Another example that combines all three of our components (Broadway/Entertainment stars, Mentoring and Nonprofit partners) is After School at the Klein (ASK) . We just finished ten weeks of teaching Monday-Wednesday classes after school with classes such as Film/TV (taught by 2 time Emmy nominee Scott Bryce, Commercial production (Mark Holleran-producer), Voice with me, Acting with Broadway veteran, Jerold Goldstein, Puppetry, Stage tech, 3D design, Hip Hop, Jazz, and much more.
OH and did I tell you that it's FREE for any 8th-12th grader in Bridgeport! The Klein is committed to making a difference in their community and NPT is committed to helping them with our outstanding teachers and know-how when it comes to producing.
That was my job this past week. Producing the final event of this semester to showcase what they had learned thus far. A "Sample platter" show if you will, for parents and family.
Up till now no one really knew all the components of the program. No one had seen the examples of performance and product from the classes. Until our two hour performance that showcased each class's work.
The 30 second commercials that that class made were awesome. The singers did a wonderful job. The dances were fun. The 3D design stuff was totally cool. The puppets made a grand entrance to the sound of the African drumming class.
Organizing shows is something I love to do. Producing them. Even though it can be a pain to get everyone on the same page, when I write the show and then host it I love seeing the whole thing come together.
What was really great was hearing and seeing the kids themselves catch fire about midway through. Cheering for each group or soloist. I don't think they even knew what they had to be proud until they saw it all laid out in front of them. As the MC, I also really pushed the theme of "accountability " for next semester. If you show up for all the classes you get to perform. If you don't, you are not a featured performer. And let me tell you, ALL these kids want to get up on stage and perform. For some of them it's the only positive feedback they get.
Below are pictures from the event that some of the college interns took. By the way, one of my favorite parts of this program is working with my wonderful college interns who take the bull by the horns and make it happen.
This is one of the videos that the commercial class made.
Destiny and her Spoken Word presentation (acting class)
She wrote it.
Girls from the voice class singing Silent Night
African Drumming starts it out right!
Shakespeare class presenting Sonnets
Commercial class Victoria singing
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