Gaining confidence and hope through acting

My name is Simira Hoyte and I attend Beechfield Elementary/Middle School. I am 13 years old.
 
This past summer I experienced a program called the Grand Prix of Summer Learning.  It was a great program, but nothing compared to the theatre class that Young Audiences provided and their teacher Mr. Bey. My first time in Mr. Bey’s class I didn’t enjoy it much. However, after I got the role of “Rose” from August Wilson’s play Fences, I completely fell in love with the character. Rose took me to new places I thought I would never go. I shared her emotions and struggles, but mostly her anger.
 
“Rose” took me to my first performance in front of our school district’s CEO, Dr. Alonso and all the principals. I was quite nervous, my stomach was in knots because of my excitement, but little did I know I had it in me all along! I just didn’t know it.
 
The theater class made me gain confidence and hope and helped me do things I never ever thought I could do…ACT!
 
Acting has changed so much in my life. I know that I can be something and can make a big difference in the world. I have a bright future. As long as I never give up and keep working hard to achieve my dream!
 
My name is Jerome Banks-Bey.  During the school year I teach theatre full time with Baltimore City Public Schools; this summer I taught theatre through the Grand Prix of Summer Learning.  This program was an opportunity for struggling students to receive additional support and fun enrichment activities.
 
My students (including Simira) focused on scenes and monologues by William Shakespeare and August Wilson, two giants of the theatre world. Both authors’ works deal with human conflict and emotion. The choice of August Wilson is a simple one. We discussed how Wilson's Century Cycle chronicles the African-American experience in America.  I encouraged my students to not only see their parents, family members and friends but to also see a bit of themselves in the role. The scene studies that we used from Wilson dealt mainly with interaction and especially with conflict and their characters reaction/expression in dealing with that conflict. Students were easily able to relate to Wilson's characters because they often have dealt with similar issues or are about to.

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Winter Teaching Artist Institute Workshop
 
An Introduction to the Performing Arts for Elementary and Early Childhood – Presented by Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts
Friday, January 13 from 1-4 pm
Miller’s Court, 2601 North Howard Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
 
This workshop will introduce teachers and teaching artists to the art forms of dance, drama/puppetry and music through concrete accessible arts experiences that connect directly to performing arts standards and can be applied as arts skills instruction in the preschool classroom and beyond.
 
Registration is $20 for non-TAI grads and $10 for TAI grads - price includes refreshments and materials.  To register, please fill out our online form.  To learn more about the Teaching Artist Institute, visit our website.
 
 
Funding now available through Rural Access
 
Young Audiences assemblies are available at 60% off the listed fee thanks to generous funding from the National Endowment of the Arts, Target, Geico, and the Maryland State Arts Council.

This funding is open to schools, libraries and community centers in rural counties in Maryland - Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick, Carroll, Harford, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset, St. Mary's, Charles, and Calvert. 

There is no application or deadline; but funding is released on a first come, first served basis.  All programs must take place between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012.  For more information and available artists, click here, or call Donna Sherman at 410.837.7577 to schedule.
 

Welcome our new board member
 
We are thrilled and grateful that E. Scott Johnson has returned to the YA Board.  He was on the board from 1991-2004, and served as president from 1994-1997.  In honor of his significant contributions to YA and the arts, Scott received the Nina Collier Arts Champion Award in 2006.  (Nina Collier is the founder of YA)  Scott’s service to the arts community extends far beyond YA, he has served as the Chair of the Maryland State Arts Council, the President of the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, and President of the Maryland Lawyers for the Arts. 

A former musician and record producer, Scott has made a huge impact on the arts and we welcome him back to YA!