AACT Season newsletter

BACKSTAGE
Volume 2 Number 3
Spring 2009
From the Directors
Beyond intrinsic value, the study of any art
form builds and promotes thinking, processing, listening, concentration, and analytical
skills. Additionally, involvement with a performing arts group is a good vehicle for
learning and reinforcing the "how to" of
people and social skills. One learns that it
is not always about me, my, and I, but about
we, our, and us. There is very little that one
can do alone.
Dr. Wallace Cheatham
AACT Music Director
The North Star is pointed out as the Drinking Gourd in the collection of
songs and stories performed at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
The creative energy of the youth in African American
Children’s Theatre livened up special public events celebrating Black History Month this year.
“Follow the Drinking Gourd” was a collection of songs,
dance and poetry woven into a small scale theatrical production that could be easily toured. The children selected the
pieces under musical direction of Dr. Wallace Cheatham.
Our cast included Araeya Gatson, Kendra Guy, Malik Guy,
Caleb Johnson, Nia Johnson, Anthony Mensah, Imani Smith
and Thaddeus Smith.
“Follow the Drinking Gourd” was performed at the
Betty Brinn Children's Museum Neighborhood Night twice
and a third time at the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Family
Sunday.
Sponsors include Northwestern Mutual Foundation, the
Helen Bader Foundation, Jack and Lucy Rosenberg Foundation, and Wisconsin Arts Board.
African American Children's Theatre
was founded in 1989 by cousins following a
family tragedy. The formation of AACT provided a “stage” for grieving youth to work
through their feelings and redirect their
energies into positive outcomes. Today, AACT
offers all youth of the Milwaukee area a safe
place after school where they can express
frustration by using stories, role playing, music
and related theatre activities to encourage the
development of social sensitivity, thinking and
behavior, as well as performance skills.
WE ARE ASKING YOU FOR A DONATION.
A partnership with you will go a long way
toward helping our youth to become proud
and productive citizens.
Constance Clark, AACT Founder
Artistic/Executive Director
African American Children’s Theatre 1915 N. M.L. King Dr., Suite 213G, Milwaukee, WI 53212 [email protected] 414-461-5771 www.aact.us
Araeya Gatson
Malik Guy
I go to Elm Creative Arts. I am
7 years old. My favorite hobbies
are basketball and doing art. My
Mom helps with the show that I
do at AACT. In the future I would
like to be a doctor. I would like
to attend Marquette University. I
love being a part of AACT.
I'm 10 years old and attend
Golda Meir School for the Gifted
and Talented. I played baseball
for three years and won the MVP
Award and I love the WWE. My
experience with AACT has been
tremendous. My sister and I are
having a great time learning
about acting and performing.
Kendra Guy
I go to Roosevelt Middle
School of the Arts. I am a triple
threat because I sing, dance, and
act. I the future I want to be a
singer, a dancer, or a doctor. I
was 8 years old when I joined
the AACT company. I helped
write and produce “I Am The
Dream”. I would love to attend
either Julliard (in New York) or
Harvard University. One of my
favorite hobbies is softball. I play
for the Lady Tigers. I love being a
leader to everyone, that’s why I
joined AACT.
Caleb Johnson
I am a strong man of God.
I listen to music in my spare
time. I am an interesting person.
My favorite subject is Politics.
I like to act and sing. I play the
drums at my church. AACT is
not my first experience in
theatre. I was cast in a play
called “Tellin It Like It Is”.
AACT is a challenge but I enjoy
performing.
Girls in the front row: Kendra Guy, Imani Smith, Araeya Gatson. In the back:
Thaddeus Smith, Caleb Johnson, Anthony Mensah, Malik Guy and Constance
Clark. Nia Johnson is pictured to the right.
2
Cast Bios
Nia Johnson
I go to Cass Street School. I
like to watch TV. My mom got
me to join AACT. I am in the
third grade and am 9 years old.
I am a new member at AACT. I
like to clean house. I will become an actor.
Anthony Mensah
I am 11 and attend the
YMCA Young Leaders Academy.
I enjoy acting, singing, writing,
sports, school, and most of all,
AACT. I’m also a world traveler,
going to places such as Ghana
West Africa (my ancestral home),
London, Amsterdam and Germany. I’ve been in the MLK Jr.
poetry contest, Academy Act,
school-wide musical performances, and recited a poem at
the Bradley Center. I have an
exciting life and I’m glad AACT
is a new part of it.
Photos by
Sue Borges Vliet
African American Children’s Theatre 1915 N. M.L. King Dr., Suite 213G, Milwaukee, WI 53212 [email protected] 414-461-5771 www.aact.us
Imani Smith
I am 12 years old and I go to
Milwaukee School of Languages.
I like to sing, act, dance, and do
art projects. I played “Addy” in
Chicago in “The American Girl
Review”. In AACT I played
“Annie”. It was my very first
production ever! It was nerve
wracking and exciting at the
same time. I love AACT because
it boosts confidence and it’s fun.
I came to AACT because I saw
“We Are The Dream” with
Kendra Guy and was inspired.
Thaddeus Smith
I am 9 years old and I love to
act. I play sports like football,
basketball, soccer and baseball.
My favorite trip was to see the
Green Bay Packers. I attend Elm
Creative Arts School. AACT is a
very good production company
because you get to act, sing and
it is a lot of fun!
AACT’s Resident Company students learned some of the secrets of the actors in
“King Arthur’s Calamity” from Cardinal Stritch University during one of the
Behind the Curtain field trips.
AACT is part of the
MPS and Arts@Large
Artist in Residency
program at 53rd
Street School,
Martin Luther King
Elementary School,
and Hawley Avenue
Environmental
School.
Alumni Update
AACT Staff
Constance Clark
Artistic/Executive Director
Caroline Lenyard
Grantwriter
Wallace Cheatham
Music Director
Mahdi Gransberry
Intern and Rap Instructor
Member of AACT for nine years, and
freshman at the High School of the Arts
Akua Taylor is hard at work in
the entertainment industry in New
York. She has recently appeared in a
"Sol Village" showcase at SOB's, and
at the Sister 2 Sister Youth Summit
at St. Francis College in Brooklyn.
She can be seen in music videos
"Flyist" by rapper Mo'Betta and
"Watchin' Me" by D.O.E.
Keep up with Akua’s news at
www.akuataylor.com or listen to her
sing at www.reverbnation.com/
akuataylor?eid=1754534_16980012
Theatre that
changes
hearts and minds
The mission of the African American
Children’s Theatre is to provide
all children of the metro Milwaukee
area with opportunities to express
their creativity, to nurture their
individuality, and to guide them
in the learning and acquiring of
leadership and performance skills
while producing quality art.
African American Children’s Theatre 1915 N. M.L. King Dr., Suite 213G, Milwaukee, WI 53212 [email protected] 414-461-5771 www.aact.us
3
Did you know?
Some of the Greats started young!
Bessie Smith (1894-1937)
Blues Singer
Bessie first sang around age eight in her hometown
of Chattanooga, Tennessee. America was in the golden
age of powerful blues women during the 1920s, and at
the pinnacle stood Bessie Smith who had pushed out
the boundaries of both female and African American
expression for a new mass audience. She toured with
the best minstrel shows and cabarets. She recorded
“Downhearted Blues” in 1923 and it established her as
the most successful Black recording artist of her day.
She continued touring with great success. She made
her last recording in 1933 and was killed in a car
accident at the age of forty-three.
Mahalia Jackson (1911-72)
Gospel Singer
Mahalia grew up in New Orleans, familiar with the
music of Bessie Smith and other blues singers. Her
father, who was a preacher, allowed only religious
music to be played at home. Jackson made her first
recording in 1934 and eleven years later she achieved
national fame with “Move On Up a Little Higher”,
which sold over a million copies. In 1950 she made
her first appearance at Carnegie Hall. She won
Grammy Awards for her albums Great Songs of Love
and Faith and Make a Joyful Noise. She was also well
known for her performance of “Precious Lord”.
Pearl Bailey (1918-1990)
Singer, Actress
Pearl started singing in her father’s church at age
three, and went on to become one of the most enduring and admired personalities of the age. Bailey had a
string of hit records before making her Broadway
debut in St. Louis Women. She also worked in movies
and theater. Her biggest triumph was the revival of
Hello Dolly in the 1960s, for which she won a special
Tony award. The day she died (of heart failure at the
age of seventy-two), she was scheduled to address the
United Nations.
4
4
adapted from information provided by
Pomegranate Publications
African American Children’s Theatre 1915 N. M.L. King Dr., Suite 213G, Milwaukee, WI 53212 [email protected] 414-461-5771 www.aact.us
AACT programs
Academy of Theatre Training
and Leadership Program
After school program for children ages 8-14 at
Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, with public performances scheduled periodically. This year we performed at:
Betty Brinn Children’s Museum
Milwaukee Art Museum
Children’s Services Society 2009 Foster Parent
Recognition Dinner
Artist in Residency with Milwaukee
Public Schools and Arts@Large
AACT’s We Are The Dream program is taught
weekly in school classrooms:
53rd Street School
Martin Luther King Elementary School
Hawley Ave. Environmental School
Behind the Curtain
Children and their parents attend professional
local theatre companies' productions and are taken
on special Behind the Curtain tours. Special events
we attended this year include:
Milwaukee Ballet, Sleeping Beauty
Milwaukee Ballet, The Nutcracker
Cardinal Stritch, King Arthur’s Calamity
Milwaukee Bucks
Kendra Guy in Adventures of a Comic Book
Artist at Roosevelt Middle School of the Arts
Register for fall classes
Tuesday, Sept. 22 and Wednesday, Sept. 23
4:00 to 5:30 pm
Please register in person
Parent must accompany child
Classes start Tuesday, September 29
Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 325 W. Walnut Street
Session runs 4 - 6 pm
Tuesdays & Wednesdays, Sept. 2009- June 2010
414-461-5771
www.aact.us
AACT Starts
Summerfest Choir
Broadway show tunes performed by local
children will be a new feature at The Big Gig
this summer.
African American Children’s Theatre
(AACT) has been invited to organize a
Summerfest Choir to perform on the
Children’s Area Stage at Summerfest on
Monday, June 29 from1:45 to 2:15 pm.
Youth ages 8 to 14 have been rehearsing
Wednesdays with Dr. Wallace Cheatham in
the Sondheim Room of the Milwaukee Youth
Arts Center.
“We were thrilled to get the call from
Summerfest,” said Constance Clark, Artistic/
Executive Director. “This is a high-profile
event that will show off the remarkable talent
of our children to the larger community.
These kids will surprise and impress everyone who hears them.”
Summerfest holds Family Free Day with
no charge for admission until 3 pm on Monday, June 29. Come early and be part of our
audience.
AACT Summerfest Choir
Children’s Area Stage
1:45, Monday, June 29
Free admission!
2009 Board of Directors
Maya J. Peterson, President
Legacy Bank
Antoinette Simon, Vice President
Pyramax Bank
Vivan Rothschild, Secretary
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
Sue Press, Treasurer
The Brewery Works, Inc.
Dominique Smith
Milwaukee Public Schools
Angela White
Educator, Harambee Elementary School
Past AACT Student and Staff Member
African American Children’s Theatre 1915 N. M.L. King Dr., Suite 213G, Milwaukee, WI 53212 [email protected] 414-461-5771 www.aact.us
5
Major Donors
2-Story Creative
African American
Women’s Fund
African Hut Restaurant
African World Festival
America’s Black Holocaust
Museum, Inc.
Arts@Large, Inc.
Association of Fundraising
Professionals
Greater Milwaukee Chapter
AT&T Employee Giving
Campaign
Helen Bader Foundation
Brico Fund
Betty Brinn Foundation
Century Fence, AW Bryant
Rodney Coubbie Attorneys
City of Milwaukee Arts Board
Delta Memorial
Endowment Fund
Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, Inc.
Lambda Alpha Chapter
Einhorn Charitable
Family Trust
Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals
Ralph Evinrude Foundation
Fellowship Open 2003
Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan
Greater Milwaukee
Foundation, Inc.
Harley Davidson Foundation
Herzfeld Foundation
In Their Best Interest
Joy Global
Jewish Community
Foundation
Legacy Bank
Lena’s Foods
Marquette University
Upward Bound
Faye McBeath Foundation
Milwaukee Arts Board
Milwaukee County CAMPAC
Milwaukee Employment &
Training, Inc.
Milwaukee Community
Journal
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Diversity Council
Milwaukee Links
Special Projects
Milwaukee Public Schools
Northwestern Mutual
Foundation
OYAM Community Institute
Milton & Lillian Peck
Foundation
Jane Bradley Pettit
Foundation
Potawatomi Foundation
Mr. Perkins Restaurant
Meyer & Norma L. Ragir
Foundation
Redwood Insurance
Jack & Lucy Rosenberg
Philanthropic Fund
Senator Herbert Kohl
Stackner Family
Foundation, Inc.
Sulli & Associates
United Performing Arts Fund
United Way of Greater
Milwaukee
U.S. Cellular
Voluptuous Secrets
WE Energies Employee Giving
Campaign
WellPoint Associate Giving
Campaign
Wisconsin Arts Board
Wisconsin Energy Corporation
Foundation, Inc.
Women’s Club of Wisconsin
Friends of AACT
Anonymous
Adekola Adedapo
Lillian Alford
Alfred & Joyce Altman
Mr. & Mrs. Steven Anthony
Barb Armstrong
K. A. Baillargeon
Stanley Battle
Joseph Becker
Mr. & Mrs. William Beckett
Linda Beckstrom
Monique Bell
Georgia Berndsen
Kelly C. Bishop
Yvonne A. Bowenn
Angela Boyd
William B. Boyd
Michelle Brock
Audrey Brooks
Christy Brown
Gail & Chester Brown
A.W. Bryant
Jessie L. Burks
Dr. & Mrs. Wallace Cheatham
Benjamin Clark
Constance Clark
Dolly Clark
Sheila Cochran
Thomas & Malena Copeland
Rosemary Coris
Alicia Danielle Crawford
Mary Crouther
Randy & Joann Crump
Louise Cruther
Rodney L. Cubbie
Giles & Polly Daegar
6
Danae Davis
Jerry Dean &
Christina Parsons
Cory Dod
Judith Drink
Tyrone Dumas
Tracy Edwards
Nancy & Stephen Einhorn
Joyce Enrhardt
Elizabeth Estes
Marcia E. Facey
Virginia Finn-Lenhard
Thelma R. Friedman
Pam Garvey
Cecilia Gilbert
Beverly Goudy & Family
Sheena Carey Gransberry
Inez Green
Laverne Green
Eve Hall
Pam Halter
Mr. & Mrs. Reuben Harpole, Jr.
Ellen A. Hayward
Tague Hobert
Ruth A. Hoenick
Leona Holt
Virginia Hutchins
Gwen Jackson
Jenene James
David Joles &
Elizabeth Flores-Joles
Harry T. Kemp
Joan Kessler
Mae D. Killebrew
Julily Kohler
Kulliki Kuningas
Deirdre Lafford
Lamara Lampkins
Lathen, Lathen-Harris
Caroline Lenyard
Martha Love
Bruce A. MacIntyre
Phillip & Kirsten Matthews
Margaret & Michael McGuire
Peggy McGuire
Mr. & Mrs. Lafayette McKinney
Venora W. McKinney
Marilyn Nowak
Joan Michaels-Paque
Linda S. & Sheppard Mollick
Verona L. Morgan
Fujie Moses
Mardon Murphy
Rhoda Mykies
Sheila Payton
Mr. & Mrs. David H. Peters
Claire Pfleger
Marvin & Dianne Pratt
Susan L. Press
Rev. & Mrs. R. B. Nabors
Marilyn Nowack
Udette Quinn
Carol Richards
Atty. Bettie Rodgers
Redonna Rodgers
Terry Rozga
William Sanders
James S. Scherer
Kristin Schultz
Thelma Sias
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Sims
Cathy Simpson
Lucy Smith
Mr. & Mrs.Thaddeus Smith
Gina Spang
Rose Spang
Barbara A. Stein
Marcia Stephens
Monica Street
Teri L. Sullivan
John L. Touchett
Edith Wagner
Dr. Steven M. Waldman,
FACFAS
Adolphus Ward
Chris Ware
Elsie Warr
Ella & W. Herold Washington
John White
Carolyn White-Travanti &
Leon Travanti
Dionne Lea Williams
Ralph & Marlena Williams
In recognition of
Lillie M. Harris
Fran & Ron Lee
In memory of
Brian Lenyard
Jeff Clark
Edmund Clark
Floyd Campbell
In honor of Margie Sutton
Carolyn & Samuel Nakasian
Barbara M. Weigner
Kathleen D. Wild
African American Children’s Theatre 1915 N. M.L. King Dr., Suite 213G, Milwaukee, WI 53212 [email protected] 414-461-5771 www.aact.us
ns
st productio
a
p
’s
T
C
A
A
A few of
Your support is important to the
youth of our community.
Please mail your tax-deductible
donation to our administrative office:
African American Children’s Theatre
1915 N. King Drive, Suite 213 G
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Donor Name ___________________________________________________
Company Name ________________________________________________
Street Address __________________________________________________
City __________________________________ State ____ Zip____________
Phone ________________________E-Mail ____________________________
Total Donation Amount Enclosed: $ ___________
African American Children’s Theatre 1915 N. M.L. King Dr., Suite 213G, Milwaukee, WI 53212 [email protected] 414-461-5771 www.aact.us
7
Come see us at Summerfest!
AACT
Summer fest Choir
Register for fall classes
Tuesday, September 22
Wednesday, September 23
4:00 to 5:30 pm
Please register in person
Parent must accompany child
Monday
Monday,, June 29
Classes start Tuesday, September 29
Sondheim Room
Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
325 W. Walnut Street
Free admission until 3 pm
Session runs 4 - 6 pm
Tuesdays and Wednesdays
September 2009- June 2010
(with holiday breaks)
1:45 to 2:15 pm
Children’s Area Stage
414-461-5771
www.aact.us
Looking for summer activities? While AACT does not offer a summer program at this time, we can recommend signing
your child up at any of the neighborhood agencies participating in the All-City People’s Parade and Pageant, sponsored
by our friends at Milwaukee Public Theatre. Call 414-347-1685 or visit www.milwaukeepublictheatre.org for locations.
Administrative Office
1915 N. M.L. King Drive
Suite 213 G
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Major supporters in 2009