Past Theatre Events

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Cultural Animators Series

We are delighted to introduce a new series at The Riverside Theatre. The Cultural Animators Series will present provocative theatre, spoken word and performance art that we hope will arouse, promote and effect change.

Four weekends of work by artists who consciously use their art to question, inform and search for answers. Connected to each performance are Theatre of the Oppressed workshops, which will give you the opportunity to engage in this transformational technique and connect with other concerned individuals.

• May 3, 8pm - Artists for Peace
Dance, poetry and jazz are blended in a stirring evening grounded in the provocative stories of Maxine Hong Kingston�s Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace.

Featuring Bernier Dance, Janis Brenner, the Doug Wahlberg Band, Lucille King, Reanna Muskovitz, Ted Yudain. Portion of the proceeds to benefit homeless veterans at New Era Veterans Residence, assisting with the costs of a room, groceries, metrocards and phone cards.

• May 9, 8pm - New Street Poets
When the forces of gentrification threaten to redevelop Caf� Home, center of a vibrant artistic neighborhood, six dynamic poets must struggle to keep their community alive. This exciting spoken word drama confronts the human cost of progress in the 21st century.

• May 16 & 17, 8pm - H
The anatomy, language and message of power through a hip hop prism, H brings Shakespeare�s Henry IV, part 2 & 3 into the 21st Century. This contemporary urban interpretation of the bard�s chilling words questions the divine right to rule and the deep ambiguities of power.

Conceived and Directed by Kaia Calhoun

• May 30 & 31, 8pm - Axes To The Roots
A multi-disciplinary exploration of the lives and conditions of residents who live in homeless shelters, Axes puts a human face on a forgotten issue and demonstrates the indomitable human spirit in the midst of dire circumstances.

Conceived and Directed by Kaia Calhoun

THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED WORKSHOPS

FREE

Enter into the imaginary world of theatre in order to rehearse life in all its complexities. Through the art of Theatre of the Oppressed examine what �is� and what can �be�, so we can re-invent the world for the better.

• May 10, 7pm
Urban Community vs Gentrification

• May 17, 7pm
The Anatomy of Power

• May 31(after the performance)
The Face of American Homelessness

Free No theatre experience necessary � just a voice

Facilitated by Jeremiah Drake

10th Annual New York Family Arts Festival

June 13 � Harlem Arts Alliance: Artz, Rootz, Rhythm

Co-sponsored with the Harlem Arts Alliance
Honoring Tradition with New Expressions

Artz Rootz & Rhythm celebrates new and continuing excellence within the Harlem Arts Alliance network of artists. This evening�s program pairs emerging and established artists in each of the represented genre in observance of past glories and future brilliance.

• JoSunJari String Trio, a sibling string trio of classical musicians aged 16, 10 and 7.
• June Townes & Gospera with a blend of Spirituals, hymns, gospel and sacred anthems.
• Ruth Williams Dance Foundation:
• Cartier
• Cartier w/ Acapella Tap Ensemble
• Broadway veteran singer and actor, Kevin Anthony

Join us as we end the evening with everyone in glorious harmony in a Community Sing led by Kevin Anthony

June 14 � Egyptian Cultural Village
• Whirling Dervish / Tanoura
• Tahtib - Saiidi Cane & Stick Dance
• Horse Show uses a life-sized horse puppet
• Wings of Isis / Butterfly dance performance.
• Arabic Band

June 15 � Salute to the Family
To help celebrate our tenth anniversary, paying tribute to people and organizations dedicated to the uplifting the family unit, thereby strengthening our communities.

June20 � Power of Drum III: Universal Voices

This year The Power Of Drum III explores the sound of the universe through 'Universal Voices'.

We honor the legendary voice of Giovanni Hildago, master conguero

we journey to Mali with it's djeli's and hear the timeless music of the Mandeng from Yacouba Sissoko (kora), Famoro Dioubate (balafon) and Mar Gueye (djembe)

Vocalist Philip Hamilton and beat-box master Kenny Muhammad take us on a journey evoking inter stellar sounds, hip hop, be-bop, James Brown and melodies from around the world and more...

Brazilian percussionist Jorge Amorim conjures rhythms of the berumbao, batukada and samba as well as master percussionist Jamey Haddad, who's longtime association with Paul Winter and Paul Simon will blend rhythms from India, Lebanon and the Middle East.

June 21 � Bumba Meu Boi
A multi-disciplined Brazilian celebration of culture, mythology & animal life involving hands-on craft activities, musical demonstrations, creative movement, puppets and storytelling.

June 22 � Dr. Glory's Youth Theatre
An original musical, written, directed and choreographed by Dr. Glory Van Scott.

June 27 � RESURRECTION OF A SWAN
A story of love, pain and life told through the song lyrics of gospel, jazz and opera�s greatest compositions sung by Cherisse Bradley, Angela Starks, John Stanley and Theresa Thomason with poems and stories by playwright Bridgette Wimberly and composer Michael Wimberly.

• Conceived and directed by Michael Wimberly
• Written by Bridgette Wimberly
• With Cherisse Bradley, John Stanley, Angela Starks, Theresa Thomason, Michael Wimberly
• Choreographed by Corey Baker
• Dancers - Jennifer Edmonds-Jones and Corey Baker
• Staged by Margot Faught

June 28 � Italian Cultural Village
• Southern Italian Tambourine Percussion Workshop
• Southern Italian folk Dance Workshops, including: the Tarantella, the Tammoriatta, the Pizzicarella
• The Adventures of Don Giovanni and his servant Arlecchino � Comedia del Arte
• Italian Storytelling
• Mask Making
• Tarantella: The Spider Dance

June 29 � Jazz Musem in Harlem
Johnny Colon Orchestra � A celebration with the Latin Jazz rhythms and charanga sound.

African Diaspora Summer Film Series

In collaboration with ArtMattan Productions

Presents various independent and foreign films, animation, features and documentaries every Friday and Saturday during August. In addition, films appropriate for the entire family will screen every Sunday.

African Diaspora Film Festival
in association with ArtMattan Productions

  Full Details

WHITE LIKE THE MOON - FOR STUDENTS IN 9TH GRADE AND UP
USA, 2001, 23 min, drama, English, Marina Gonzalez Palmier, dir.
A Mexican-American girl struggles to keep her identity when her mother forces her to bleach her skin white to fit into "Anglo" society in the 1950's.

Followed by

EVERY CHILD IS BORN A POET: THE LIFE AND WORK OF PIRI THOMAS
USA, 2003, 58 min, drama, English, Jonathan Robinson dir.
A fiery mix of documentary, spoken word poetry, and dramatizations, exploring the life and work the Afro-Cuban-Puerto Rican author of the classic autobiographical novel Down These Mean Streets (1967). The film examines Thomas' use of creative expression as a means of confronting poverty, racism, violence and isolation. - $8

2 PM- THE FISTS OF A NATION (los Pu�os de una Naci�n) - NY PREMIERE
Panama, 2006, 75mins, doc, Spanish with English Subtitles, Pituka Ortega Heilborn, dir.
This excellent documentary takes us back to the ideologicaly volatile of the late Seventies and early Eighties, when Roberto Duran, a young, hard-hitting boxing champion from one of the poorest barrios of Panama City, became a hero and a symbol not only for his country but for all of Latin America as it fought for its independence in the face of mounting U.S. economic imperialism. - $8

3:45 PM - THE BLACK CANDLE - USA NY Premiere
This landmark, vibrant documentary uses Kwanzaa as a vehicle to explore and celebrate the African-American experience. Narrated by world renowned poet Maya Angelou and directed by award-winning author and filmmaker M.K. Asante, Jr - $8

5:30 PM - EL BENNY
Cuba, 2006, 132mins, musical drama, Spanish with English Subtitles, Joge Luis Sanchez, dir. Cuba's 2007 Oscar entry, based on the life of the famous Cuban musician, Benny Mor�, with new versions of Mor�'s songs performed by contemporary musicians including Chucho Valdes, Juan Formell, Haila, and Cuban hip-hop sensation, Orishas. - $10

13 MONTHS OF SUNSHINE
USA, 2007, 98mins, drama, English and Amharic with English Subtitles, Yehdego Abeselom, dir. The story of an Ethiopian man, Solomon (Sammy Amare) who marries Hanna (Tsion Fikreselassie) so she can get a green card and become a legal immigrant of the United States. During the year-long green card application process, they must learn to live with each other, as the marriage of convenience becomes complicated through love, jealousy, and the clash of cultural values each must face in following their dreams. Q&A with cast and crew followed by a catered reception - $25

NZI THE SMALL GRIOT - US PREMIERE
Switzerland, 1996, 13mins, animation, French with English Subtitles, Mohamed Soudani, dir. Follow the adventures of a very curious and adventurous little boy who likes to tell stories.

Shown with

THE STORY TELLERS - US PREMIERE
Switzerland, 1998, 90mins, documentary, French with English Subtitles, Mohamed Soudani, dir. Made by ADFF 2008 Filmmaker in Residence, Mohamed Soudani, In this revealing documentary, African actors and filmmakers discuss how that Africa has to fight to take back its cinema. "One of Africa's weapons is its culture, its identity." Q&A with the director following the screening.

4:30 PM - DISAPPEARING VOICES: THE DECLINE OF BLACK RADIO
USA, 2008, 64mins, documentary,English , U-Savior Washington , dir.
In this controversial, original and provocative documentary, director U-Savior Washington takes an probing look at the rise and fall of an art form unique to America - Black radio. Written and narrated by radio personality and historian, Bob Law (Night Talk). Not only an expose, a history lesson, and a memoir - it is also a source for solutions. Q&A following the screening.

7:00 PM - COMPLEXION - NY PREMIERE
USA, 2008, 90mins, drama, English , Vandon N. Gibbs, dir.
Derek meets the intriguing Tracee, and the two immediately form a special bond. All seems perfect in their relationship except the one thing that's keeping Derek from truly falling in love with Tracee - her skin complexion.

1:30 PM - SOUTHERN CROSS
USA, 2008, 14mins, Family drama, English, Kameishia Wooten, dir.
A traditional Sunday for an African American family is turned upside down when Gloria, discovers her seven-year-old daughter, Tabitha, playing with a Confederate Flag Pillow. This leads to new discoveries of family history, and eventually brings Tabitha to a new understanding of her cultural background.

Shown with

MR BONES
USA, 2007, 112mins, Family drama, English, Nathan Ross Freeman, dir.
When three children survive a bus crash that kills their parents, their childhood dies as well until they find an unlikely partner in grief at a shallow grave in the woods of a desolate park. They share a secret - MR. BONES - whose final resting place they've enshrined with their own memories and kept closely guarded for nearly 30 years...

4 PM - ANGELS CAN'T HELP BUT LAUGH - NY PREMIERE
USA, 2007, 94mins, Documentary, English, Thomas S. Burns, dir.
Actress Terri J. Vaughn sits down with 25 of Hollywood's African-American actresses to discuss how they deal with being Black female in today's entertainment industry. This documentary offers a candid, unscripted look into the minds and hearts of these actresses. Q&A following the screening.

NuDance Festival

  Full Details

"...selection of choreographers...was unusually good...throughout the program, the level of dancing was impressive."
Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times (Click here to read full review.)

Dec. 10 - CHOREOGRAPHERS IN CREATION
An opportunity to interact with these amazing young artists and experience their creative process. Featuring:

• Corey Baker - of Ballet Noir
• Karen Gayle - of xodus dance collective
- Free

Thursday, Dec 11

• Janusphere Dance Company - Come In
• SYREN Modern Dance - Dig (excerpts)
• Ayoj Liewop Body Politic - Breathless
• Malleable Dance Theatre - Etta
• xodus dance collective - Waiting Room
• RASTRO Dance Company - Soledad y el Mar
• Ballet Noir - Rock Bottom

Friday, Dec 12

• Janusphere Dance Company - Come In
• SYREN Modern Dance - Dig (excerpts)
• Sarah Council Dance Projects - Hold Sway
• xodus dance collective - Waiting Room
• RASTRO Dance Company - Soledad y el Mar
• Jessica Danser/dansfolk - The Same Way You Are
• Fly By Night Dance - Flight Instruction/Solo Flight

Saturday, Dec 13

• Ayoj Liewop Body Politic - Breathless
• Ballet Noir - Rock Bottom
• Malleable Dance Theatre - Etta
• Sarah Council Dance Projects - Hold Sway
• Jessica Danser/dansfolk - The Same Way You Are
• Fly By Night Dance - Flight Instruction/Solo Flight
• xodus dance collective - Press in Case of Emergency

Funded in part by:

Doctor Glory's Youth Theatre

Enjoy the musical and acting talents of our next wave of young artists in this original Christmas fable. Written, directed & cheographed by Dr. Glory Van Scott. Free Admission

Nutcracker

A timeless children's ballet, telling the story of one little girl's enchanted Christmas with dancing soldiers, life-sized dolls and dancing ferries. In partnership with Mooney/Cooley Dance.