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Washington, DC [CapitalWirePR] July 20, 2017 – To launch Paso Nuevo’s 25th anniversary year, Paso Nuevo and participants of GALA’s Summer Youth Program are proud to present Tell “Em What’s REALLY Wrong, an evening of original works, on Friday, August 4, 2017 at 8 pm at the GALA Theatre, 3333 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC. Performed in English with some Spanish, the presentation is directed by Martha Mckeown, and is in collaboration with the Theater Lab School of Dramatic Arts. The program contains some strong language and is not recommended for young children. Admission is free
“As we celebrate a quarter of a century of working with youth in our community,” states Paso Nuevo director Quique Avilés, “the acclaimed GALA Paso Nuevo program continues to provide a safe space in which Latino and multi-cultural youth engage in creative writing, movement, and performance workshops, and learn about the technical, production, and administrative aspects of theater.” Paso Nuevo was the recipient of the 2012 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities at the White House.
“The creative work of the students in GALA’s Paso Nuevo summer youth program illustrates how the arts can transform their lives,” comments Jackie Reyes, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs, which provides ongoing support for Paso Nuevo. “We celebrate their diversity and strong cultural identity and the example they set as young leaders in their communities and schools.”
“Through scenes, music, and dance,” added director Marta Mckeown, “Tell “Em What’s REALLY Wrong speaks to an array of coming -of-age issues the youth in the summer program are facing as they develop and evolve in our current environment. In this era of tweets and tension in the public discourse, the young artists feel the need to grapple with these issues through their writing and performance as they interact with the larger world. The show is the culmination of an intense six week process that brought together Latino, African-American and biracial youth from throughout the city to make their voices heard through theatre.”
GALA Theatre is located at 3333 14th Street, NW in Washington, DC. Parking is available behind the theater in the Giant Food garage on Park Road, NW. The theater is one block north of the Columbia Heights Metro station on the Yellow and Green lines. For more information, call 202-234-7174 or visit www.galatheatre.org
ABOUT PASO NUEVO AND THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM
The GALA Paso Nuevo and Summer Youth Program is a six-week intensive performing arts program that immerses participants in writing, acting, dance, and music classes. Skilled teaching artists guide students ages 13-18 through the process of creating a performance, starting with an idea, through the rehearsal process, and concluding with tech week and opening night. Through exposure to a wide range of artistic practices, students explore issues of identity and cultural differences, articulate their values, increase self -esteem, and gain bilingual skills that will enhance their academic performance and future career opportunities. This year’s program includes Paso Nuevo students, youth new to the theater, and participants referred through the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program.
The DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities (CAH) has partnered with the Department of Employment Services (DOES) to serve as a Host Agency for the 2017 Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP). MBSYEP is a locally-funded initiative that provides District youth ages 14 to 24 with enriching and constructive summer work experiences through subsidized placements in the private and government sectors. This summer, CAH placed 90 youth in a variety of local organizations and businesses within the District that support the creative economy. Youth have the opportunity to explore arts -focused job opportunities with CAH’S partner organizations, which provide an enriching and constructive summer experience.
GALA’s Summer Youth Program is made possible with generous support from the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs, United Way, Events DC, State Farm and Wells Fargo. |
