WHO ARE WE?
A year ago, with a huge amount of faith and the
generous support from my community, I launched Truthworker Theatre Company.
Truthworker is a social justice based, hip-hop theatre company for high school
and college aged youth in Brooklyn, NY. I have been providing free programming
and professional stipends for young visionaries & performers to receive
rigorous training for the last 12 months. Truthworker is a safe space for young
people to be the subjects, not the objects of their stories-narrating their own
experiences & unique perspectives in ways that unpack, problematize, &
shift the dominant, often stereotypical narratives in mainstream media.
Using theatre, research, and media to examine history and learn about models for
creating social change, Truthworker Theatre Company calls upon language and critical thinking
skills as tools to develop solution-driven citizens of the world.
With an initial vision to only run a summer
program, I was blown away by the momentum we picked up with our first project!
Despite the fact that I had only raised enough resources to modestly support
the expense of running such a comprehensive program for 4 weeks, I saw no other
option than to respond to the call to action, and continued intensive
programming for the young company for the entire year. This included
auditioning new company members, holding workshops and rehearsals 2-3 times a
week, deepening and developing our material, bringing the company to live
performances, talks, exhibits, workshops, and conferences, bringing in guest
artists, and building opportunities for the company to perform both locally and
out of state on a regular basis.
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
During our inaugural summer intensive last year, in
less than a month, we created: BAR CODE: A
performative analysis of the school to prison pipeline, an
original work written and performed by Truthworker Theatre
Company. Drawing connections from Willie Lynch to Trayvon Martin, sourcing
interviews with formerly incarcerated youth, and citing research from New York
City's key lawyers in the Stop and Frisk trials, BAR CODE interrogates cycles
of systemic oppression through a compelling narrative that weaves rhyme,
multimedia, hip hop theatre, dance, and personal testimony. We are so
proud that, in such a short time, we have self produced 3 professional theatre
runs locally and have been presented both in and out of state by conferences,
universities, and theatre festivals 6 times in only 9 months.
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WHAT ARE YOU SUPPORTING?
On July 1st, we launched Truthworker Theatre Company's 2nd annual Summer Intensive! We have the unique and humbling opportunity to be working directly with Jarvis Jay Masters, an innocent man on death row, who has been incarcerated since the age of 19 in San Quentin Prison, and institutionalized since he was a young boy. Jarvis is working from the inside to be in collaboration with us through our creation process. Every young company member has read each of his two books, Finding Freedom and That Bird Has My Wings, in preparation for this production. In June, I flew out to California and, with special permission, spent four hours with Jarvis, locked together in a cage sharing stories, connecting visions, exchanging ideas, tears, and laughter. We are exchanging writings and even speaking directly on the phone when permitted, calling upon technology to mediate transformational and generative dialogue between Jarvis and the youth.
It is an honor to be witnessing and facilitating the mutually affirming reflective power of this collaboration. Both Jarvis and the kids cant believe that the other one knows and cares about them. It is a lifeline for Jarvis to be connecting with a group of young people who are actively engaging with his story, his writings, and his faith. Equally, there are no words to describe the experience the youth are having knowing that this man, whose books they are reading, connecting with, and so inspired by, is writing to them, calling them, and collaborating with them to tell such an important story. We are all motivated by Jarvis' remarkable capacity for liberation within confinement.
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WHAT WE NEED
While we had the catalyzing support of last
summer's fundraiser, the stretch of this year has been running off of volunteer
efforts, donated space, and incredibly limited resources. Training in the arts is often costly
and, consequently, is limited to only those who can afford it. I am determined
to continue the momentum with this powerful family of young people and offer
them the space, the training and the creative direction, as well as
opportunities to:
- Collectively devise original work
Work with guest artists
See live performances in the city
Perform original work in a professional theatre
Connect, exchange, & collaborate both within & beyond their communities
In
addition to offering a free, safe space for creation, collaboration, and
learning, I am committed to provide a stipend to each young company member who
fully commits to and completes the project. This stipend is my affirmation
of valuing the arts as an avenue for sustainable career paths and life choices.
I want each young artist to take themselves seriously, know their
value, and believe that the arts can truly be a sustainable and legitimate
passion. In the face of an economy that continues to cut budgets for the arts
in our public school system, I hope to affirm that if my students approach
their craft with discipline and commitment, following the path of the arts can
indeed be a tool towards supporting themselves.
Truthworker Theatre
Company will continue to work in partnership with JACK -a new
performance space located in Clinton Hill. Since our conception last summer,
JACK has been generously offering us a home for our growing creativity and
community. All workshops, rehearsals, and performances will be running
out of JACK. Stay tuned for performance details! (www.jackny.org)
Please consider supporting the hard work that Truthworker Theatre Company is deeply committed to. While our yearly budget to see this project through far exceeds what we are asking for here, the amount we are hoping to raise through this campaign will allow us to continue programming and follow through with the creation of this new collaborative production this summer and into the fall.
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WAYS YOU CAN HELP
Give what you can. Even $3 will help us get a long way!
Post this campaign via email, facebook, twitter, the matrix!
Tell people who you know may be inspired about Truthworker Theatre Co.!
Join our family! We are looking for volunteers.
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REVIEWS FROM DISTINGUISHED ALLIES
“Theater is so important to mirror the joys, sorrows, fantasies and realities of our lives and it is one of our greatest assets to help young people examine current issues and find their own voices. It allows them to develop a point of view, do the research and articulate that view in safe spaces to challenge, provoke and sometimes validate what we think and why. Truthworker Theatre is meeting a great need providing these opportunities for our youth. I applaud the work Samara Gaev is doing with these young voices and encourage her to continue this amazing work.”
Stephanie S Hughley, VP Education &
Humanities, Brooklyn Academy of Music
“Samara Gaev's Truthworker Theater Company is a beacon of hope in a culture plagued by indifference and economic distress. These brave young artists are turning the turmoil of generation WHY? into poetry, dance and theater. Their voices strike like lightning, their movement molds time and space; they spin webs with their imagination to transform social ills into conscious solutions. Truthworker shines light on a growing grassroots revolution, already underway. Do everything you can to support this work!
Maija Garcia, Creative Director, FELA!, Director, Organic Magnetics
"Truthworker
consistently succeeds at what all good companies strive for: engaging the next
generation in theater that is a catalyst for real social change. Ms. Gaev
instills passion, courage, and confidence in her young collaborators with such
power that it transcends the stage and pierces audiences."
Jonathan Solari, Artistic
Director, New Brooklyn Theater