What is life like for a Utica high school student? The new theatrical production The Utica Spotlight Express, featuring 12 talented, driven students from Proctor High School, hopes to answer just that. The production opens December 14 at 8 p.m., in Hamilton College's Minor Theater.
The Utica Spotlight Express is a community outreach project researched, written, inspired by young people from Utica, designed to empower these students and give them a voice. It is sponsored by a partnership among the Family Nurturing Center of CNY, Rivers and Kemp Productions, Shannon Stanfield '07, Central New York Community Arts Council, The Hamilton College Theatre Department, and Hamilton's Untitled-at-Large theatre group. Stanfield, a 2007 graduate of Hamilton and former ACCESS student, has been working with the groups since May.
"We started recruiting from the Boys and Girls Club in Utica, the Underground Café and Reverend Kemp's church. Reverend Kemp actually walked James Street, asking kids if they were interested in the project," says Stanfield. The only criteria were that the students were at least 12-years-old, in middle school or high school, lived in Utica, and were interested in acting, working and learning together to create this project.
After the group was assembled, Stanfield taught students how to research, conduct personal interviews, and playwriting skills. She then worked with students to transform their research and stories into play form.
"The text itself comes from actual testimony. Every bit comes from them – stories they told me and stories they brought back after interviewing," Stanfield said. "Every story comes from a Utica resident and a high school student."
This semester, the focus has shifted to acting. The group comes to Hamilton every Tuesday and Thursday night to work with Stanfield and a group of Hamilton College theatre students. Lindsey Pearlman '08 spearheaded the effort to secure funding and took charge of acting workshops at the beginning of the semester. The Hamilton students act as mentors – some are directing pieces while others are acting. The group rehearses for a couple of hours before having dinner together in McEwen.
"This is my favorite after-school activity," says Cynthia Monroe, a junior at Proctor High School and one of the show's featured actors. "We have fun, but we also work hard. We're all here for this one purpose. The monologues all deal with teens speaking their minds. We want to open the community up to understanding what we do on a daily basis. We are open to and bound to do things they tell us we can't do, things they don't think we can do."
Hearing the pride and empowerment of students like Cynthia make the hard work and long hours worthwhile. Stanfield, who grew up in Cornhill and attended Proctor High School, especially feels a personal connection to the piece, and hopes that the production will create awareness and push against stereotypes. "But, even though I know the show will be great, their process is more important to me than the final product. I want them to know they have a voice, and that they can use it," she said.
The Utica Spotlight Express will be performed in Minor Theater on December 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. Admission is free. Call (315) 859-4057 for reservations.
-- by Amy Tannenbaum '10
The Utica Spotlight Express is a community outreach project researched, written, inspired by young people from Utica, designed to empower these students and give them a voice. It is sponsored by a partnership among the Family Nurturing Center of CNY, Rivers and Kemp Productions, Shannon Stanfield '07, Central New York Community Arts Council, The Hamilton College Theatre Department, and Hamilton's Untitled-at-Large theatre group. Stanfield, a 2007 graduate of Hamilton and former ACCESS student, has been working with the groups since May.
"We started recruiting from the Boys and Girls Club in Utica, the Underground Café and Reverend Kemp's church. Reverend Kemp actually walked James Street, asking kids if they were interested in the project," says Stanfield. The only criteria were that the students were at least 12-years-old, in middle school or high school, lived in Utica, and were interested in acting, working and learning together to create this project.
After the group was assembled, Stanfield taught students how to research, conduct personal interviews, and playwriting skills. She then worked with students to transform their research and stories into play form.
"The text itself comes from actual testimony. Every bit comes from them – stories they told me and stories they brought back after interviewing," Stanfield said. "Every story comes from a Utica resident and a high school student."
This semester, the focus has shifted to acting. The group comes to Hamilton every Tuesday and Thursday night to work with Stanfield and a group of Hamilton College theatre students. Lindsey Pearlman '08 spearheaded the effort to secure funding and took charge of acting workshops at the beginning of the semester. The Hamilton students act as mentors – some are directing pieces while others are acting. The group rehearses for a couple of hours before having dinner together in McEwen.
"This is my favorite after-school activity," says Cynthia Monroe, a junior at Proctor High School and one of the show's featured actors. "We have fun, but we also work hard. We're all here for this one purpose. The monologues all deal with teens speaking their minds. We want to open the community up to understanding what we do on a daily basis. We are open to and bound to do things they tell us we can't do, things they don't think we can do."
Hearing the pride and empowerment of students like Cynthia make the hard work and long hours worthwhile. Stanfield, who grew up in Cornhill and attended Proctor High School, especially feels a personal connection to the piece, and hopes that the production will create awareness and push against stereotypes. "But, even though I know the show will be great, their process is more important to me than the final product. I want them to know they have a voice, and that they can use it," she said.
The Utica Spotlight Express will be performed in Minor Theater on December 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. Admission is free. Call (315) 859-4057 for reservations.
-- by Amy Tannenbaum '10
