News from New World School of the Arts

A Center of Excellence in the Visual and Performing Arts, at Miami Dade College - November 2010

PERFORMANCES ABOUND AT NWSA AS WE NEAR THE HOLIDAYS!

Yes, we notified you about our November news and events earlier this month... but wait - there's much more!

New World School of the Arts is busting at the seams with a plethora of music concerts, theater performances, dance ballets, and art exhibits. It is our way of welcoming the Holiday Season. We hope you can join us!

INSPIRING HOLIDAY CONCERT CELEBRATES WITH

O COME EMMANUEL!

The spirit of the holidays will fill the air as the NWSA High School Choir performs its enchanting Holiday Concert. Audiences of all ages will once again be captivated by popular seasonal selections which this year highlights the theme "O Come Emmanuel!" Featuring Darmon Meader's fabulous arrangement of this 13th century carol, the Holiday Concert will welcome the holiday season with the music division from New World School of the Arts. Also on the program will be Victor Johnson's arrangement of the African-American spiritual "Run To The Manger," a beautiful arrangement of "The First Nowell" by Mack Wilberg, Morten Lauridsen's stunning "O Magnum Mysterium," and some pieces from the lighter side of the holidays such as "Grinch!" a medley of songs from the motion picture "How The Grinch Stole Christmas."

**Concert will be recorded by WLRN for broadcast on PBS stations.

December 2; 7:30 PM

Trinity Cathedral

464 NE 16 Street, downtown Miami

General admission is $10. Students and seniors $5

Information at 305-237-3622

ROCK AND A SOFT PLACE PREMIERES AT THE YARD AT CASALIN DURING ART BASEL

The Yard at Casalin, an outdoor exhibition space for site-specific work, located in the heart of Wynwood, presents the work on NWSA faculty, alumni and college students during Art Basel week. Rock and a Soft Place features more than a dozen art works and covers most of newly expanded grounds.

Set as an urban garden, The Yard at Casalin is one of the most frequented exhibition sites in the area and it has been recognized nationally by Art Basel enthusiasts who each year make it their first stop during the Wynwood showings. Just a few steps from other major galleries, Casalin boasts lush yet tranquil and serene landscaping reminiscent of an oasis in the midst of a bustling city. This year, however, the Yard will also be bustling with outstanding cutting-edge exhibitions carefully curated by NWSA faculty and gallery owner Fredric Snitzer.

December 2

Opening Reception: 10:00 AM - 12:00 NOON

Yard at Casalin

55 NW 30 Street, Wynwood

The show is free and open to the public, and will remain open through Art Basel week

Information at 305-237-3620

MAJOR BARBARA, A DARING MOVE BY THE NWSA COLLEGE THEATER

The NWSA college theater brings Major Barbara, by Nobel-Prize winner George Bernard Shaw to the stage as 13 students from the junior class perform the Edwardian piece. "The theatre is an instrument of social change. George Bernard Shaw knew that and tried through essays, articles, books, plays and even public appearances to wake up the populace and in his own way address the ravages of poverty, prejudice, sexism, the war between the classes and the full socio-economic landscape" explained James Randolph, director of the play and NWSA theater faculty. "The play is as relevant today as it was in 1905 and for our students it's a class on societal struggles. The challenge for them is not on the technical aspect of the production, but on coming to terms with its meaning for modern day times."

December 3; 7:30 PM

December 4; 4:00 PM

December 5; 4:30 PM

NWSA Studio Theatre, Room 5902

25 N.E. 2 Street, downtown Miami

Admission is free

Information at 305-237-3541

CURTAINS, THE MURDER-MYSTERY-MUSICAL-COMEDY TAKES CENTER STAGE AT NWSA

This backstage whodunit with a clever and contagiously catchy toe-tapping score takes center stage at NWSA, as more than 30 music theater high school students, accompanied by a 19-member piece orchestra, present the Tony-award winning play by Peter Stone. NWSA's production of Curtains is choreographed by Broadway Veteran Rich Amaro and directed by Matthew Glass with musical direction by Jeff Hess, scenic and lighting design by Jeff Quinn, and costumes by Estela Vrancovich.

Set in 1959 Boston, the cast and crew of a Broadway-bound musical all become suspects after someone is murdered on stage. Detective Frank Cioffi is called in to solve the murder. While investigating, Cioffi finds himself in the middle of theatrical egos and eccentricities, deceit, and a budding love affair.

December 3, 4, 10 & 11; 7:30 PM

December 5 & 12; 2:00 PM

Louise O. Gerrits Theater

25 NE 2 Street, 8 Floor, downtown

General admission is $12. Students and seniors $5

Information at 305-237-3541

UNTITLED EXHIBITION FEATURES THE UNEXPECTED

NWSA Artseen Gallery highlights the work of sixteen college and high school New World School of the Arts students during the exciting Art Basel Festival. The show, comprised of performance and installations, brings a plethora of unexpected surprises that run the gamut from situational living arrangements to bigger than life sculptures.

Curated by dean Cuesta along with recognized gallerist Fredric Snitzer, Untitled offers the audience a treat through its diverse and dynamically unexpected works. The Run Away, by HS senior Audrey Gair, is a performance work featuring the artist living and functioning in her own world within the gallery and yet totally open to spectators. Moises Sanabria, a sophomore in the college program, offers The Bohemians, a dozen wood musicians nostalgically playing Queen's epic 1970's song Bohemian Rhapsody. Meanwhile, college junior Renata Rojo's untitled work is a thought-provoking surprise suspended from the ten-foot ceiling of the gallery.

December 4

Opening Reception: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Artseen Gallery

2215 NW 2 Avenue, Wynwood

The show is free and open to the public

Information at 305-237-3620

More about Artseen

1940s HARLEM IS THE BACKDROP FOR PEER GYNT'S WORLD

Adapted by nationally renowned playwright David Henry Hwang with Stephen Muller, Peer Gynt takes on a new life as he enters the world of post WWII Harlem. 15 NWSA college sophomore students playing more than 40 roles convincingly illustrate the setting in the second studio production of the year. The twist? This adaptation features tantalizing sounds of jazz from Peer Gynt music originally composed by Edvard Grieg.

Utilizing and recognizing the cultural diversity of the sophomore class, NWSA artistic director, Stuart Meltzer, was able to cast both young Peer and middle aged/old Peer with African American actors. This lends itself to a journey of jazz music lifting out of Harlem and becomes the backdrop of Peer's world. Peer Gynt is a folk tale that explores that magic and wickedness when one escapes into the wilderness. At the start of the play, Peer Gynt returns home after adventures of drinking and dreaming while never committing himself to anything or anyone. It is this kind of mistaken freedom that dictates the rest of Peer's life. He is a man plagued with avoidance and running away from himself.

December 4; 1:00 PM & 7:30 PM

December 5; 1:00 PM

NWSA Studio Theatre, Room 5903

25 N.E. 2 Street, downtown Miami

Admission is free

Information at 305-237-3541

THE ONE FESTIVAL - FROM THE HYSTERICAL TO THE MACABRE

Fourteen graduating seniors from the NWSA college theater program present the One Festival as their Senior Project. "Writing, acting and producing their own 20-30 minute piece requires verve and an abundance of creativity" stated David Kwiat, coordinator of the project at NWSA.

Among the eclectic shows are; Where Art Thou, Freddy Mac? by Carolina Ordonez: A show about an abandoned televangelist's wife, Adventures of Edson Jean by Edson Jean: Venture with Edson Jean as he goes through a wild ride that could have been avoided if he had a little bit of faith. The Fast Times of Kelly McNally by Hayley Bruce: Are there such things as defining moments? Wedding. Graduation. Prom? Wrestle with the idea that the defining moments of life are when we realize that there are no such things as defining moments. Sexy Sadie by Heather Valasquez: Susan Atkins aka "Sadie Mae" was a fun, wild, carefree girl who rebelled against society for what she believed to be true and real. In search of a new life, Sadie is introduced to the apocalyptic war of Helter Skelter through the guidance of Charles Manson. Down the Line by Terry Helin: When do we actually notice that it's time to drop into that last wave and ride it for what it is? Nine other presentations will complete the show.