and it’s actually based off my
ballerina and it’s actually based off my great-grandma um I just really want to
great-grandma um I just really want to
great-grandma um I just really want to thank my grandma and all the people that
thank my grandma and all the people that
thank my grandma and all the people that helped me get to this point and I hope
helped me get to this point and I hope
helped me get to this point and I hope you enjoy the song thank you
you enjoy the song thank you
you enjoy the song thank you [Applause]
my great-grandma who I call mama
my great-grandma who I call mama is here with me now onto this island she
is here with me now onto this island she
is here with me now onto this island she has her favorite stuffed animal named
has her favorite stuffed animal named
has her favorite stuffed animal named Maggie we are stranded on this island
Maggie we are stranded on this island
Maggie we are stranded on this island just mama
just mama
just mama [Music]
[Music]
[Music] I know of the legend
I know of the legend
I know of the legend [Music]
[Music]
[Music] what would be the odds
what would be the odds
what would be the odds her being here now
you
you mama grabs me and points to Mackey who’s
mama grabs me and points to Mackey who’s
mama grabs me and points to Mackey who’s no longer in her hand
no longer in her hand
no longer in her hand Mackey is dancing my eyes have to be
Mackey is dancing my eyes have to be
Mackey is dancing my eyes have to be playing tricks there the doll was
playing tricks there the doll was
playing tricks there the doll was dancing
dancing
dancing tall dancing
tall dancing
tall dancing have some magic
ice begins to form around the island
ice begins to form around the island Maki begins gracefully dancing towards
Maki begins gracefully dancing towards
Maki begins gracefully dancing towards the ocean
the ocean
the ocean mama tries to follow but I stopped Maki
mama tries to follow but I stopped Maki
mama tries to follow but I stopped Maki dances on the ocean and as the doll does
dances on the ocean and as the doll does
dances on the ocean and as the doll does this the water becomes ice monkey dances
this the water becomes ice monkey dances
this the water becomes ice monkey dances held us
held us
held us and I watch the doors movement shifts
and I watch the doors movement shifts
and I watch the doors movement shifts from fast to slow
hun begins to set tears form in Mama’s
hun begins to set tears form in Mama’s eyes and as soon as the first year drops
eyes and as soon as the first year drops
eyes and as soon as the first year drops the DA stops for a moment everything
the DA stops for a moment everything
the DA stops for a moment everything else stops phone including woman
everything returns to normal front of
everything returns to normal front of Mama
after all it’s her favorite all she
after all it’s her favorite all she smiles and hugs Mackey
the dancing ice ballerina is it on the
the dancing ice ballerina is it on the island but her soul is
island but her soul is
island but her soul is I look at Mackey again and for a solid
I look at Mackey again and for a solid
I look at Mackey again and for a solid second its eyes glow
dancing Ice Arena
dancing Ice Arena I just know it
I just know it
I just know it so Liz
her soul is in Mackey
her soul is in Mackey [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
Be First to Comment