Theater Breaking Through Barriers Provides Catharsis for At-Risk Youth via SING FOR HOPE

Sing for Hope is proud to announce an exciting new Cultural Partnership Program that supports NYC-area arts organizations in their efforts to increase reach, diversify audiences, and model civic spirit. The Sing for Hope Cultural Partnership Program is a go-to resource for arts organizations that want to engage communities on a broader scale, but may not have the budget or bandwidth to establish a fulI community outreach department.

Provided free of charge to participating arts non-profits, the Sing for Hope Cultural Partnership Program connects arts organizations with appreciative new audiences in under-resourced communities. Sing for Hope handles coordination and logistics for the programs, which range from in-hospital concerts to theatre workshops for underserved youth to collaborative painting sessions in veterans' centers.

Sing for Hope Co-Founder Camille Zamora says, "Thanks to an generous anonymous donor, we are able to offer our new Cultural Partnership Program completely free of charge to the vibrant arts non-profits that make our city so great. Sing for Hope Cultural Partners receive a turn-key arts outreach program that broadens their audiences and impact without having to expend resources on navigating city agencies, infrastructures, etc. Our team handles all logistics pro bono, and the arts companies get to focus on what they do best: creating meaningful art for great audiences. We love what we're hearing back from our new Cultural Partners report: the program is fun and different for their artists, and transformative for their brand and mission."

One of Sing for Hope's terrific new Cultural Partners is the outstanding Theater Breaking through Barriers (TBTB). TBTB is one of the few professional theaters in the country dedicated to advancing actors and writers with disabilities and changing the image of people with disabilities from dependence to independence. TBTB organized and ran a 10-week drama workshop for students at New York City Children's Center (NYCCC) in the Bronx, which provides behavioral health care services to youth ages 5 to 21 with serious emotional disturbances.

Nicholas Viselli, Artistic Director of TBTB, said, "When Sing for Hope first approached us about bringing our work to New York City Children's Center, we knew we wanted to get involved. We created an intensive program, led by company member David Rosar Stearns, to help these great kids write their own material to rehearse and perform, while also learning about theatre production, creativity, and self-expression."

David (who is currently appearing in TBTB's "The Other Plays" at A.R.T./NY Theatre) described his experience this way:

The only thing that I really knew for sure going into this was that many of these kids had been handed a raw deal, coming from home environments that involved abuse, neglect, and tremendous instability. Out of the fifty some residents, the staff hand picked those children they thought would best benefit from the program and who showed a sincere interest in participating. My group consisted of eight teenagers from 15-17 years old. Since many of the young people were not native English speakers, I was paired with an English teacher, who would be present at all classes according to protocol.

Over the weeks, we learned about ourselves and each other through playing improv games, doing writing exercises, and singing musical theatre songs. "Defying Gravity" and "For Good" from Wicked, and "Quiet Uptown" and "My Shot" from Hamilton, all became standards for our little group. There would often be tears when hearing these lyrics... One week I did an anonymous writing exercise where the prompt was "Tomorrow I-" and we concluded the class singing "Tomorrow" from Annie. Reading through the writings on my way home that afternoon, I came across these words: "Tomorrow I will forgive the person who raped me." In that moment, and many comparable ones, I was brought quickly back to the reality of what these children had been through, and the importance of the catharsis that we can make possible for them through the gift of art. Throughout the workshop the kids thrived, they became more vocal, braver, and softer in what is a very harsh reality. Theater class became an escape, which is what I had hoped it would be for them.

Luis Pinon, Principal of New York City Children's Center, said, "The theatre program that Sing for Hope brought us, Theatre Breaking through Barriers, has been a welcome delight for our students, and has motivated some students to improve their behavior so as to participate. David has been genuinely interested in assisting our youth to unlock their inner talents and express themselves. Only positive comments from children and staff!"

Sing for Hope welcomes organizations to join in sharing art with communities in need. For more information, contact Michelle Femminella, Director of Volunteer Service, at m.femminella@singforhope.org.

ABOUT SING FOR HOPE

Sing for Hope transforms lives throughout New York City by bringing the power of the arts to those who need it most. Through the volunteer service of dedicated artists-actors, musicians, dancers, Broadway performers, directors, photographers, puppeteers, painters, and more-Sing for Hope provides dynamic arts outreach programming to under-resourced communities across NYC. Sing for Hope's programs include collaborative concerts for hospital patients, after-school arts classes for at-risk youth, and its flagship public art initiative, The Sing for Hope Pianos, which reaches an estimated 1 million New Yorkers and visitors every year. A celebration of Sing for Hope's vision of art for all, this beloved public art project brings artist-designed pianos to the parks and public spaces of NYC each summer, then moves the instruments to permanent homes in the schools, healthcare facilities, and community organizations that Sing for Hope serves year-round. Sing for Hope is defined by the volunteerism of artists, the needs of the community, and the belief in the power of the arts to uplift, unite, and transform. Founded in 2006, Sing for Hope is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Learn more at www.singforhope.org.

ABOUT THEATER BREAKING THROUGH BARRIERS

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), formerly Theater By the Blind, is an inclusive theater company in New York City that strives develop the talents of individuals with disabilities for work onstage, backstage, in the office and in the audience. It was founded in 1979 by Ike Schambelan (who died in 2015), with sighted actors recording plays for the blind. The theater then moved to performances for the blind and then blind performances for the sighted.They recently began doing a short play festival each year. For more information, visit www.tbtb.org.

ABOUT NEW YORK CITY CHILDREN'S CENTER

The mission of the New York City Children's Center (NYCCC) is to provide a comprehensive array of behavioral health care services to youth with serious emotional disturbances that help foster recovery and successful functioning in the home, school and community. NYCCC offers a full range of programs and services including inpatient hospitalization, behavioral health clinic, day treatment/intensive day treatment, intensive case management, crisis intervention, learning resource center, community respite, and youth and family support within a safe and therapeutic environment. For more information, visit https://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/facilities/nyccc/.