Interview: Stage and Screen Star, Daphne Rubin-Vega, On the 2017 REBEL VERSES YOUTH ARTS FESTIVAL

In a new partnership with Vineyard Theatre, Developing Artists will present its REBEL VERSES Youth Arts Festival at a new home this summer - Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15th St.) - with performances July 27th, 28th, 29th and August 3rd, 4th and 5th. Each night will provide the opportunity for a number of youth performing arts organizations from NYC and the surrounding areas to work with a a special celebrity artist and put on between six to eight short performances a night. These young performers will have the chance to take part in workshops led by industry experts who will coach them in a variety of performing arts areas including voice, acting on camera, and more.

Since the festival's inception, REBEL VERSES Youth Arts Festival has provided youth companies with the opportunity to collaborate and network with their peers and prominent artists, encouraging the development of new works in theatre through this two-week event.

BroadwayWorld had the exclusive opportunity to speak with stage and screen star, Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent, NBC's Smash) who is serving as the spokesperson for this year's festival about her involvement with Developing Artists; personal experience with the young performers and how she feels their contributions will change the future of theatre; as well as how the community can show their support to continue offering these opportunities to future generations.

Photo Credit: Kevin Weinbold

How did you first get involved with Developing Artists and the REBEL VERSES Youth Arts Festival? Can you talk about how their mission resonated with you personally?

I met Jill [DeArmon] and Jinn [Kim], the founders of Developing Artists and REBEL VERSES Youth Arts Festival, through our work with The LAByrinth Theater Company. As members, we've shared many experiences - including raising kids. We've watched each other's children grow, and when the grown-ups come together and play, so do the kids! REBEL VERSES is my adolescent dream realized. I would have benefited so much from an artistic outlet like this at that age, so the opportunity to help make that happen for someone else's child is so rewarding for me.

What is your favorite part about working with younger generations and how do you feel their contributions will impact the future of theater?

Watching young people actively finding their creative expression is thrilling to me because it is such a brave act. It is being a warrior without the violence. To observe and assist people who are creating works of art out of nothing is the opposite of destruction. What we're doing here is like planting the seeds of a theatrical garden; watching it grow is it's own reward, because you know the solution to a problem is in there.

Describe how the workshops are structured and what types of skills the student ensembles will be developing, as well as the leadership of the working artists who will be collaborating with them.

I had the most inspiring time when I lead my Songwriting Workshop. Walking in, I was greeted with the warmest, loving students, who were eager to learn. Developing Artists' structures their workshops in a way in which I was able to work with eight kids at a time for an hour and a half. I loved this format because I was able to give each kid individual attention. By the end of the workshop, each student left with a beginning of their very own song to work on. I know all the workshop leaders involved, who teach auditioning, acting on camera, voice, clowning, Shakespeare and more, have found their time extremely rewarding.

The festival will be taking place at a new home this summer. How did you expect the venue will enhance the whole experience?

The chance for these students to create and show their work at Vineyard Theatre is an incredible opportunity. There are professional working artists who dream of working in this very theatre, and these students get to call it their home for two weeks. I think it allows them to see the scope of what their work can become. It's big and beautiful, and big and beautiful is inspiring.

How can the community get involved and help support this incredible organization? Can you talk about how you'd like to see the festival expand even more in the coming years?

If we continue the garden analogy, then you can imagine how I'd like to see the future of the organization. With the right supplies, the right environment, and the right amount of love, it will flourish. In reality, the private sector is our source of assistance. There are people who have the means to help, but who still feel powerless. By investing in a program like REBEL VERSES, they would be getting much more out of it than they are putting in. Developing Artists is an organization that provides great privilege to people who would never experience it otherwise. And, community helps by showing up. REBEL VERSES performances are open to the public, and these kids have so much to share. Performing without an audience is like dancing couples without a partner. People can donate by visiting http://www.developingartists.org/support.html

To purchase tickets and for more information, visit www.developingartists.org or call (212) 353-0303 x 2.