Teen’s Stories Confront Epidemic of Violence
Dear HumanDHS network friends
Please find below information on teenager’s engagment in theatre to confront violence in New York City.
Kind regards
Brian Ward
Teen’s Stories Confront Epidemic of Violence
Mass Transit Street Theater presents a return of AIN’T EASY: A STORY-TELLING PLAY with RAP & BIG-SCREEN VIDEO
MASS TRANSIT STREET THEATER, a Bronx-based performing arts group presenting progressive, socially conscious works, launches a fourth season of the multimedia theater piece AIN’T EASY in collaboration with HOSTOS CENTER FOR ARTS & CULTURE. After requests to return, Mass Transit joins forces with Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture again to present a real and moving piece: AIN’T EASY, which focuses our attention on five Bronx teens who tell in their own words their stories of violence – the attraction of this exciting, sexy way to interact with peers, the pain of its consequences, and “cool”, but powerful alternative ways to deal with conflict.
Originally created spring of 2006, from stories told in workshop by a diverse group of Bronx teens, AIN’T EASY first toured and offered 19 performances in Bronx and Harlem community centers and schools. As the Teen Program Director at one community center commented:
“AIN’T Easy at our center was awesome. The play grabbed the audience’s attention and held it. We don’t often see our adolescents so quiet for so long. And afterwards, they said it was ‘cool’ not just book smart.”
This enthusiastic response of teens, staff and teachers encouraged HOSTOS CENTER FOR ARTS & CULTURE to co-produce a fouth season of the play. “We’re excited to have the technical expertise and a big stage in Hostos’ beautiful 360-seat theater,” says Mass Transit Artistic Director Lyn Pyle. “We’re gearing up for audiences of young people bused in from schools and community centers, and prepping a show they’ll be talking about for weeks after.”
In 2007, city youth face fewer opportunities and increasing violence. Fist fights, knifings, and shootings are so frequent some call the Bronx and our local neighborhood a “low intensity war zone.” MTSTV was inspired to create Ain’t Easy by the journey of one Bronx teen, his efforts to defend a sister, and escalating violence that ends in his incarceration for murder of a classmate in self-defense. Based entirely on true stories and played by professional actors, the piece presents a local, youth-oriented point of view on violence, and portrays a variety of responses to conflict.
Lines from one group rap express the spirit of the production:
Who’s got the power to fall back?
I’ve got the power to fall back.
Learn there’s a power in falling back.
The play features John Rankin, Aisha Norris, Jahnesha Huertas, Johanny Paulino, and Tyquan Payne. Written by MTSTV Artistic Co-Director, Lyn Pyle, with assistance from story-midwife, Karen Wilson and rapper Aisha Norris. Directed by Lyn Pyle. Film edited by Nathan Carpenter.
You can catch the show at HOSTOS CENTER FOR ARTS & CULTURE, 450 Grand Concourse @ 149th Street, The Bronx, on:
Thursdays, October 29, November 5 and 12, December 3 and 10 @ 10am & 12pm.
Wednesday, December 2 @ 4:30pm & 7pm.
For $6 tickets contact Mass Transit Street Theater: at ainteasytheplay@gmail.com or (718) 512-8519
Special tickets for Dec 2nd at $5 when purchased at the Box office by high school students with ID – as part of Hi5!
Large group discounts are available.
Says Aisha Norris: “This is a great show to bring a young person to, because it talks about issues that really affect us, and helps everyone think about better ways to respond to conflict.”
This production is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, the North Star Fund, Councilman G. Oliver Koppell, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, and Mass Transit Angels. Donated rehearsal space from Kingsbridge Heights Community Center and Fordham Bedford Housing.
For additional information about Mass Transit Street Theater and Video, visit www.mtstv.org
