PIE Makes West Coast Debut in May

PIE (Projects In Education) had its premiere in New York City's Central Park in the summer of 1991. The programming, created by Patrick Riviere (then Artistic Director of The Emerging Artists Project, Inc.) would go on to critical acclaim and much success in the New York Tri-State area and also Chicago, Illinois. Since that time, PIE has reached thousands of children and families in schools, parks, libraries, women's shelters, children's hospitals and other venues, often sponsored by the community, Riviere's own non-profits or through grants and donations.

As PIE prepares for a fundraising campaign to re-launch the programming in New York City this fall, a West Coast company has just been cast and will debut with a preview on May 4^th and an official opening on May 5^that CASA 0101 Theater in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles. Both of these presentations will be open to the community but are also specifically being scheduled to welcome community organization leaders who may want to include this programming in their events and also private and public school teachers and PTA, PTO representatives who handle booking school assemblies.

Josefina Lopez (REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES) is the Founder and Artistic Director at CASA. Emmanuel Deleage is the Executive Director and has been collaborating on the initiative with Riviere. "Casa 0101 is dedicated to making a positive impact in our community. However we've noticed that theater is still perceived as something not quite mainstream here in Boyle Heights. Taking theater into schools and exposing youth to theater is a great way to instill a sense of wonder and possibility. We're very proud to bring the PIE project into Casa 0101's educational outreach programming," said Deleage.

The LA company:
Kevin Lino, Carmelita Maldonado, Robin McClamb, Nikki McKenzie, and Robert Paterno. Claudia Duran is the Company Manager and Female Understudy and Isaac Cruz is the Male Understudy.

PIE (Projects In Education) Story Theatre is a collection of fairy tales, fables and modern children's literature performed in the Story Theater format inspired by Viola Spolin and Paul Sills. The program also includes participation stories and highlights the importance of teamwork, family, community and reading as an important component to learning. The LA Company will also be writing an original story to be performed as part of the repertory of stories.

CASA 0101 was founded by Josefina Lopez, author of Real Women Have Curves, in 2000 to fulfill her vision of bringing art and live theater programs to Boyle Heights. From its humble beginnings in a former tiny bridal shop, CASA 0101 now has two theater facilities and has established itself as a leading arts venue for Los Angeles' East Side, currently offering year round theatrical productions and classes in dramatic writing and acting to youth and adults.

For more information visit http://www.casa0101.org/ or call 323-263-7684.

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