Literature to Life Festival

September 17, 2008 by  

Someone was inspired after my Educational Theater post and emailed me about the Literature to Life festival happening this weekend in New York City. I am signed up for a full festival pass and I was hoping to see most of the shows and blog about the event. Unfortunately I do not know how much of the festival I will be able to attend. Class work is picking up for me now and I have a thirty minute group performance of Romeo & Juliet due in two weeks. From the videos I have seen online there seems to be some quality performances. If you have the time I recommend it. Hopefully I will see you there!

THE AMERICAN PLACE THEATRE PRESENTS THE 2008 LITERATURE TO LIFE® FESTIVAL “CITIZENSHIP AND CENSORSHIP: RAISE YOUR CIVIC VOICE”, ON SEPTEMBER 20 AND 21, 2008.

The annual Literature to Life Festival is the only public opportunity to see The American Place Theatre’s renowned Literature to Life® educational theatre performances. This year’s Festival features 8 verbatim-adaptation performances of significant American literature along-side presentations by leaders of activist organizations. Audiences will engage in a new conversation: one between citizens and educators, leaders of renowned activist organizations, and characters from great American literature brought to life by a great American theatre.

To kick-off the Festival, on Saturday, September 20th, at 7pm, The American Place Theatre will present the premier Literature to Life performance County of Kings: the beautiful struggle written and performed by Lemon Andersen and directed by Elise Thoron. This new, original work blends memoir, spoken word, hip hop, and theatre in Andersen’s unique voice. Lemon Andersen, a critically-acclaimed poet best known for his Tony Award winning work in Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam on Broadway and HBO, brings his jarring coming-of-age memoir to life at The American Place Theatre, following the footsteps of John Leguizamo and Eric Bogosian. This performance is an opportunity to see County of Kings: The Beautiful Struggle before its appearance as part of the 2009 Under the Radar Festival. This performance will be followed by the Festival opening-night reception.

Closing the Festival, on Sunday, September 21st, at 7pm, The American Place Theatre will present a preview of the newest Literature to Life production, Flight by Sherman Alexie, directed and adapted by Wynn Handman. Flight tells the story of a young Native American teenager named Zits who struggles to overcome actions of violence. This humorous and heartbreaking story will be presented throughout the year to educational audiences nationwide – the Literature to Life Festival is currently the only public performance of this important new work.

Performances run on hour followed by a dialogue with a partnering activist organization. Showtimes are at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, and 7pm each day, with a reception following the 7pm performances. Click here for specific times.

Single-Performance tickets are $20; Single-Day tickets are $55; Full-Festival Passes are $100. Educators attend for free (limited availability). Tickets may be reserved by calling The American Place Theatre at 212-594-4482 x10. For more information, logon to www.americanplacetheatre.org/stage/.

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