2012 Season Review
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Camp David Gonzalez
The Lost Son
Performances: March 23 & 24, 2012
An original play, written & performed by youth at Camp Gonzalez. The Lost Son follows the story of Ghadí, a man living in the jungles of Ghana who sets out on a journey to avenge the brutal deaths of his parents. Traveling with his friend Damuzaher and a lion named Katí, Ghadí finds love, family, and the wisdom to let go of his troubled past.
Fremont High School
The Unknown Protector
Performance: March 29, 2012
An original play, written & performed by FHS students. The Unknown Protector follows the story of CeCe and Priscilla, whose father is a Marine in Iraq. When their father goes missing and is presumed dead, the girls’ resentful uncle takes over the family bakery. At the same time, a homeless man is pestering customers and a mysterious stalker has his eye on the bakery and the girls. As CeCe and Priscilla struggle, they finally find salvation from an unknown protector.
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San Fernando High School
Awakening of the Dark Canvas
Performance: May 3, 2012
An original play, written & performed by SFHS students. Sam is on a mission to find his family, but the Society is after Sam. Will he recognize the darkness that surrounds him or will he risk everything he loves?
This performance was the centerpiece of a larger community event, “Awakening the Heart of Community.” This event — which was put on by US, in partnership with the Los Angeles County CEO’s Office, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, Friends of the Family, the Los Angeles Education Partnership and several other Pacoima organizations — also included a community discussion, mural painting and dinner, with the goal of inspiring new, creative ways to revitalize the Pacoima community.
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Pacoima Charter Elementary School
Fiesta of Tall Tales
Performance: August 3, 2012
Three original vignettes inspired by folktales, written & performed by students at Pacoima Charter Elementary.
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Family Forum Theatre Project
Performance: September 22, 2012
An original play created and performed by adult and youth residents of Pacoima using "Forum Theatre," a model of participatory theatre developed by Brazilian director Augusto Boal through which participants examine social issues affecting their real lives.
US participants performed their play once through, then engaged audience members in a deep discussion before performing it again, this time inviting audience members to intervene and create solutions to the situations and struggles presented on stage.
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San Fernando High School
Drama Cafe
Performance: October 25, 2012
A 6-week writing and performance styles workshop. The Drama Cafe on October 25 was a showcase of original scenes, monologues and spoken-word pieces written and performed by students from SFHS.
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Camp David Gonzales
Money, Power & Regret
Page Play: November 9 & 10, 2012
Over the course of a 10-week playwriting workshop, incarcerated boys at LA County Probation Camp David Gonzales wrote an original play, "Money, Power & Regret," that follows twin brothers, Smokey and Deuce. Thrown out of the house when Mom's Boyfriend blows a fuse, the brothers are tempted by street hustlers and mobsters. While Deuce stays focused on staying on the right path, Smokey gets involved with a Columbian drug cartel, putting everyone at risk, including his innocent brother.
Professional actors with scripts performed the play for other incarcerated minors at Camp David Gonzales on November 9, and then for a public audience on November 10.
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Vaughn Middle School
The Wisdom of the Heart
Page Play: November 14, 2012
In a partnership with Youth Policy Institute, middle school students at Vaughn Next Century Learning Center wrote an original play, "The Wisdom of the Heart,” over the course of a 10-week playwriting workshop. For two sisters, Janelli and Starla, Lava City’s annual Lava Festival celebration turns sour by the sudden disappearance of their beloved father. Rumors are flying that the infamous Russo mafia is to blame. With the help of two young men, Janelli and Starla set out on a journey to the desert metropolis of Jupiter City where the Russo family reigns. As they get closer to the truth, they find that responsibility lies closer to the heart than the Russo mafia.
Professional actors from Chalk Repertory Theatre performed a Page Play reading of “The Wisdom of the Heart” in front of an audience consisting of over 120 family members, peers, school faculty and members of the community on November 14.
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Edison Middle School
A Curse Upon You
Page Play: December 12, 2012
Over the course of a 10-week playwriting workshop, Edison Middle School students wrote an imaginative and hilarious new play, “A Curse Upon You," featuring kids with tails, bickering Gods, ancient shape-shifting monsters from the underworld, an unruly librarian and the horrors of prom! Nicholas and Desiree discover an ancient spell book. As they use the book to bring their father back from the dead, the spell goes terribly wrong. Instead, they summon the ancient creature Ogiad and a deadly warning.
Professional actors from award-winning Theatre of NOTE performed a Page Play reading of “A Curse Upon You” on December 12.
(Click here to see the entire photo album.)
