Posts filed under ‘Performing Arts’
“Scrooge Around the World” performed at Perkerson Elementary
“Scrooge Around the World” was performed at Perkerson Elementary School and is a contemporary version of the classic Scrooge play. In this version, contemporary musical artists who represent the Ghosts of Holiday Past, Present and Future visit Scrooge and warn her to change her selfish ways. Each ghost takes Scrooge to different places around the world to see how people help each other and show kindness throughout the world. Scrooge also experiences how each country celebrates winter holidays.
The Ghost of Holiday Past continues to try to change Scrooge’s mind with a visit to America, Mexico, and China. The Ghost of Holiday Present, Beyoncé, takes him to Africa. Ghost of Holiday Future, The Grim Reaper, takes Scrooge to the cemetery where she will eventually end up all alone if she does not change. As the story progresses, Scrooge wakes up a changed woman determined to help and do good deeds.
The Perkerson Elementary performance of “Scrooge Around the World” is full of wonderful music from Michael Jackson, The Temptations, and Mariah Carey, along with other musical artists.
The play was performed at the Rialto Center on December 6th along with three performances at Perkerson Elementary School on December 18th.
written by Karen Ross, Teacher, Perkerson Elementary
Adamsville Primary/Miles’ Elementary shine in Productions at Alliance Theater
Christopher Estes, Principal at Lenora P. Miles, hosted afterschool rehearsals for two new plays written by elementary students that were presented during the Young Voices with New Visions Short Play Fest on the Alliance Black Box Theatre stage in Woodruff Arts Center on Saturday, November 17, 2012. The two plays featured were “Mrs. Roosevelt and I,” a touching historical drama, and sci-fi inspired “Blue Light.”
Mrs. Roosevelt and I:
- Written by Lavianna Smith (6th grader from Fulton County Public Schools System)
- Directed by Ms. Letricia Henson, Adamsville Primary/Miles’ Elementary School Music Teacher
- Featured: Janaisha Wright (5th grade), Mrs. Heather Nilson (EIP teacher), Quandrell Claybrooks) and Ms. Henson, Co-producer for YVNV
Photos from the production of “Mrs. Roosevelt and I”
http://www.apsk12.org/media/Photo_Gallerys/APS_Alliance2012/index.html
Blue Light:
- Written by Alden Hollis (FCS, 4th grade)
- Featured: Runako Brown (5th grade), Ba’Haiyyah Taylor (5th grade), Gikiya Griffin (3rd grade), Malique Jones (4th grade), Zakiyah Jones (3rd grade), Phillip Kenley, Jr. (3rd grade), Danielle Leverette (3rd grade), David Leverette (3rd grade), Braxton McPhearson (3rd grade), Ryan Carter (Morehouse College Drama major)
During the third YVNV play, in an evening of 6 short plays, J. Hope Jackson’s Harper Archer Middle School chorus students gave memorable performances in the poignant social drama “Miracles.”
Miracles:
- Written by Khadirah Muhammed (FCS, 6th grade)
- Performances by Ricky Evans (6th grade), Zachare Gist (6th grade), and Joshua Jones (7th grade).
Young Voices with New Visions Short Play Fest, founded by Pamela-Faith Jackson (Gifted/Talent Development Teacher-Miles Intermediate/Adamsville Primary), provides a haven for gifted young writers and actors to share in the new play development process.
The YVNV “Write A Dream” Short Play Competition, adjudicated by college professors and industry professionals, is on a nation-wide search for students in grades 3-12, who are interested in writing for the stage.
For more info: e-mail yvnvplay@gmail.com or visit yvnvplays.org
APS and the CEP providing cultural, artistic experiences and learning to Atlanta Public School students
The City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs created the Cultural Experience Project to give every Atlanta Public School student, from Pre-Kindergarten through the 12th Grade, the opportunity to experience the city’s premier arts and cultural venues. The vision is for every student in Atlanta Public Schools to have at least one on site experience at an arts and cultural venue each year. The goal is for the students to have an education enhancing encounter that directly ties to the Georgia Learning Performance Standards and curriculum goals.
The CEP provides field trips to APS students that are entirely funded by private donations from Turner Broadcasting, The Zeist Foundation, Loridans Foundation, Keneda Fund, The National Endowment for the Arts Shakespeare in American Communities program and other local businesses and partners. CEP was started under the administration of Mayor Shirley Franklin and has continued under Mayor Kasim Reed. Events are offered free of charge to all APS students and are administered by the APS Fine Arts Department.
“The Cultural Experience Project model ensures that all APS students can access Atlanta’s cultural assets regardless of family finances, where they live, or what school they attend,: said City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs Director Camille Russell Love. “We want every child to have opportunities at no cost to them. Even transportation is funded through a generous grant from Turner Broadcasting.”
“The Cultural Experience Project provides powerful educational experiences for all Atlanta Public School students and provides real-world connections for classroom learning while opening students’ hearts and minds to new intellectual and aesthetic horizons. Many students would never otherwise experience the rich cultural life of the city, and because of this program, new generations of citizens will grow up knowing how to take full advantage of the cultural, civic and artistic wealth here in Atlanta, ” said Raymond Veon, Interim Director, Fine and Performing Arts Department, Teaching and Learning for Atlanta Public Schools.
In its first seven years, the Cultural Experience Project has provided over 233,000 cultural experiences that have enhanced classroom learning to the district’s elementary, middle and high school students. The City of Atlanta envisions the opportunity for 100% of its students to experience the wealth of Atlanta’s cultural venues as a part of a “best in class” education through the Atlanta Public Schools.
Black History Month activities at Scott Elementary increase students’ enthusiasm and knowledge
Can you name the first African American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize? While many would incorrectly answer, “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” students at Scott Elementary School know that Ralph Bunche won the award in 1950—14 years before King—making him the first African American recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Responding to daily African American history trivia is just one way the students at Scott are celebrating Black History Month. Every day during the morning announcements, students listen as the black history trivia question of the day is presented. Leadership Support Specialist, Malvina Hadley, is coordinating Scott’s Black History Month events. She says seeing the students’ increased participation and enthusiasm for the trivia piece has been very refreshing.
“It’s been a big hit,” said Hadley. “After they hear the questions, they race to their classroom computers to look up the correct answers, and they can’t wait to put their answers in the answer box on the way from lunch. We’re seeing more and more participation every day.”
Trivia question winners receive school currency know as Scott Bucks, which they can use to purchase items from the school store. Scott Bucks are part of the school’s behavior modification program, and are generally issued as a reward for good behavior.
In addition to the trivia challenges, students have celebrated Black History Month by creating an African American Quilt; decorating school walls with Footprints in Time—paper footprints with the names and contributions of students’ favorite African Americans written on them; and a special luncheon featuring traditional African American foods on the menu.
Students lined walls around Scott with "Footprints in Time."
The big event, however, was the school’s culminating activity, the Black History Month program. Students showed off their talent and black history knowledge as they performed in front of their peers, teachers and administrators. The program included African dancers, spoken word poetry by “The Langston Hughes Poets,” a presentation by Scott’s Tuskegee Airmen, a tribute to Whitney Houston and interviews with the Little Rock Nine, courtesy of Scott Elementary’s “channel seven nightly news.”
Scott’s interim principal, Jimmye Hawkins, says she is very pleased with the level of participation from the students and the staff at Scott. She thought it was very important to put the right amount of time and energy into Black History Month, because she wanted students to learn about their history, and more importantly she wanted students to know about the everyday people who served as trail blazers.
“I really want them to understand that it’s not about the flash and dash—it’s not just about the athletes and celebrities you see on TV,” Hawkins said. It’s about real, everyday people who worked hard and sacrificed to open doors for African Americans today.”
Program host, Jacory Ellison
"The Langston Hughes Poets"
Scott students as the Tuskegee Airmen
Grady High students prepare for Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Winter Concert
Two Grady High students will join the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra for the group’s Winter Concert on Saturday, March 12, at Symphony Hall inside the Woodruff Arts Center. Junior cellist Andrew Cleveland and senior bassist Kiah Simmons will perform with more than 100 talented youth musicians in this orchestra geared toward 13-18-year-olds.
“I love it because I’ve made a lot of friends in there,” Cleveland said. “I know everyone even though we have around 100 people.”
Cleveland, a four-year member orchestra, has been playing the cello for nine years, following his grandmother’s dream.
“My grandmother played cello,” Cleveland said. “I play with her old cello, which is like 120 years old. It’s great for me because music is a beautiful thing and a fun way to express yourself.”
Cleveland practices cello Monday through Thursday, four hours a day, in addition to ASYO practices every Saturday morning. He balances this and playing bass in a rock band called Lotus Slide.
Therrell and Carver return to the Bard, and the Shakespeare Tavern
Students from Therrell High’s School of Health Science & Research performed “Macbeth” over this past weekend at the New American Shakespeare Tavern as part of an ongoing partnership with the Atlanta Shakespeare Company. The performance concluded an eight-week afterschool residency conducted by the Shakespeare Tavern’s Education & Training department, which works with Therrell and the Carver School of Technology. (The Carver students performed “The Comedy of Errors” on Sunday.)
According to Education & Training Director Laura Cole, the group sends three artists each week during this period to work with the students. Check out the video above from Therrell’s performance, produced by APS Media Production Manager Scott King. (Check out his photo gallery here, a 2009 AJC article here, and our previous coverage here.)
APS educators raise their voices in chorus for Atlanta Opera production of ‘Porgy and Bess’
Photo by Tim Wilkerson/Atlanta Opera
We couldn’t be prouder of Miles and Adamsville elementary chorus teacher Letricia Henson and Douglass High choral director Ben Polite, who currently are performing in the chorus for the Atlanta Opera‘s sold-out run of “Porgy and Bess” this week at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. It should be noted that the opera chorus already has received rave reviews, and we’d like to think Henson and Polite are two big-voice reasons why.
And this isn’t Henson’s first rodeo with George and Ira Gerswhin‘s iconic opera, which tells the story of African Americans in Depression Era Charleston, S.C. She sang in the opera chorus for the Atlanta Opera’s first mounting of “Porgy and Bess” back in 2005, and the following year performed the opera in Paris with the same group. (It marked the first time an American opera chorus of this kind was ever invited to perform in a European music hall, Henson notes.)
Miles Elementary celebrates Black History Month
L.P. Miles Elementary celebrated Black History Month with its annual program Friday. Parents and community members were delighted by the talent of the participating classes. After a rousing welcome by student hosts Deonte Bryant and Keari Bryant of Karen Pettigrew’s fourth-grade class, the talent began.
Performances were provided in by each grade level including pre-k and featured a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King by the school chorus.
The program was directed by music teacher Letricia Henson. Art teacher Dr. Russell Kennedy, stage manager/physical education teacher Rico Eberhart and media specialist Dr. Reginald Ponder were among the wealth of faculty talent that helped pull the program together.
The weeks prior to the program included thematic events with historically black college and university (HBCU) shirts, dressing up as a favorite African-American hero and black history trivia through out the month. Visit the APS Media Gallery for a full set of photos.
Young Middle welcomes Little Kids Rock — and rocks
Big thanks to Young Middle orchestra director Erik Herndon for pointing out this article in today’s AJC, in which singer-songwriter Joshua Radin of the popular Little Kids Rock organization visited the school to share his thoughts on the value of music and help donate instruments to 30 students. (OK, it probably didn’t hurt that Mr. Herndon, a passionate advocate for Little Kids Rock, was quoted in the article, but he’s already a rock star at APS.)
As Radin walked the kids through the chord progressions, Erik Herndon, the orchestra director and guitar instructor at Jean Childs Young and an Atlanta ambassador for LKR, stood nearby with this own guitar, spiritedly playing along.
Herndon is an energetic emissary for LKR because he has seen its benefits in the classroom.
“[This program] has empowered my students to explore their creativity, self-expression and passion for music,” Herndon said. “Imagine a classroom where students are just as comfortable interpreting Alicia Keys as they are Bach or jamming out on Beatles songs before band and orchestra classes.”
It’s community partners like these that help keep our students on their path to success. Thanks to Little Kids Rock and Mr. Herndon for sharing the good news.
APS choral groups get in tune at state event
We had a chance to check in on the Georgia Music Educators Association District 5 Elementary and Middle School large group performance evaluation, which was held in the Douglass High auditorium. APS served as host for the event. Coordinators for this year’s event were Garnetta Penn as district chairperson and Lydia Williams as host.
Participating APS schools included Parkside Elementary Chorus, APS Honor Chorus, Inman Middle Chorus, Bunche Middle Chorus and the Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy (CSKYWLA) Chorus. Judges included college music professors. Dr. John B. Haberlen, chair of Georgia State University School of Music, judged on tone, pitch, rhythm and diction.
The two-day event at Douglass High is being supported by the efforts of APS Music district personnel who are donating their time to make sure this event went smoothly.
