Yale Project Pairs 8th Graders, Theater Mentors

Yale Repertory Theatre and Yale School of Drama announce the17th annual Dwight/Edgewood Project (D/EP).  This annual after-school initiative pairs eight local middle-school students with Yale School of Drama mentors, designers, and directors. The students spend the month of June learning about theatre and writing original plays.  The program culminates in performances of the students’ work at New Haven’s Off-Broadway Theater.

Eight original plays, written by the young playwrights and designed, produced, and performed by Yale School of Drama students, will be presented over two evenings. Performance dates are Friday, June 22nd and Saturday, June 23rd at 7:00PM.  New Haven’s Off-Broadway Theater is located at 41 Broadway.  Admission is free and open to the public.  Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

D/EP 2012 will include 8 local students from Augusta Lewis Troup School, who were chosen by school staff includingLighthouse Resource Teacher Judith Goodrich, based on their interest in writing and storytelling. This year’s playwrights includeSaschin Choy (6th grade), Nikolaos Constantopoulos (6th grade),Faith Harris (6th grade), RaQuan Jones (6th grade),Daneel Morrison (7th grade), Paris Ransom (6th grade), andSaran Toure (6th grade). An eighth playwright will be announced later.

The staff of the Dwight/Edgewood Project 2012 includes Merlin Huffand Melissa Zimmerman (Co-Producing Directors), Jack Tamburri andDustin Willis (Directors), Rachel Gordon Smallwood (Scenic Designer),Nikki Delhomme (Costume Designer), Benjamin Ehrenreich (Lighting Designer),Keri Klick (Sound Designer), Sonja Thorson (Production Stage Manager),Brian Smallwood (Technical Director), and Maree Barbara Tan-Tiongco (Assistant Technical Director). Mentors include Jabari Brisport (Yale Presidential Public Service Fellow), Ceci Fernandez,Sophie von Haselberg, Mary Laws, Dan O’Brien, Emily Reilly,and Jon Wemette.

Michael Walkup, YSD ’08 and former D/EP director ’06-’07 and Artistic Coordinator ’08, will join the company for his second season as the program’sPlaymaking Teaching Artist.

The Dwight/Edgewood Project 2012 is made possible in part by Yale Repertory Theatre/Yale School of Drama, Yale University Office of New Haven and State Affairs, Ms. Esme Usdan, The Lucille Lortel Foundation, and individual donors.