New Perspectives and NY Artists Unlimited Present ISAIAH'S DREAM Thru 3/25

The 20 year old New Perspectives Theatre Company and 30 year old NY Artists Unlimited have joined forces to present ISAIAH'S DREAM: A Parade of Poets closing on March 25 at 2 p.m. at New Perspectives Theatre, 456 W. 37 St., ground floor. They will be Pay-What-You-Want performances. Following the mid-town premiere, the play goes on a tour of libraries, community centers, and schools throughout the boroughs.

Conceived & directed by NY Artists Unlimited artistic director Melba LaRose ("Little Red - Girl from the Hood," "Ebony Black"), this is a fictionalized account of a boy finding his own voice in a poem about Martin Luther King (true story). Based on an 8 year old African-American who created the poem, the play aims to inspire children and touch the hearts of people everywhere.

About the show: "Centered on a Harlem boy visited by poets from around the world and throughout time, the show is appealing to people of all ages. The rich linguistic text is expressed through dance, choreographed movement, percussion, puppets, music, Jazz selections from Paul Serrato's More Than Red album, and interaction with the audience. Children & families are heartily welcome, as well as others. In previous incarnations, this piece has also been highly successful at senior centers and nursing homes."

Both companies are dedicated to nontraditional casting in all ways. Brazilian actress Magaley Beltran plays Isaiah, while the multicultural cast -- Elizabeth Logan, Mona DePena, Lunie Jules, and Sophia Haas -- bring to life such poets as Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, Pablo Neruda, Julia de Burgos, Rabindranath Tagore, Etheridge Knight, Rumi, Wu Men, and others. 

Performances are followed by in-depth discussions and written evaluations. At one library, a child proclaimed, "Tagore is COOL!"

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