SOUL NATIVITY, ART Makers and More Set for Harlem School of the Arts' Fall 2016 Season
By: BWW News Desk Aug. 16, 2016
Today, the Harlem School of the Arts announced programming for its Fall 2016 Season. Under the leadership of President Eric G. Pryor, the premier arts institution kicks off a dynamic season of more than 15 performances, concerts, exhibitions and events that feature music, dance, theatre and visual arts.
This includes the highly acclaimed signature holiday classic, Soul Nativity; the new intimate artist conversation series, ART Makers that will feature award-winning Dancer and Choreographer Camille A. Brown; visual art exhibitions showcasing Artist Isis Kenney's The Revolution Will Not Be Televised; the National Association of Women Artists' (NAWA) Shelter; and the HSA Theatre Alliance original satirical production of All The News, and more.
"Across all four artistic disciplines of Music, Dance, Visual Art and the Theatre, HSA stands poised to be a vital and dynamic cultural hub for the community of Harlem and beyond" said President Eric G. Pryor. "HSA 2017 means classes for pre-K to adults, performances, concerts and exhibitions - there's literally something for everyone here. We're really excited to be presenting our first fully integrated season, and I sincerely hope you and your family will join us."
The HSA Theatre Alliance will launch the Fall 2016 Season with its first original production, All The News, a dynamic fast-paced satire of contemporary news programs and infotainment, written by HSA students and directed by HSA Artistic Director Alfred Preisser and Obie Award-winner and HSA Alumnus and Artist in Residence Chris Myers. This HSA original production will feature sketches, jokes and spoken word to explore American culture and the 2016 Presidential Election via the nightly news, social media and music.
HSA will also be launching ART Makers, a new intimate conversation series that will feature notable and emerging artists, including award-winning Dancer and Choreographer Camille A. Brown. The four part series will provide aspiring artists, New Yorkers and art patrons with the opportunity to interact with and learn more about artists' personal development processes and inspiration.
The HSA Visual Arts Department will present Isis Kenney's The Revolution Will Not Be Televised from Friday, September 23, 2016 to Sunday, November 27, 2016. The exhibition is an evolution of a personal Hip Hop collection of celebrity-commissioned artwork. It features powerful collages that spark conversations about politics, art and the Hip Hop community. The Visual Arts Department will also partner with the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA) to present Shelter, from Thursday, December 1, 2016 to Tuesday, January 3, 2016. The exhibition will feature NAWA members' creative works in painting, collage, sculpture and mixed media.
The season will also feature the highly acclaimed signature holiday classic Soul Nativity from Friday, December 9, 2016 to Friday, December 23, 2016. The musical theatre extravaganza will feature song, dance and comedy and guest performances by the incredible Harlem Japanese Gospel Choir and Voices of the Flame, in an exploratory modern twist of the timeless story of the Nativity with a score infused with Gospel, R&B, Pop and Rock.
Other season highlights will include The Continuum Project on Friday, September 30, 2016, a partnership between the HSA Theatre Department and African Ancestry. The theatre performance and ceremony will explore the perceptions and realities of ancestry and its effects on the lives and creativity of the participating artists. The HSA Music Department will also present its Holiday Music Concert on Saturday, December 17, 2016. The production will feature the Children's Choir, HSA Band and the highly acclaimed Dorothy Maynor Singers, performing a compilation of traditional favorites and original compositions to usher in the holiday season.
HSA's Creative Spirit Saturday and Open House will be on Saturday, September 17, 2016. The event will provide families with an opportunity to learn about HSA's offerings, introduce children to fall courses through free sample classes in music, dance, visual art and theatre, meet HSA faculty and enjoy performances by HSA students.
Harlem School of the Arts enriches the lives of young people and their families through world-class training and exposure to the arts across multiple disciplines of Music, Dance, Visual Art and the Theatre, in an environment that emphasizes rigorous training, stimulates creativity, builds self-confidence, and adds a dimension of beauty to their lives.
For more information about Harlem School of the Arts' Fall 2016 Season visit www.HSANYC.org.
Season Highlights and Special Programs
Creative Spirit Saturday & HSA Open House
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Harlem School of the Arts' Creative Spirit Saturday and Open House is an annual event that provides families with an opportunity to learn about HSA's offerings, introduce children to fall courses through free sample classes in music, dance, visual art and theatre, meet HSA faculty and enjoy performances by HSA students.
HSA Theatre Alliance, All The News
Friday, September 23 - 25, 2016
HSA Theatre Alliance presents All The News, a dynamic fast-paced satire of contemporary news programs and infotainment. The production is written by HSA students and directed by HSA Artistic Director Alfred Preisser and Obie Award-winner and HSA Alumnus and Artist in Residence Chris Myers. This HSA original production will feature sketches, jokes and spoken word to explore American culture and the 2016 Presidential Election via the nightly news, social media and music.
Isis Kenney, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Friday, September 23, 2016
Isis Kenney's The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, curated by HSA Visual Arts Director Jonathan Patton, features powerful collages that spark conversations about politics, art and the HIP HOP Community. The HIP HOP Fine Art Show evolved from a personal Hip Hop collage collection to a full exhibit after Kenney was commissioned by celebrities for several projects. The opening reception will be on Friday, September 23, 2016. The Artist Talk is scheduled for Friday, October 21, 2016.
HSA Theatre Department & African Ancestry, The Continuum Project
Friday, September 30, 2016
The HSA Theatre Department and African Ancestry will present The Continuum Project, a theatre performance and ceremony that will explore the perceptions and realities of ancestry and its effects on the lives and creativity of the participating artists.
National Association of Women Artists (NAWA), Shelter
Friday, November 18, 2016
The HSA Visual Arts Department will partner with the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA) to present Shelter, from Thursday, December 1, to Tuesday, January 3, 2016. The exhibit will showcase NAWA members' creative works in painting, collage, sculpture and mixed media. The Artist Talk is scheduled for Friday, December 9, 2016.
HSA Theatre Alliance, SOUL NATIVITY
Friday, December 9 - 23, 2016
The HSA Theatre Alliance will present the critically-acclaimed SOUL NATIVITY, a production conceived and directed by HSA's Artistic Director Alfred Preisser and Prep Director Tracy Johnson. The musical theatre extravaganza will feature song, dance and comedy and guest performances by the incredible Harlem Japanese Gospel Choir and Voices of the Flame, in an exploratory modern twist of the timeless story of the Nativity with a score infused with Gospel, R&B, Pop and Rock.
HSA Music Department, Holiday Music Concert
Saturday, December 17, 2016
The HSA Music Department presents its annual Holiday Music Concert featuring the Children's Choir, HSA Band and the highly acclaimed Dorothy Maynor Singers, performing a compilation of traditional favorites and original compositions to usher in the holiday season.
For over 50 years, Harlem School of the Arts has stood apart among the premier arts institutions in New York City as the sole provider of quality arts education in four different disciplines: Music, Dance, Theatre and Visual Arts. HSA enriches the lives of young people and their families in Harlem and the Greater New York City area by providing: unrivaled on-site arts instruction, vital outreach partnerships with New York City schools, and quality performances
and exhibitions that attract diverse audiences to its dynamic cultural arts facility. HSA creates opportunities for both children and adults to fully experience the benefits that the arts can bring to their lives. For more information on Harlem School of the Arts courses, programs, and events, visit www.HSAnyc.org.
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