Hello Possibility Project Friends!

I am incredibly excited to let you know that we are nearly finished with our foster care film, “Know How.” We’re just a few post-production steps away.

We have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds we need to complete these steps. I invite you to click on the video above to learn what our project’s all about. I hope that you will then make a donation to our campaign.

I hope, too, that you will share our campaign with your family, friends, and colleagues. We want everyone to be aware of our film and work with us to change the future of foster care!

All the best!

Paul

—————
Paul Griffin, Founder & President
The Possibility Project

- Read about our original musicals
- Bring a group of youth to a show
- Receive updates about performances

Upcoming Premiere Performances

Our newest original musical, Off the Record will premiere soon! The production is based on the lives and experiences of the 50 youth in our After-School program. Performances are being held at The Irondale Center in Brooklyn, May 29, 30, 31, and June 1.

Tickets can be purchased online (click the button below), by phone (1-800-595-4849) or at the theater’s box office 1 hour before the show (availability not guaranteed).

*All audience members must be at least 13 years old.
No small children or babies will be admitted.

About the Show:
Junior Rivera, an aspiring journalist, has the curiosity and instincts of a great reporter. But now he is faced with his most intriguing story yet, a memorial piece for a fellow student, Justin, who was killed the year before. As the date of the one-year anniversary of Justin’s death comes closer, Junior’s investigation plunges him into the lives of the other students who knew Justin and unveils stories that he didn’t know existed. What will happen to Junior as he discovers the violence, loss, poverty, courage and truth in the people around him? What will he choose to memorialize? And will it make a difference?

Off the Record is an original musical drama written and performed by a diverse group of NYC teenagers. The stories in the show are based on the real-life experiences of the cast and their ideas for change about the most serious issues they face as young people.

Performances:
Wednesday, May 29th @ 7:30pm
Thursday, May 30th @ 7:30pm
Friday, May 31st @ 7:30pm
Saturday, June 1st @ 7:30pm
*Online sales close at 5pm on the day of the show. After that time, you can purchase tickets at the theatre’s box office, which will open at 6:30pm.

The Irondale Center
85 South Oxford St. – Brooklyn, NY
View a google map of the theater.

Nearest trains:
C to Lafayette Ave.
G to Fulton St.
2, 3, 4, 5 to Atlantic Terminal
B, Q to Atlantic Ave.
D, N, R to Atlantic Ave. / Pacific St.

Tickets:
$40 Regular Adult
$10 Student (13+ yrs only)*
$100 Friend ($60 is tax deductible)
$300 Contributor ($260 is tax deductible)
$500 Patron ($460 is tax deductible)
*All audience members must be at least 13 years old. No small children or babies will be admitted under any circumstances.

Learn how to bring a group of youth to the show.

Sign up for our mailing list to be notified about the details of this and future productions.

Touring Performances

Possibility Project productions tour during the months of April, May, June, and December. If you would like one of our casts of young people to perform their production at your school, community center, event, or conference, please contact us at info@the-possibility-project.org. To find out when tour performances are happening, follow us on twitter.

“Home Free” follows a young woman, Jordan, who is led through a journey of home and homelessness by a new friend, Reggie who “knows a thing or two about a thing or two.” The show is an original musical drama written by the young people in the cast, and based on the stories of their lives.

Feedback on the show was overwhelmingly positive.

• “Fabulous, fun and funny. Amazing young people addressing incredibly difficult topics.”
• “I wasn’t expecting this show. It was beautiful and hard to watch. The stories are incredible.”
• “Amazing, touching, real from the perspective of what our children are facing daily.”
• “The performance was wonderful. The emotions and actions of these performers was felt from my seat. This performance has made me think more about my life.”
• “Really moving. First performance I cried.”
• “I wasn’t going to come because I was very lazy… but THANK GOD I came.”
• “Dang, I’m still processing.”

If you missed this performance, stay tuned… We will have another production premiering in a few short weeks! Sign up for updates.

TPP: Describe your background and current work as an artist.
MB: I was raised in Las Vegas, NV and have studied music and theatre passionately for over 15 years. Prior to getting involved with TPP, my performance training started first within an orchestra playing the violin, and eventually I fell in love with theatre as well. I studied in various programs throughout the city of Las Vegas and various locations in Arizona concentrating on acting, musical theatre and music composition. I began working on the Artistic Team with the Possibility Project in the fall of 2012 and currently balance that along with continuing my pursuit for a career in musical theatre and theatre direction.

Describe your role within The Possibility Project.
MB: My role within TPP is not only to mentor these amazing young people creatively but to also allow them the ability to confide in someone who isn’t going to judge or criticize their stories, their ideas, or anything else they would like to share with me, or the rest of the cast. I feel like my job is to help our cast effectively communicate with one another particularly in resolving conflict, forming relationships and ultimately believing in themselves enough to be able to feel confidant in making a positive change within their lives and our communities. I think the most important thing that I continue to do within our casts, is believe in them. I think that is the key when approaching this type of program. Its such a simple and life changing thing to do.

Why were you interested in working with The Possibility Project in the beginning?
MB: I got interested in TPP shortly after a long stretch of auditions/call backs/headaches in “the business.” I was at a point in my life where I noticed how easy it was to get completely consumed in the pursuit of a career and stop noticing the world around me. That’s when I knew that it was time to make a change. A coworker of mine had worked with a previous music director of TPP and thought it would be something that I would be interested in. I looked up the program online and knew that this was exactly what I was looking for. I found that it was a perfect blend of creativity meets humanity. Theatre that really means something? Original work with a message? SIGN. ME. UP.

Why have you continued to use your talents with TPP now?
MB: I continue my work with TPP because I learn and continue to do so, as much if not more than any participant. This program is unlike anything that I have ever been apart of. I have never been more challenged creatively before in my life! I come into rehearsal and leave constantly inspired. How could anyone walk away that?

What is different or unique about TPP that makes it worthwhile for you?
MB: What I find most unique about TPP is that it gives young people the opportunity to speak out on such important and sometimes controversial issues, within our communities safely! I have yet to find any other place where we as a cast can approach one another coming from different races, backgrounds, communities and genders open and honestly. Teenagers themselves are unique in the way in which they perceive the world around them. Each cast brings new and different ideas to the table that prove to be so effective in making a change in our communities. They have so many stores and things to share. Our teenagers live and breathe these things everyday and in doing so, constantly encourage me that this is the type of program that works for our young people.

What impact do you aim to make with the teenagers you work with in TPP?
MB: The type of impact I hope to make with our teenagers is to show them that they matter. One of the most important things that I would like them to know is that they are not invisible. They deserve to be seen, heard and loved. I want them to leave knowing that they do have a voice, and our society deserves to hear what they have to say. I want them to realize the importance of hard work, dedication and commitment and how combining those things will help them achieve a spectacular future. I hope that they leave this program understanding the idea that they are responsible for their futures and the world in which they live in.

What is the biggest challenge you face in working with teenagers in TPP?
MB: One of the things that I have found to be most challenging in working with TPP is getting our participants to trust not only me, but each other as well. At times, I find that teenagers get so frustrated with adults constantly shutting them down with phrases like “you’re too young” “how would you know? You’re just a kid” and “ I’m the adult, you do what I say” that they lose faith in adults completely. That is when they walls start to come up with not only the adults in the room, but the other cast mates as well. I like to help with showing them that they actually do have power and I guess the challenge would be in allowing themselves to believe that its true. TPP works at trying to “unlearn” these behaviors that we all have ingrained within us and that has proven to be more challenging than anything else I have done with the program.

Why do you choose to use your time/talents to create change? Where does that motivation come from?
MB: I dedicate my time to TPP because I have seen first hand that IT WORKS. This is the kind of program that young people everywhere should have the opportunity to be a part of. I believe that the world can and will be better. I believe that communities can be free of the things that our teenagers unfortunately face every single day. Having the courage to share some of the experiences that our teenagers have gone through in an effort to help others, is motivation enough to believe in what we are trying to accomplish. I continue my work with TPP because I completely believe that the participants in our group are going to make a positive change in our societies and that will resonate for generations to come.

What is the best part of working with teenagers in TPP? What do you get out of it, personally?
MB: Wow. I guess I would say that its hard to choose just one thing. I’ll start with saying that one of the things that I love most is witnessing the transformation that our participants go through from beginning to end of our program. Witnessing someone trying on all of these new experiences and enjoying themselves while doing it, is really remarkable. I have seen and performed in countless show and have yet to see anything more moving and inspiring then what I have seen on and off of our stage. They amount of commitment they show and way in which they care for one another and care about the world they live in is absolutely incredible. I guess I never realized until now, that caring about someone and having hope for their future really can make a difference. Hearing someone say, “You were the first person that believed in me?” COME ON. I couldn’t be more humbled and grateful.

TPP: Describe your background and current work as an artist.
MC: Dance has been my life forever. I started with Boston Ballets Citydance Program at 8 years old. As a teenager, I fell in love with hip hop and later joined a dance company, named Phunk Phenomenon, where I taught dance classes, toured performing shows along the east coast, performed for numerous charity events and met amazing dancers from around the world. While living in Boston I was also an NBA Boston Celtics Dancer. After moving to New York I’ve had such amazing opportunities in dance…TPP being one of them! Outside of TPP I also work for SOCAPA (School of Creative and Performing Arts) as a dance instructor and I continue to pursue my professional dance career.

Describe your role within The Possibility Project.
MC: As a choreographer, my role within TPP extends way beyond dance and teaching choreography. I am a big sister to a teen who needs advice about what shoes to wear to prom. I am a confidant to a teen who needs to vent and trusts me to listen. I am a motivator…always encouraging my kids to go for it and give their all in life and in performing. I am a friend for someone needs a shoulder to lean on. Although I’m a teacher, often times I’m the student being taught lessons by my teens in patience, will, determination, love, strength….

Why were you interested in working with The Possibility Project in the beginning?
MC: As a freelance artist I am always looking for gigs. A friend of mine, Jamilia Hall, contacted me about interviewing for TPP where she was working as a choreographer. After researching the organization, I knew this was something I had to be a part of. I had to interview with the teens in the program and I had never been so nervous. I remember saying to them “Even if I’m not chosen as a dance director, you will see me because I will be working with the program somehow, someway.”

I am a huge advocate of expression through art. I love teaching. I love helping others. I love spreading awareness on topics that need light shined on them. I love working with like minded individuals and TPP embodies all of this and more.

Why have you continued to use your talents with TPP now?
MC: I believe that TPP honestly makes a difference for every teen who walks through the door and I am proud to be a part of that. There will always be a teen in need of an outlet… a teen in need of someone to believe in them and teach them how to believe in themselves… a teen in need of having their fears, loves, opinions and their stories heard and respected… a teen who wants to make a difference in their life and someone else’s. As long as I’m able, I will continue to work with them, to help give them the skills they need to create change in themselves and others through their shows.

What is different or unique about TPP that makes it worthwhile for you?
MC: Being a part of TPP is the most rewarding work I have ever done. I am working a job I love. I am sharing my passion of dance with others. And in that, I am creating change? Yes, changing people’s lives… one teen at a time, one crowd at a time. Seriously, it doesn’t get any better than that. I work with amazing adults who believe in these young people – who are building our youth up and not tearing them down. TPP is such an honest place….there is no sugar-coating issues. Life is scary… the world is scary and not always a pretty place. We address that head on instead of tip-toeing around it.

What impact do you aim to make with the teenagers you work with in TPP?
MC: I believe dance builds self confidence. In order to dance – really dance – you have to be present in the moment…you have to let go of all self doubt and just go for it…move and be free. I hope, through dance and movement, to help build confidence in my teens and help shed insecurities! I hope to instill in them the ability to dance without the fear of making a mistake and understanding that if one is made that it’s not a bad thing. It’s just a chance to go at it again until you get it right – a chance to right your wrongs. I hope that my teens can take these same lessons in dance and apply them in their life… always be present in the moment, have confidence, make mistakes, learn from them, shed insecurities, etc.

What is the biggest challenge you face in working with teenagers in TPP?
MC: Our teens aren’t chosen on the basis of talent so in the beginning I am working with some who have never attempted to dance and, for them, that can be terrifying. The challenge isn’t so much in teaching someone who has never danced before, the challenge more so lies in creating a comfortable learning atmosphere where their fears can be eased, mistakes can be made, there is no judgment, and confidence can be built – an atmosphere they can trust and let their guards down. That can be incredibly difficult in the beginning, when trust is being built between the cast and between the staff and the cast. In time, it is always rewarding to see when it clicks for the cast…when they realize we are all in this together…we are all here to make a change and the show they are building can do that. When they realize they are here for something bigger than themselves and that’s way more important than being scared to dance, or sing, or speak in front of an audience. There is something magical in seeing a person push through their fears in hopes of creating change for themselves and others.

Why do you choose to use your time/talents to create change? Where does that motivation come from?
MC: As a teen, I couldn’t begin to realize how big of an impact certain adults would have on my life. They were the teachers who believed in me and taught me to believe in myself….who told me I could be anything I wanted to be and honestly believed that I could be. Teachers who helped me hone my talents as a dancer and pushed me to be better. It may all sound so cliché but it motivated me. It motivated me to do the same, to believe in someone else. To help them to become all they can be in hopes that they will help others one day as well. I stayed with dance because in my most influential years no one ever said I shouldn’t. I want to motivate the teens I work with to have faith in the things they love and are passionate about and be able to live life making a living doing what makes them happy.

What is the best part of working with teenagers in TPP? What do you get out of it, personally?
MC: The teens at TPP have inspired me to do better, to be better. My teens, without even knowing, have had a major impact on my life for the better. I no longer sweat the small stuff. They’ve helped to re-ignite my urge to create change…in myself and for others. They simply make me happy. I may be having a bad day….a bad month for that matter but they honestly have the ability to lift me up and make me smile. They push me to be better because I have to deliver. I have no choice. They keep me grounded. They keep me real and honest. They motivate me and they amaze me. I am so grateful to have them in my life.

Dear Possibility Project Friends,

People often ask me why I am so confident about the future. The answer is simple – my confidence comes from the stories of the youth with whom we work.

For many of our youth, the story begins with devastating conflicts and challenges – unstable homes, dangerous neighborhoods, bullying, discrimination, abuse – that teach them to doubt themselves and too often lead to a future without hope.

Summer 2012 News

In the year ahead, 140 youth in New York City will share their stories and learn to transform doubt into confidence, heartbreak into happiness, and despair into hope. And they will do it together, building lasting bonds across differences and creating a better life for themselves and better communities for all.

One such story belongs to Erica Ortiz, a Possibility Project participant.

Erica’s story, like the hundreds of stories I have heard over the years, makes clear how much The Possibility Project means to our young people as they grow to understand that their stories – like their lives, relationships, and futures – are theirs to create. And as they grow, their confidence grows; and as their confidence grows, their hope grows; and as their hope grows, the future becomes brighter, not just for them but for all whose lives they touch.

I hope you will make a contribution this year, be a part of our story, and help us give more young people the confidence they need to build safe, peaceful and productive lives and communities.

From all of us at The Possibility Project, best wishes for a peaceful and joyful holiday season!

Sincerely,

Paul Griffin
Founder & President

Charity Day was created as Cantor Fitzgerald re-built following the World Trade Center attacks. Cantor lost 658 employees on 9/11 – more than two thirds of its New York workforce at the time. Cantor Fitzgerald and its affiliate, BGC Partners, now hold Charity Day each year to commemorate those who perished by donating their global revenues on the day to charities around the world. The firm’s story is a remarkable story of hope and resilience.

The Charity Day event includes celebrities who go Cantor’s offices on 9/11, make actual trades over the phones with clients, and provide their presence to the day. TPP was represented with style, grace and beauty by Kim Raver, a star of such television hits as “24,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Revolution,” and two TPP youth, Shaquille Edwards and Amina Alexander.

The book includes the script for the show, articles about the TPP playmaking process and writing for YC’s foster care magazine Represent, a review of a TPP performance, and other pieces around youth development programs. (View the table of contents)

The writing of the book began two months before the premiere, when YC youth and staff visited a TPP rehearsal. Virginia Vitzthum, the editor of the book, conducted a group interview with both TPP and YC youth about their experience in both programs (excerpts from this interview make up a section of the book). View photos from this interview. Additional content for the book was written by YC participants who attended and observed rehearsals as “embed reporters,” and watched and reviewed performances.

The project’s aim was to amplify the voice of foster care youth, increase awareness of the opportunities that organizations like TPP and YC offer, and increase the awareness of students, teachers, and foster care workers of the realities and resiliency of foster care youth.

The book is available for purchase at our online store.

We are grateful to the Charles Lawrence Keith & Clara Miller Foundation for their support of this project.

Audition Dates

There are three open auditions which are open to any teenager (13-19 yrs old) in New York City.

*PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LOCATION OF THESE AUDITIONS HAS CHANGED RECENTLY!!!*

• Saturday, September 22, 2012 from 11:00am to 1:00pm – East Side Community High School
• Saturday, September 29, 2012 from 11:00am to 1:00pm – Sixth Street Community Center*
• Saturday, October 6, 2012 from 11:00am to 1:00pm – Sixth Street Community Center*

*The Sixth Street Community Center is at 638 East 6th Street between Avenue B & C. Near the L train at 1st Avenue or the F train to 2nd Avenue. View a map.

Download an audition flier here (requires Adobe PDF reader).

About Auditions: Participants are selected through non-competitive group “auditions.” These “auditions” include completing a written survey, as well as engaging in improvisation, simple dancing, and singing. Criteria for participant selection include need for the program, availability, willingness to collaborate with a diverse group of young people, and concern for the various issues facing young people today. No one is chosen on the basis of talent or ability.

• Set up a special audition at your school or agency.
• Join our mailing list to be notified of upcoming auditions.

Additional Information

For more information about auditions and our programs, click here.