Youth in Arts Performance Company Debut Tonight

Youth in Arts new theater ensemble will present original drama and video work that they have created this summer, working with Mentor Artist Melissa Briggs and YIA staff artists. Tonight’s performance at Youth in Arts is full to capacity, but we will be sharing photos and video of their work online soon.
The Performance Company has grown out of YIA’s “Arts Unite Us” project, which brings together student artists of all abilities to create and perform original work together. “Arts Unite Us” was held at Tamalpais, Redwood and Terra Linda high schools this year and the Performance Company includes students from Terra Linda and Tam, as well as students from San Rafael and Lowell High Schools, Julia Morgan School for Girls and the Cypress School.
The student artists have put in two weeks of intensive work writing, revising, rehearsing and producing two original short plays, as well as a video blending visual artwork, puppetry and animation and an original song written by company members.
“This very diverse ensemble came together as strangers two weeks ago,” notes Mentor Artist Melissa Briggs. “They have become friends and collaborators and they are ready to produce their own work now, here at Youth in Arts and out in the community with the skills they have learned here.”
Some thoughts from the artists:
“I’ve learned how to interact with different people. I will take this back with me into my directing class.” –Alec, Conservatory Theatre Ensemble, Tam High
“This experience is awesome–out of the ballpark. I never thought I would do drama and dance, and now I love it.” — Jessica, San Rafael High
“I gotta be there because an actor never gives up! I learned you should work together and be friends.” –Jake Severin, Tam High [On coming to rehearsal despite falling and getting stitches that day] [nggallery id=26 template=caption] Congratulations to all these talented artists on their premiere tonight!