Pillsbury House Theatre's Chicago Ave Project Presents Eyes on the Prize Short Plays 11/9, 11/10

PILLSBURY HOUSE THEATRE's CHICAGO AVENUE PROJECT's presents EYES ON THE PRIZE, a collection of seven short plays written by area children and directed and acted by Twin Cities theatre professionals. Performances of EYES ON THE PRIZE take place on the PILLSBURY HOUSE THEATRE Mainstage at 3501 Chicago Avenue South in Minneapolis on November 9th at 7:00 pm and November 10th at 4:30 pm and 7:00 pm. All performances are free.

In mid-October, the children attended a retreat with their very own dramaturge to learn about the creation of a story and to apply these techniques to creating their own production. Actors and directors were then assigned to each production to bring the children's works to vivid life on the stage. All dramaturges, directors, and actors volunteer their time to CHICAGO AVENUE PROJECT.

"CHICAGO AVENUE PROJECT is one of the best things about the Twin Cities theatre community," states EYES ON THE PRIZE Artistic Director Ellen Fenster. "The fact that so many theatre professionals donate their time and energy for these kids is heartwarming. The kids aren't just writing plays, they are experiencing an opportunity to express themselves creatively while also learning valuable reading and comprehension skills. So often we receive praise from the parents and teachers of CHICAGO AVENUE PROJECT youth who see the growth they receive from this program. When you attend a CHICAGO AVENUE PROJECT performance and you see the pride on the faces of the youth participating, you can help but be moved by this local treasure."

EYES ON THE PRIZE Lineup:

WATERLOO'S DREAM
By CHAREL MCGEE
Dramaturge: SARAH SLIGHT
Actors: ROSE LE TRAN and ERNEST BRIGGS
Director: ERIC POWELL HOLM

SPEEDY & FREDDY
By WELTON ALEXANDER
Dramaturge: DAWN BRODEY
Actors: CAROLYN POOL and SHERWIN F. RESURRECCION
Director: ANDRE SAMPLES

THE CUBED WORLD OF SKATING
By MYASIA TYSON
Dramaturge:
NATHAN TYLUTKI
Actors: KALIF TROY and ERIC "POGI" SUMANGIL
Director: JOSEPH SCRIMSHAW

I'M NOT A KID
By DIENABOY M'BOUP
Dramaturge: DAN PINKERTON
Actors: ERIKA CRANE AND KATIE KAUFMAN
Director: JESS FINNEY

NERD'S DELIGHT
By ABIB M'BOUP
Dramaturge/Director: KISEUNG RHEE
Actors: PAYTON WOODSON and Randy Reyes

INSIDE MYSELF: JEJA'S UNIQUE STORY
By FANTA DIALLO
Dramaturge: SARAH GIOIA
Actors: SIMONE PERRIN and NATHAN TYLUTKI
Director: DIONNE LAVIOLETTE

THE SAHARA STORY
By ALEXIS TARRIOS LUNA
Dramaturge: WENDY SALINAS
Actors: PEDRO R. BAYON and Maggie Chestovich
Director: John Miller-STEPHANY

About CHICAGO AVENUE PROJECT
The CHICAGO AVENUE PROJECT gives inner-city children an experience of success through the medium of theatre. Based on New York's nationally renowned mentoring program, the 52nd Street Project, the CHICAGO AVENUE PROJECT brings together professional adult playwrights, actors and directors who volunteer to work one-on-one with neighborhood youth on the creation and production of an original play.

The project is not about teaching youth how to act, though they do learn acting. Nor is it about teaching them how to write plays, though they learn that as well. It is about giving every child an opportunity to prove that he or she has something of value to offer, something that comes from within, something that cannot be taken away.

About PILLSBURY HOUSE THEATRE
A professional theatre uniquely housed within an inner-city neighborhood center, PILLSBURY HOUSE THEATRE is a multi-cultural company of artists, whose purpose is to engage a broad community in the art of theatre with programs and productions that provoke examination of the world around us. Through its work, PILLSBURY HOUSE THEATRE illuminates the differences that make each person unique and the similarities that bring people together, within an artistically engaging context that promotes understanding and leads to positive action.

The mission of PILLSBURY HOUSE THEATRE is to create challenging theatre to inspire choice, change and connection.

Visit PILLSBURY HOUSE THEATRE and CHICAGO AVENUE PROJECT online at www.pillsburyhousetheatre.org.

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