LAUNCH: Teen West Project Year 9

 SouthWest StageWorks 

in association with 

Playwrights West 

presents

Teen West Project Year 9:  Impact

 

OVERVIEW

Inspired by the need to allow individualistic expression by student artists during this unprecedented and historic time, Impact will feature 10-12 solo pieces, written and performed by students at Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School.   Each piece will feature a teenaged character in a solo-show microwork (monologue), inspired by the myriad challenges (personal, financial, educational, sociopolitical, etc.) seen in our country over the past many months – and represent many styles and genres…naturalism, drama, comedy, surrealism, speculative fiction, musical, thrillers, and more!  The current plan is that this will be presented as a pre-recorded, streamed event.  This will be the first time that Teen West Project will be an all “solo show” offering; this is the ideal time for such a unique format.

 

INCLUSION

We honor all identities – all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, genders, abilities, body types, faiths, and sociopolitical views are respected.  You are welcome here.  The more diverse a society is and the more that diversity is celebrated, the richer a community will be.  Making art, especially in a lab filled with peers, can be very personal.  We demand a space that is respectful and develops trust.  We develop art within an apolitical space that uses storytelling and questions as the tools for thematic investigation.  We commit to not viewing others as sociopolitical abstractions, but as full human beings.  We commit to constructively criticize – never to tear down, but only to lift up.  We commit to coming from a place of kindness and love, not judgment.  

 

TW9 INTENT FORM

There are multiple options for participating in this production:

 

1.  As a writer, partnering with an actor to write for them.

2.  As an actor, partnering with a writer to perform their work.

3.  As a writer / actor, performing their own work.

4.  As a designer / design assistant (making props, scenic & costume pieces).

5.  As a member of the filming / editing crew.

6.  As a member of the production management team.

 

The “TW9 Intent Form” is available now.  Click HERE.  This form must be downloaded and filled out, then emailed to Matthew B. Zrebski by 5:00p on Tuesday 2/16.  This form will declare your interests and commit you to the next part of the process.  The intent form will include instructions/options for submitting writing, live auditioning via Zoom, and live interviewing via Zoom during appointments W 2/24 – SA 2/27.  For anyone with technical challenges / limitations, a video submission process will be available on a case-by-case basis.  The full company will be announced Sunday 2/28 by 8:00p. 

 

INFO SESSION

An Info Session will be held on Monday 2/8, 3:30p – 5:00p (video link TBA) to allow interested students to ask questions and receive tips on writing solo pieces.

 

REHEARSALS

This process will be largely driven by the students with rehearsal / mentorship sessions with director Matthew B. Zrebski 1 to 3 times per week, typically for 45 – 90 minutes at a time. 

 

The rehearsal windows (all via Zoom) are as follows:

 

3/1 – 4/17 (none during spring break)

M: 6:00p – 8:00p

W: 6:00p – 8:00p

TH: 5:00p – 6:30p

F: 3:30p – 5:30p

SA:  3:30p – 7:00p

 

Appointments will be scheduled during the above times, based on availability of the student artists.  

 

4/19 – 4/30

TBD – these two weeks will be determined as soon as possible for potential additional online rehearsals as well as for video coordination and filming.  

 

PUBLIC STREAMING

Impact will stream sometime between May 19 - 23.  There are multiple options for audience delivery being considered – more on that as final decisions are made.

 

QUESTIONS

Email matthew.b.zrebski@gmail.com with any questions.