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Students Perform Year-End Shows

Opening Act students from all eight of our partnering schools performed their original, full-length plays from May 17-19 at Baruch Performing Arts Center in Manhattan. Stay tuned for Opening Act’s new website in Fall 2010, which will feature photos and video from our students’ incredible performances!

SIZZLE a Smokin’ Success!

Opening Act’s annual Dance Party Benefit on February 4th at La Pomme raised almost $12,000 for theater in NYC schools! Special thanks to our amazing Steering and Social Committee members, our wine sponsor for two years running—Bedell Cellars, our sizzlin’ DJs—Parag and H-Bomb, and our fabulous raffle sponsors—La Pomme and LuckyChic.

Event pictures can be seen on Facebook (album 1 and album 2) and Picasa.

We look forward to seeing you on the dance floor next year!

Opening Act Receives Union Square Arts Award

We are delighted to announce that Opening Act is the recipient of a 2009 Union Square Arts Award. The Union Square Arts Award recognizes creative and innovative programs that benefit youth and families in low-income communities throughout New York City. This prestigious award brings $35,000 in financial support to Opening Act’s after-school theater programs. We are honored to be a part of the Union Square Awards and know their support will make a tremendous impact on our work in NYC schools.

Students’ Year-End Performances

Opening Act students’ year-end performances, Plays on The Divide, were performed to packed houses from May 26-28 at The Engelman Recital Hall at Baruch Performing Arts Center. Thank you for supporting our talented young actors!

Thanks for joining us at SHAKE!

Our Spring Dance Party on April 30th was a big hit! And we have you to thank!

Special shout outs to:

Our amazing Social and Steering Committees!

Bedell Cellars

Zico Pure Coconut Water

Greenhouse

The Ashley Inn on Martha’s Vineyard

Hope to see you back on the dance floor next year!

Opening Act’s SIDE MAN Benefit a Huge Success

On November 10th, the original cast of Warren Leight’s Tony Award winning play, Side Man, celebrated its 10^th Anniversary with a one-night reading to benefit Opening Act.

Tony Award winning director Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, Thoroughly Modern Millie, A View from the Bridge), who directed Side Man’s off-Broadway and Broadway productions, directed cast members Edie Falco (The Sopranos), Kevin Geer, Michael Mastro, Robert Sella, Joseph Lyle Taylor, Angelica Torn and Frank Wood (whose performance in Side Man earned him a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play).

The evening was a huge success for Opening Act, raising more support than any other event in Opening Act’s history. For photos, click here.

Opening Act Students Perform at The Public Theater

On May 27, 28 and 29, Opening Actors from all seven of our partnering schools took to the stage at The Public Theater to perform their year-end, full length, original plays.

It was a breathtaking week as family members, teachers and friends showed up to support the talented teens of Opening Act.

Check out photos from The Public by clicking here.

Opening Hosts 7th Annual Spring Benefit, GROOVE

On Thursday, April 10th, Opening Act pulled out the dance floor to Groove — and celebrate eight years of bringing theater to NYC schools. Over 150 guests joined us at The Ultra for an evening of drinks, light hors d’oeuvres, silent auction and moving to the sounds of NYC’s hottest funk band Soul Connection.

Click to see pictures from the event and a list of special thank you’s.

LOVE LETTERS plays to Sold Out Audience

Opening Act’s 3rd Annual Benefit Play Reading of Love Letters, by AR Gurney, played to a sold out audience on September 24 at New World Stages in Manhattan. Broadway stars Bernadette Peters and John Dossett reunited after last appearing together in the Sam Mendes-directed Broadway production of Gypsy, for which both Peters and Dossett earned Tony nominations. Love Letters was directed by Michael Mastro.

Audience members bid on silent auction items at the pre-show reception and mingled with the show’s stars at an after party at New World Stages. The event raised a record amount of support for Opening Act’s free theater programs in seven of the city’s most under-served public schools.

It was a breathtaking night for Opening Act—and we look forward to another successful performance next year!

Click here to see photos from the event.

Opening Act Students Perform The Power Plays at The Public

On May 22 and May 23, 2007, students from all five of Opening Act’s partnering schools performed their ensemble-created original plays at The Public Theater. It was an inspiring two evenings as our actors shared their work with an adoring audience of family, friends, teachers and artists.

Collectively, the plays were entitled The Power Plays. Clara Barton High School performed Welcome to Hydesville!; Samuel Gompers High School presented Love is a Gamble; Tilden High School—Thanksgivin’ wit da Haywoods; Graphic High School—Escape, the last thing I remember is; and Walton High School—Love, Hate and Happy Meals.

We were simply awe struck by the powerful stories and characters our students created, made real by their dynamic acting skills.

A special thank you to Christine Hale and Robbie Saenz de Viteri at The Public Theater for all of their support.

Click here to see pictures from the performances.

Opening Act Hosts Sixth Annual Benefit at The Taj

On March 22, 2007, Opening Act’s Sixth Annual Baila! Benefit was held at The Taj in Manhattan. Click here to see pictures from the event.

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