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  • Writer's pictureNatalia Vivino
    • Apr 15, 2018
    • 2 min read

Broadway is Helping Raise Money for Parkland Students

Updated: Nov 17, 2020

NORTHRIDGE, CA - Members of the Broadway community are performing a benefit concert for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students. Two months ago, seventeen lives were lost in what's now considered one of the ten deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history. The concert, called From Broadway with Love, will help raise money for the victims and their families. It'll be held on Monday, April 16 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.

Credit, Broadway Records


Notable performers include Hamilton's Wayne Brady, Anastasia's Christy Altomare, and Laura Bell Bundy, who originated the role of Elle Woods in the musical version of Legally Blonde. Bundy wrote in an email to SouthFlorida.com that the students are an inspiration. On social media and beyond, they're advocating for stricter gun reform laws. On March 24, thousands participated in the March for Our Lives in Washington D.C., and Parkland student Emma González spoke to the masses.


The concert on Monday is meant to do more than support and console the Parkland community. It's also emphasizing the need for change. Gun reform continues to remain a topic of heated debate. Mass shootings have become all too common in recent years, but what separates the Parkland incident from other mass shootings is how outspoken the students are. They've made it clear they won't stop demanding change until change is met. They are the future, and they're not afraid to get loud. Neither is the theatre community. When the Pulse Nightclub happened, artists and performers did what they do best: They opened a dialogue about it through their art. This concert is no different.



The concert is being produced by Van Dean, a Tony and Grammy Award-winner, and Yael Silver, who co-produced Once On This Island. 10,000 tickets were donated to the families of all MSD students and staff. Tickets are $50. All proceeds will go towards the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Victims' Fund and Shine MSD, which is an organization that supports Parkland's arts scene.


What makes the concert unique is also the fact that some of the songs were written by MSD students alongside professional composers Joe Iconic and Drew Gasparini. Parkland students will also give speeches during the concert. One of the victims of the shooting, Jaime Guttenberg, will have an entire dance performed in her honor by her fellow dance peers.

Credit, Guardian News



By Natalia Vivino


With Contributions by, The LA Times, 104.3 The Shark, and Broadway Records

Photo Credit, Broadway Records

Video Credit, Guardian News


EDUCATE YOURSELF



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  • Writer's pictureNatalia Vivino
    • Apr 8, 2018
    • 2 min read

Deaf Actor to Lead 5th Avenue Theatre's Hunchback

Updated: Nov 17, 2020

NORTHRIDGE, CA - A Seattle-based theatre company called 5th Avenue Theatre is producing The Hunchback of Notre Dame this summer. A Deaf actor named Joshua Castille will play the lead. Unlike other productions of Hunchback, this one is partnered with an organization called Deaf Spotlight. It aims to provide inclusivity in the performing arts for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.

Credit, Playbill


Victor Hugo's 1831 novel of the same name describes the lead character Quasimodo as a Deaf man (and, fun fact: Hugo had another novel of his turned into both an acclaimed musical and film called Les Misérables.). The musical follows the book more closely than the Disney movie, especially when it comes to its dark material. It never made it to Broadway, but now, professional theatre companies across the United States are producing it for their surrounding communities.


For those unfamiliar with the story of Hunchback, it's about the tale of a disfigured man named Quasimodo. As the title suggests, he has a hunched back and disfigured physical appearance overall, causing him to be the subject of abuse and ridicule from the public. The story takes place in Paris, France during the late Middle Ages. The novel itself was Hugo's most famous. After its publication, it inspired both the literary world (he was an influence to future authors like Balzac and Dickens) and the architectural world. In the 19th Century, Notre Dame was renovated thanks to Hugo's novel. It paid homage to an entire era of people and the historical structures of their time. For a more detailed summary of the plot, click here.



Castille made his mark on the theatre community in his performance in Tribes at ACT Theatre and in Deaf West Theatricals' Tony Award-winning revival production of the musical Spring Awakening, directed by Michael Arden.


When Hunchback made its stage debut, Arden played the title role and received critical acclaim. Unlike Castille, he isn't Deaf or hard of hearing. There have been several instances in the past where actors portrayed characters with disabilities, but today, the conversation has shifted to demand inclusivity for Deaf actors.


Castille will make his 5th Avenue Theatre debut in Hunchback. The production will have eight ASL (American Sign Language) performances, along with one open-captioned performance, and one performance with audio descriptions. The 5th's partnership with Deaf Spotlight is also an important step for the production. Together, both companies aim to make every performance as strong as possible.


Justin Gregory Lopez, one of the 5th's former actors, will lend his voice to the role of Quasimodo while Castille acts the part using sign language on stage. This is similar to how Deaf West staged their production of Spring Awakening. It added a whole new dimension to theatrical productions for both Deaf and non-hearing impaired audiences.


5th Avenue Theatre's The Hunchback of Notre Dame runs June 1-24.


Credit, BuzzFeedVideo


By Natalia Vivino


With Contributions by, Broadway World, Playbill, SuperSummary

Photo Credit, Playbill

Video Credit, BuzzFeedVideo


EDUCATE YOURSELF




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  • Writer's pictureNatalia Vivino
    • Mar 28, 2018
    • 3 min read

The Miracle Project Encourages Autistic Children to Perform

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - Every Tuesday night, a group of actors at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts rehearse for an original musical they created. It's part of an inclusive theatre program called The Miracle Project. It helps kids with autism embrace who they are.

Credit, The Miracle Project


Coby Bard is one of many young people impacted by the program. He said aside from it being a unique space for actors of various ages and ability levels to perform, it's also brought him significant personal growth.


"It's taught me to be more social, to be more social, to talk more, to actually be confident with myself," he said.


Like many of the program's actors, Bard is autistic. The condition itself is defined as a disorder that affects social and learning capabilities. Some autistic patients have advanced learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities, and others don't. Symptoms tend to appear in children younger than three years old, but the direct cause of the disorder remains unknown.


Rehearsals for the musical are a collaborative process, with the cast and creative team working together to create a show from scratch. The performers also vary in age and ability. This creates an environment not just for disabled kids, but for everyone.


Theatre arts professor and actress Suzanne Fagan said theatre is all about collaboration.


"I personally have seen the positive impact the performing arts, and specifically, theatre has on students with all levels of social abilities," she said. "First off, there is a welcoming energy.  I believe this is from the actors' ability to have real empathy for each other. The other side of this 'empathy' coin, is seeing everyone's power and uniqueness, as well.  A power and uniqueness that maybe wasn't as appreciated or championed outside of the theatre."

The program's founder and director, Elaine Hall, has had experience with autistic youth. Her adopted son Neal was born with it. In fact, he was the inspiration behind The Miracle Project. She said after she discovered how to connect and communicate with her son, she applied those techniques and ideas to the program. Her background in theatre, as well as her experience coaching children in the past, made her realize how helpful the arts can be for disabled youth.


"I think the greatest compliment is when people say, 'I couldn't tell who has a disability and who doesn't,' because we're an ensemble," she said.


This year, The Miracle Project's original musical is called 185 Wilshire: A Love Story. It's inspired by the cast's real-life experiences navigating different types of relationships. But what the show also does is emphasize the importance of staying true to yourself.


Susan Corwin, a volunteer for The Miracle Project, has seen firsthand the program's impact on both the performers and audience members.


"I think what's different at The Miracle Project is that the students feel they're being heard," she said. "And that is the distinction."


As the entire company prepares for opening night, The Miracle Project proves once again that no matter your experience level or abilities, theatre is for everyone.

Credit, Love & Autism



By Natalia Vivino


With Contributions by, CDC, The Miracle Project, and Golden Hat Foundation

Photo Credit, The Miracle Project

Video Credit, Love & Autism


EDUCATE YOURSELF





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