STAGE TUBE: TADA! Youth Theater and The New York Youth Symphony Featured in Public Works' THE ODYSSEY

This weekend director Lear deBessonet and composer Todd Almond's adaptaion of Homer's The Odyssey marks the third year the Public Theater's Public Works hits Central Park's Delacorte Theater with a brand new musical spectacular based on a classic piece of literature, mixing the talents of a handful of Equity actors with performing arts groups and community organizations from throughout New York's five boroughs.

In part one of a three part series, BroadwayWorld provides video introductions for two of the groups who will be featured in cameo performances.

First, TADA! Youth Theater. Since 1984, TADA! has been providing young people of all different backgrounds, including a large number of disadvantaged children and families, the opportunity to explore and perform musical theater together in an educational, supportive, and professional environment.

The New York Youth Symphony is the most awarded youth program of its kind in the nation, recognized for its innovative, tuition-free educational programs for talented young musicians. Founded in 1963 as an orchestra to showcase the metropolitan area's most gifted musicians ages 12-22, its activities have since grown to encompass programs in chamber music, conducting, composition, and jazz, with performances at world class venues including Carnegie Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Inspired by the historical pageantry movement of the early 1900s-known for blending mass spectacle with community engagement-this final work in deBessonet and Almond's grand trilogy reimagines the Greek epic with Public Works' signature blend of professional actors, community members and special guests. Man-eating Cyclops, a sorceress that turns sailors to beasts and the deadly sweet song of the Sirens explode onto the stage with spectacular numbers in this joyful, larger-than-life musical about finding your way home-no matter where fate may lead you.

THE ODYSSEY will feature cameo group performances by The Bobby Lewis Ensemble; The D.R.E.A.M. Ring;Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana II; The Marching Cobras; The New York Youth Symphony; and TADA! Youth Theater. The five Public Works community partner organizations are Children's Aid Society (Manhattan); DreamYard Project (Bronx); Fortune Society (Queens);Brownsville Recreation Center (Brooklyn); and Domestic Workers United(all boroughs, including Staten Island).