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Tag: elizabeth youth theater

Categories
Media

Unlock Safety: PSA on the Importance of Gun Safety

EYTE Students dramatize the critical importance of proper gun safety around children. Highlighting the stark reality that gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in the US, the video references Ethan’s Law to advocate for secure firearm storage. 

        Ethan’s Law is named after Ethan Song, a teenager who tragically lost his life due to an accidental shooting involving an improperly stored firearm. The law mandates that all firearms be safely secured with a locking device or stored in a locked container when not under direct control. It aims to prevent similar accidents by imposing strict storage requirements, thereby ensuring the safety of households with children. The legislation highlights the critical importance of responsible gun ownership and child safety. 

Categories
Events

ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence

Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble presents:

ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence

Kean University STEM Building Auditorium
Monday, November 6, 2023 @ 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM EST
CLICK HERE TO RSVP
LOCATION: Kean University STEM Building 1075 Morris Ave Union, New Jersey 07083
ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence creates space for teens to confront gun violence by creating new works of theatre that will spark critical conversations and inspire meaningful action in communities across the country.

On the same evening across the country, theaters, schools, and community groups stage readings of a script comprised of six (6) new 10-minute plays by teen writers confronting gun violence, selected by a committee of nationally-renowned playwrights out of plays received in our Call for Submissions.

Walking the Beat is a creative writing, theater, and multi-media workshop for students grades 9-12 and local police officers, designed to establish a groundwork for conversation and create real, achievable actions for specific communities across the country.

Walking the Beat is funded by the NJ Office of Attorney General’s Office of Violence Intervention and Prevention’s Community Based Violence Intervention (CBVI) program.

COVID-19 NOTICE

Show your support for Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble with this mask

Face coverings are strongly recommended. Proof of vaccination will not be required.

Everyone should practice recommended social distancing guidelines during their time at all EYTE events.

  • In addition to using hand sanitizing stations onsite, everyone is encouraged to wash their hands regularly while at the event.
  • If you are feeling ill, we ask that you refrain from attending the performance and visit us when you are feeling healthy.
  • Please take care of yourself and your fellow patrons by respecting our protocols and procedures. If, for any reason, you refuse to abide by our safety measures, you will be removed without a refund.
  • Please contact us if you test positive for COVID-19 after attending a show.  Reach out to us at info@elizabethyouththeater.org

COVID-19 is extremely contagious and an inherent risk in all public locations where people are present. The CDC advises that older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. People who show no symptoms can spread the coronavirus if they are infected and any interaction with the general public poses an elevated risk of being exposed to COVID-19. EYTE has put in place preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19; however, we cannot guarantee that you will not become infected with COVID-19. By attending EYTE events, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure of COVID-19 and agree not to hold EYTE; or any of its affiliates, employees, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury.

Donate

Your contribution to the Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble makes you an ally in our efforts to help young people build capacity for social change through art-making.

As an organization committed to deepening artistic engagement in communities, while fighting for justice, we are looking for your support!

Join our mission now.

Categories
Events

2023 Elders in Residence Program

Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble presents:

2023 Elders in Residence Program

Donate

Your contribution to the Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble makes you an ally in our efforts to help young people build capacity for social change through art-making.

As an organization committed to deepening artistic engagement in communities, while fighting for justice, we are looking for your support!

Join our mission now.

Categories
Events

Walking The Beat 2023

Shots Fired! 2023 Walking the Beat -
Shots Fired! 2023 Walking the Beat -
Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble presents:

Walking the Beat 2023

Sat, September 09, 2023 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM EDT
CLICK HERE TO RSVP


Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy

27 Martin Luther King Jr, Blvd

Elizabeth, NJ 07201

United States

A Satire, Written and arranged by Angela Kariotis and members of the devised theater cohort Directed by Theo Perkins

In a world grappling with the sobering reality of gun violence (heartbeat), the stage becomes a mirror reflecting the complexities of human behavior and society’s struggles.

While the subject matter itself is undeniably grave, satire provides an avenue to dissect the absurdities, contradictions, and hypocrisies that surround the discourse on guns. By exaggerating these aspects through humor, satire allows us to dissect the intricacies of society’s relationship with firearms – from the political wrangling over regulations to the glorification of violence. We chose satire and comedy to protect our own well-being too, we will not display our traumas, our cries, and our pleas–because that has not worked. When 21 little first graders were blown away in Connecticut, and white children at that, when that moment did not work to affect any change, what will? The only thing that happened was the continuous community based gun violence effectively ignored for decades because of systemic racism and more shootings, this time, 4th graders, in Uvalde.

Through laughter, discomfort, and self-reflection, satire provides a lens to confront the underlying factors that perpetuate gun violence. The root of the problem is necessary to explore because we believe gun violence is a public health crisis, not a criminal justice issue. We thank the police for working with us on this work. We all have a role in public safety. We all play a role in keeping each other safe.

Our play seeks to ignite conversations that may otherwise remain buried beneath the weight of statistics and sorrow.
The characters that will grace the stage are not caricatures, but rather vessels through which we explore the shades of humanity – from the victims and perpetrators to the policymakers and armchair critics. We are challenged to contemplate the role we play in the perpetuation or prevention of this epidemic. Instead of frozen in shock, let’s take… ACTION! PLACES PLACES…Take your PLACE. Where do YOU stand?

COVID-19 NOTICE

Show your support for Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble with this mask

This event is Outdoors. Face coverings are strongly recommended. Proof of vaccination will not be required.

Everyone should practice recommended social distancing guidelines during their time at all EYTE events.

  • In addition to using hand sanitizing stations onsite, everyone is encouraged to wash their hands regularly while at the event.
  • If you are feeling ill, we ask that you refrain from attending the performance and visit us when you are feeling healthy.
  • Please take care of yourself and your fellow patrons by respecting our protocols and procedures. If, for any reason, you refuse to abide by our safety measures, you will be removed without a refund.
  • Please contact us if you test positive for COVID-19 after attending a show.  Reach out to us at info@elizabethyouththeater.org

COVID-19 is extremely contagious and an inherent risk in all public locations where people are present. The CDC advises that older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. People who show no symptoms can spread the coronavirus if they are infected and any interaction with the general public poses an elevated risk of being exposed to COVID-19. EYTE has put in place preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19; however, we cannot guarantee that you will not become infected with COVID-19. By attending EYTE events, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure of COVID-19 and agree not to hold EYTE; or any of its affiliates, employees, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury.

Shots Fired! 2023 Walking the Beat -

This special event could not have been possible without the support of the following:

 

 

Donate

Your contribution to the Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble makes you an ally in our efforts to help young people build capacity for social change through art-making.

As an organization committed to deepening artistic engagement in communities, while fighting for justice, we are looking for your support!

Join our mission now.

Categories
Events Fundraising Support Us

Enough Play Reading

Elizabeth Youth theater ensemble fundraising event

2023 Holiday Mixer Celebration

Donate

Your contribution to the Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble makes you an ally in our efforts to help young people build capacity for social change through art-making.

As an organization committed to deepening artistic engagement in communities, while fighting for justice, we are looking for your support!

Join our mission now.

Categories
Events Fundraising Support Us

2023 Holiday Mixer

Elizabeth Youth theater ensemble fundraising event

2023 Holiday Mixer Celebration

Donate

Your contribution to the Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble makes you an ally in our efforts to help young people build capacity for social change through art-making.

As an organization committed to deepening artistic engagement in communities, while fighting for justice, we are looking for your support!

Join our mission now.

Categories
Media News

Union County Teenagers Tackle Violence Intervention in their Community through Art and Immersive Technology

WarnerMedia Supports WTB 2021 LA

Union County Teenagers Tackle Violence Intervention in their Community through Art and Immersive Technology

July 1, 2022, Elizabeth, NJ- The Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble’s (EYTE) Walking the Beat program receives support in the amount of $379,940 from the Attorney General’s Office as a part of its inaugural Community-Based Violence Intervention (CBVI) initiative. EYTE’s community partners also include the Union County Division of Youth’s Youth Forward, City of Elizabeth Office of Youth, Elizabeth Public Schools, Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Elizabeth Police Department, Elizabeth Public Library, Warner Media and National Endowment for the Arts. 

Now in its seventh year, Walking the Beat is an arts based social justice residency for teenagers of the Global Majority and law enforcement workers. Utilizing performing arts as a vehicle for empowerment and community building, Walking the Beat has transformed lives with a results-based arts education methodology and curriculum which includes Drama Therapies and trauma based Yoga & Mindfulness, Virtual Reality (360 and Unreal Engine), and Oral History. Walking the Beat inspires — in students and officers alike — an appreciation for their common humanity, and a commitment to non-violence, community building, and social justice. The program will conclude in December 2022.

EYTE will also welcome Union County’s Youth Forward program as a partner this year. “The County of Union is proud to be a part of this initiative and I would like to thank EYTE for including our Department of Human Services as well as our young people within the County this year,” said County Manager Ed Oatman. “Youth Forward will help open the lines of communication between youth from all over Union County and law enforcement on a more personal level. It is a great, innovative way to offer an important dialogue and connect these two groups together. We look forward to hearing about their learning experiences and seeing their installations come to life.”

Walking the Beat currently has 40 students enrolled from within Union County, who will be creating original content in three different categories: Devised Theater, 360 Virtual Reality, and Unreal Engine. Beginning in August, students will present work and installations, free and available to the public. Full schedule to be announced at a later time.

“This year we are centering art for wellness and well-being,” says EYTE Program Facilitator and Curriculum Director, Angela Kariotis. “Not only do we believe in art as an intervention but as a disruptor of violence. We believe creativity is preventative not just rehabilitative. We will be exploring how trauma works in our bodies, how our bodies work and interact with each other, and art towards our collective healing.”

13 new recruits from the Elizabeth Police Department will join our program as a part of their community on-abording experience. In a joint statement, Elizabeth Police Director, Earl Graves, and Chief of Police, Giacomo Sacca state, “Walking the Beat is a great opportunity for new recruits to engage the community in a unique way. A chance to build a stronger bond with our officers and the youth we serve, is something that will stay with them throughout their careers. It is a learning experience from both ends and the Elizabeth Police Department fully supports the program.”
Additional officers will come from the Union County Prosecutor’s Office. “We are once again excited to be a contributing partner to EYTE’s annual “Walk the Beat Program’, added Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and County Chief of Detectives Harvey A. Barnwell. “This program provides an excellent opportunity for law enforcement officers and students to come together, to share their life experiences, and enhance community relations.”
The City of Elizabeth has been a long-time supporter of EYTE’s Walking the Beat program. “The Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble has made it their mission to bridge the gap between youth and law enforcement,” says Mayor J. Christian Bollwage. “Its impact is not only a lifelong learning experience for our youth, but the police officers involved as well. Executive Director Theo Perkins provides a safe space for those looking to build a greater sense of community and communication and that is exactly what our youth needs.”
The program will round off with a community based oral history project, in partnership with the Elizabeth Public Library. Community members will be trained to conduct interviews surrounding safety and gun violence intervention. Applications for the Oral History Cohort will be available in August.
Program Facilitators for Walking the Beat include Founder and Director, Theodore Perkins, Curriculum Director and Program Facilitator, Angela Kariotis, Drama Therapists Adam Stevens, Mindfulness and Yoga coach Tina LeMar, Virtual Reality artists Alton Glass, Idalis Maldonado, and Jacob Rosa.

For Press and Media inquiries, please contact Ivy Hurwit, ivy@elizabethyouththeater.org.

About the Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble

Established in 2015, The Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble’s mission is centered upon strengthening the voices of young artists. Utilizing theater-arts based curricula, EYTE provides creative learning opportunities for the youth of city and global majorities, where they gain experiences that empower self and community.

Designations: Since 2020, Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble has been a qualified organization of the

New Jersey Cultural Trust and an affiliate member organization of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Visit: www.elizabethyouththeater.org

Categories
Events

Walking The Beat 2021: The Fugitive Academy

The Fugitive Academy: 2021 Walking the Beat - NJ
The Fugitive Academy: 2021 Walking the Beat - NJ
Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble presents:

Walking the Beat 2021: The Fugitive Academy

Sunday, september 12 @ 6 pm est with a LIVE Q&A after the show - click here to rsvp NOW!

Directed by Theo Perkins, Executive & Artistic Director

Written and arranged by Angela Kariotis, Curriculum Director & Program Facilitator

Assistant Directed By Ariana Montoya

In Walking the Beat 2021: The Fugitive Academy we explored class struggle and building solidarity between students and officers, both required to take orders. Both are preoccupied with survival. Both caught in systems of the state.

Fugitivity is the defiant refusal of standards, impositions from elsewhere. Fugitivity is the soul’s defiance and the spirit chasing freedom. Imagination is the artist’s work. So, we got lost, and escaped into our imaginations. We wondered and wondered into the future. And instead of remaining there, in an ephemeral state of possibility, we returned for the sake of the living.

We are back with this love letter, this warning, this manifesto. We know, we do not yet live in the world we want to live in. But we can co-create one using our imaginations. The future is ours. What will you risk for it? Dream with us. Class is in session. Welcome to The Fugitive Academy.

COVID-19 NOTICE

Show your support for Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble with this mask

This event is Outdoors. Face coverings are strongly recommended. Proof of vaccination will not be required.

Everyone should practice recommended social distancing guidelines during their time at all EYTE events.

  • In addition to using hand sanitizing stations onsite, everyone is encouraged to wash their hands regularly while at the event.
  • If you are feeling ill, we ask that you refrain from attending the performance and visit us when you are feeling healthy.
  • Please take care of yourself and your fellow patrons by respecting our protocols and procedures. If, for any reason, you refuse to abide by our safety measures, you will be removed without a refund.
  • Please contact us if you test positive for COVID-19 after attending a show.  Reach out to us at info@elizabethyouththeater.org

COVID-19 is extremely contagious and an inherent risk in all public locations where people are present. The CDC advises that older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. People who show no symptoms can spread the coronavirus if they are infected and any interaction with the general public poses an elevated risk of being exposed to COVID-19. EYTE has put in place preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19; however, we cannot guarantee that you will not become infected with COVID-19. By attending EYTE events, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure of COVID-19 and agree not to hold EYTE; or any of its affiliates, employees, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury.

The Fugitive Academy: 2021 Walking the Beat - NJ

This special event could not have been possible without the support of the following:

 

 

Donate

Your contribution to the Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble makes you an ally in our efforts to help young people build capacity for social change through art-making.

As an organization committed to deepening artistic engagement in communities, while fighting for justice, we are looking for your support!

Join our mission now.

Categories
Events Social Justice

For the Sake of Our Bodies

For the Sake of Our Bodies
An Exploration of Cop and Teen Relations

Walking the Beat 2018 - New Jersey

For the Sake of Our Bodies was developed as part of Walking the Beat: an ongoing arts-in-education
residency supported by The Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble, The Office of Youth, Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation, and HBO


Wednesday and Thursday, 
September 12 and 13, 2018 @ 8pm
Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy

CAST

Students:

Cooper Mendonssa
Fatima Laurent
Gryffin Mendonssa
Janay Martinez
Jared Delante Smoot
jayleen Camargo Ojeda
Masiyah Harrison
Natalia Chancafe Santos
Oniyah Mina
Selena Jean- Pierre
Skylin Pereira
Trevon McClain
Marie Isme
Bryan Rodriguez
Angelica Medina
Ariana Montoya

Officers:

Tamiko Brooks
Darin Williamson
Lamar Hartsfield
Ed Pinkevicz (on camera)
Ina F. Silva (on camera)
Jennifer Perez (on camera)
Categories
PERFORMANCES Social Justice

The Privilege of Living

The Privilege of Living
The Walking the Beat project works to reinforce positive interactions between police and young people through facilitated dialogue and improvisation.
The Privilege of Living
An Exploration of Cop and Teen Relations

Walking the Beat 2019 - New Jersey

Saturday Se[ptember 14 at 7pm
Sunday, September 15 at 2pm

Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy 

Project Facilitators 

Theo Perkins – EYTE Founder, Executive & Artistic Director 

Angela Kariotis – EYTE Curriculum Director & Program Facilitator; Writer/Performer 

CAST

Students:

Angelica Medina
Briyana Albornoz
Fatima Laurent
Janay Martinez
Jared Delante Smoot
Kenneth Roman
Lougayen Souryal
Masiyah Harrison
Natalia Chancafe Santos
Oniyah Mina
Santos Colon
Selena Jean- Pierre
Trevon McClain

Officers:

Romina Cannon
Karim Gad
Isa McClendon
Darin Williamson

Guest Artists:

Choreography sequences by Nicholas Rodriguez

Drama therapist work by Brooke Campbell

Trauma BaseD Yoga by Tina LeMAr

Drama therapist work by Brooke Campbell

Trauma BaseD Yoga by Tina LeMAr
Credits

Director/Producer – Theo Perkins

Writer- Angela Kariotis
(based on writings from participants)

Program Assistant –
Bryan Rodriguez

Video and Graphics –
Adler Lafleur /Cinematic Hitman, LLC

Stage Crew –
members of TJAA Drama Division


Special Thanks

City of Elizabeth
Mayor J. Christian Bollwage
Councilwoman, Perkins-Auguste
The Elizabeth Board of Education
Dir. Krishna Garlic, Dir. Earl Graves
Deputy, Chief Giacomo Sacca
Michael Ojeda
Sandra Toll
Erika Hicks
Mary Rivera
Dennis Williams
Kenn Foster
USC Arts Leadership Program
Cornelius Smith Jr
Delores Perkins
Monica Perkins
Valencas Restaurant
The Elizabeth Police Department
Skylin Pereira
Cooper Mendonssa
Sarai Smith