Vineyard, Young Playwrights, Anne Frank Center Presents DIARY 21 5/24 At Vineyard

The DIARY 21 PROJECT - an Arts-In-Education collaboration of Vineyard Theatre, Young Playwrights Inc., and The Anne Frank Center USA designed to teach students literacy and tolerance through the arts, using Anne Frank's diary and legacy as inspiration - presents the benefit performance ARE WE WRITING LOUD ENOUGH? featuring selections from new plays by students of Washington Irving High School and Lab School for Collaborative Studies and performed by the Vineyard Theatre Student Company, on Monday, May 24 at 7:00pm at Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street) in Manhattan.

DIARY 21 PROJECT is an educational initiative that uses "The Diary of Anne Frank" -- an authentic Holocaust document and literary work of art written by the young Anne Frank while she was in hiding for two years with her family during the Nazi occupation of Holland -- to inspire New York City students to realize the power of writing.

ARE WE WRITING LOUD ENOUGH? is a benefit performance of selected works, created under the auspices of the program, that reflects current responses and attitudes towards worldwide injustice and prejudice.

Students from Washington Irving High School and Lab School for Collaborative Studies attended orientation sessions at the Anne Frank Center USA, located at 38 Crosby Street in Soho, where they met with Holocaust survivors; read "The Diary of Anne Frank" in class; and participated in writing workshops with a professional playwright from Young Playwrights Inc. The DIARY 21 PROJECT showcases and affirms the talent and intellect of young writers, and was established in honor of Anne Frank, whose writings began a dialogue still unfinished in the twenty-first century. The Vineyard Theatre Student Company, an ensemble of high school students, performs their work in ARE WE WRITING LOUD ENOUGH?

DIARY 21 was created in support of President Obama's educational initiatives requesting educators to think as revisionists and act as responsible contributors to an equitable and elegant educational model. The collaboration merges arts education, literacy, history and contemporary insight. Now in its second year, DIARY 21 seeks to find new ways and opportunities for non-profit organizations to expand during difficult economic times. The program was offered at no cost to the participating schools.

Vineyard Theatre - whose world-premiere production of Adam Rapp's play "The Metal Children" opens tonight (May 19th) and runs through June 13th - is the recipient of the Tony Award for the musical AVENUE Q and continues as producer of the musical's current production at New World Stages in New York. As well, The Vineyard has produced the musical [title of show] on Broadway. One of the nation's leading non-profit theatre companies dedicated to new plays and musicals, bold programming and arts education, The Vineyard has produced the Pulitzer Prize-winning productions of Edward Albee's "Three Tall Women," and Paula Vogel's "How I Learned to Drive." The Vineyard has consistently premiered provocative, groundbreaking works and developed innovative educational collaborations. Vineyard Theatre's 2009-10 season opened with the critically-acclaimed play "A Boy and his Soul" written and performed by Colman Domingo, then went on to present the World-Premiere of Kander and Ebb's "The Scottsboro Boys" - which will transfer to Broadway next season - and are currently co-producing the new musical "The Burnt Part Boys" by Mariana Elder, Nathan Tysen and Chris Miller, directed by Joe Calarco, with Playwrights Horizons.

Young Playwrights Inc. was founded by Stephen Sondheim in 1981 as the only professional theatre devoted solely to the work of writers aged 18 or younger. The organization promotes playwriting in basic education through the use of a standardized curriculum taught by professional playwrights. Young Playwrights Inc. is under the guidance of Sheri M. Goldhirsch, Artistic Director.
The Anne Frank Center USA promotes the universal message of tolerance by developing and disseminating a variety of educational programs, including exhibitions, workshops, and special events. A partner organization of the Anne Frank House, the not-for-profit organization uses the diary and spirit of Anne Frank as unique tools to advance her legacy, to educate young people and communities about the consequences of intolerance, racism and discrimination, and to inspire the next generation to build a world based on mutual respect. The Anne Frank Center USA is under the guidance of Yvonne Simmons, Executive Director.

ARE WE WRITING LOUD ENOUGH? will be presented on Monday, May 24 at 7:00pm at Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street). A reception will follow. General admission tickets for this benefit performance are $15. For reservations and more information, call 212-353-0303 or visit www.vineyardtheatre.org.

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