Epic Theatre Ensemble received the 2009 Coming Up Taller Award for its Shakespeare Remix after-school program at a ceremony held today at the White House, and hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama.
Coming Up Taller is a national initiative that recognizes and supports outstanding out-of-school and after-school arts and humanities programs for children, especially those with great potential, but limited outlets for creative expression. Epic’s founding executive directors Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, and Ron Russell and youth participant Shana Brown were on hand to accept the award.
Shakespeare Remix is an after-school youth development program at four NYC Public High Schools in Lower Manhattan, Harlem, the Bronx and Brooklyn, that culminates with students performing alongside professional theater artists in fully produced Shakespeare productions at Off Broadway theaters.
Epic will be presenting Shakespeare Remix Macbeth at the Beckett Theatre at Theatre Row (December 17-19), directed by Melissa Friedman and featuring students from Chelsea High School and Epic artists Kathleen Chalfant, John Keabler, Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. and James Wallert. A second Shakespeare Remix Macbeth will be presented at The Pregones Theater, February 4-6, directed by Ron Russell and featuring students from Bronx High School for Writing and Communication Arts and Epic artists John Keabler and Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. Two additional productions in Harlem with the Urban Assembly School for the Performing Arts and in Brooklyn with Frances Perkins Academy at Automotive High School will follow.
All tickets to Shakespeare Remix Macbeth are free, but reservations are required. Call 212-613-5434. For more information, visit www.epictheatreensemble.org.
