Songwriter's Orchestra and Herstory Writers Workshop to Set Stories of Youth Incarceration to Music

Title derived from Dathonie Pinto's upcoming memoir Chains Don't Rattle Themselves.

Artists from the Broadway and NYC music communities will join with formerly incarcerated writers and affected family members for two emotionally-charged concerts about youth incarceration on March 12th and 13th.

Chains Don't Rattle Themselves: A Concert for Youth Justice will present the writers' true stories in two ways -- first as autobiographical retellings, and then as original songs adapted from those stories.

The concerts seek to mobilize audiences to take direct action in support of the Raise the Age NY campaign, which is advocating for NY State to stop prosecuting 16- and 17- year olds as adults. New York is currently one of only two states in the country to do so.

A collaboration between the Songwriter's Orchestra and Herstory Writers Workshop, Chains Don't Rattle Themselves will feature songs and performances from rapper Latasha "LA" Alcindor, Brinae Ali (Shuffle Along), Olivia Harris, Zhailon Levingston (iLLA), John-Michael Lyles (Barrow Street's Sweeney Todd), Taylor Simone (of Jazze Belle), Britton Smith (Shuffle Along), and Allison Strong (Mamma Mia).

The event will feature readings of stories developed by Herstory Writers Workshop and read by Dathonie Pinto, Anjelique Wadlington, and more.

The project was conceived by Alex Hare and Solomon Hoffman, with direction by Hare and arrangements by Hoffman. Co-produced by Olivia Harris.

Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased online at thesongwritersorchestra.com. The Sunday March 12th concert will take place at 4 pm in Port Washington, NY at Landmark on Main St., located at 232 Main St. The Monday March 13th concert will happen at 7:30 pm in New York City at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, located at 130 W. 30th St. The performances may not be suitable for children under 10.

The Raise the Age campaign began in 2012 as an effort to stop New York state from prosecuting and incarcerating 16- and 17- year olds as adults. With strong momentum around the cause and support from Governor Cuomo, 2017 may be a tipping point for this vital criminal justice reform campaign. The concert will include key action steps that New Yorkers can take to contribute to this campaign.

The Songwriter's Orchestra is a one-of-a-kind ensemble of twelve musicians that collaborates with singer/songwriters of diverse musical backgrounds to present arrangements of original songs. The group has performed its unique concerts at Feinstein's/54 Below, Le Poisson Rouge, The Laurie Beechman Theatre, Miller Theatre and The Dolphin Café. Its members have trained at top music schools including The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and the Eastman School of Music.

Herstory Writers Workshop brings unheard voices into the public arena, transforming lived experiences into written memoirs powerful enough to change hearts, minds and policy. For over two decades, in English and Spanish, in the jails, in schools and in the community, Herstory writers have been writing to be heard. Empowered by the techniques that turn their private experiences into gripping narratives meant to waken a stranger into caring, with each word, with each scene they create there is an intensity and passion that startles visitors to our public presentations and events.

The concert is co-sponsored by the New York Chapter of Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice. Bend the Arc has been engaged on increasing public awareness and action on Raise the Age campaign as part of their broader mission to achieve meaningful criminal justice reform at the local and state level.